Aquinas

First I want to see the regional games of Loyola and Dayton. Then the hardest, typically VCU. These are more desirable home games to attend or watch, than any bottom feeder A10 team and while very tough road games, they are what is needed to prepare the team for rowdy, load unfriendly venues in post season games. To win a tournament game, you generally have to beat a higher seeded team in a tough environment.

Our Big Men: We have 3 seniors, 2 Freshman and Junior Kellen Thames. Thames at 6'6" is undersized for a forward, but his athleticism and physical play allow him to play the 4. With only 3 experienced bigs, we may need him. The big question is his health. Will he be able to stay healthy. Unfortunately when Thames minutes fell, his quality of play also fell. Avila and Otieno will be the starters and get most of the minutes. Otieno can stretch the floor, which should help open up the area under the basket. Last season Anya's lack of range got exposed and a number of teams parked a big in the paint. If Otieno can hit open 3s, the offense should click. The other problem we had last season is we had 2 guards in Gibson and Swope who had to be guarded, but the third guard on the floor was not consistent. This season we potentially have more outside threats, which should help the offense and Anya when he is on the floor. We only had 3 scoring threats last season. That brings us to the freshman. Ideally, at least one of them will have an impact. Otieno can probably hold his own as the biggest man on the floor, but he will be more effective if there is a bigger player with him. We will also be looking at our three experienced bigs leaving next year and it would be nice to have one of these freshmen poised to take on a starting roll. Then of course there is always the injury bug and games with foul trouble. I don't expect 20 min a game from either of the freshman, but 8 to 15 would be good for at least one of them. Last year when we brought the bigs of the bench, they didn't score. Some will argue that coach didn't play them enough, but players have to hit open shots when they get the chance to play. I would like to see one of the freshman push Anya for playing time. Unless Anya dramatically improves his FT shooting, he can't be on the floor late in close games. So there is an opportunity. Now if Thames fully recovers, then the path to playing time for the freshmen gets rougher. But the recovery of Thames is something that I will have to see to believe.... though I am hoping for the best. Robbie Avila, 6’10” 240 Sr, Center, 33.9 Min, 17.3 Pts, 6.9 RB, 3Pt% 35.9, FT% 75, Ast 4, TO 3.3, Stl 1.2 Paul Otieno 6’8” 225, Sr Forward, 31.1 Min, 10.4 Pts, 8.6 RB, 37.5 3Pt%, FT% 81.1, Ast 1.1, TO 1.3, Stl .7, from Quinnipiac Kalu Anya 6’8” 215, Sr, Forward, 27.9 Min, 6.5 Pts, 7.5 RB, 3Pt% 12.5, FT% 31.6, Ast 2.5, TO 1.5, Stl 1.1 Badara Diakite 6’10” 205 Fr, 4 star ESPN and Rivals (127 National rank), 10 Pts, 5 RB, Jax Kerr 6'11' 190, 247 Fr, 4 star recruit averaged 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He shot better than 40 percent from the arc (high-school) Kellen Thames 6’6” 210, Jr, Guard, 16.3 Min, 6.2 Pts, 3.4 RB, 3 Pt% 30, FT% 62, Ast .6, TO .8, Stl .7 Big Health question. Can also play a small power forward.

Here is the Eligibility Robbie Avila Senior - Eligibility Remaining: 1 Badara Diakite Freshman - Eligibility Remaining: 4 Jax Kerr Freshman - Eligibility Remaining: 4 Power Forwards: Paul Otieno Senior - Eligibility Remaining: 1 Kalu Anya Senior Eligibility Remaining: 1 Kellen Thames Redshirt Junior - Eligibility Remaining: 2 Wings: Quentin Jones Junior - Eligibility Remaining: 2 Dylan Warlick Sophomore - Eligibility Remaining: 3 Brady Dunlap Redshirt Sophomore - Eligibility Remaining: 3 Cameron Hutson Freshman - Eligibility Remaining: 4 Shooting Guards: Ishan Sharma Sophomore - Eligibility Remaining: 3. Dion Brown Senior - Eligibility Remaining: 1 Luke Laczkowski Freshman - Eligibility Remaining: 4 Point Guards Ball Handlers: Amari McCottry Sophomore - Eligibility Remaining: 3. Trey Green Redshirt Sophomore - Eligibility Remaining: 3

My understanding is, that it will take a favorable court decision to grant him eligibility for this season. Currently I believe all of our scholarships are spoken for. I think Swope was amazing producive for a guy who couldn't practice in the second half of the season. However the limited practice time of Avila and Swope, hurt the development and cohesion of the team last year.

I think our team is complete. I put together a summary description of the players and position projections of the players and at the bottom my opening day projection. I have school years listed, but don't assume that equals how many years of eligibility remain. I have not waded into that for each player. Centers: Robbie Avila 6’10” 240 Jr, Center, 33.9 Min, 17.3 Pts, 6.9 RB, 3Pt% 35.9, FT% 75, Ast 4, TO 3.3, Stl 1.2 Jax Kerr 6'11' 190, 247 Fr, 4 star recruit averaged 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He shot better than 40 percent from the arc (high-school) He might be needed as Avila is our only veteran player over 6’8”. Badara Diakite 6’10” 205 Fr, 4 star ESPN and Rivals (127 National rank), 10 Pts, 5 RB, Signed with Iowa and decommitted following a coaching change in March. Iowa coach said: “He can stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting, he can guard any position. He might be needed as Avila is our only veteran player over 6’8”. Power Forwards: Paul Otieno 6’8” 225, Sr Forward, 31.1 Min, 10.4 Pts, 8.6 RB, 37.5 3Pt%, FT% 81.1, Ast 1.1, TO 1.3, Stl .7, from Quinnipiac Kalu Anya 6’8” 215, Sr, Forward, 27.9 Min, 6.5 Pts, 7.5 RB, 3Pt% 12.5, FT% 31.6, Ast 2.5, TO 1.5, Stl 1.1 Kellen Thames 6’6” 210, Jr, Guard, 16.3 Min, 6.2 Pts, 3.4 RB, 3 Pt% 30, FT% 62, Ast .6, TO .8, Stl .7 Big Health question. Can also play a small power forward. Wings: Quentin Jones 6’5” 170, Jr, Guard, 31.9 Min, 13.1 Pts, 4.8 RB, 3 Pt% 35.5, FT% 76.6, Ast 3.5, TO 2.5, Stl 1.3, from Northern Ill, MAC conference, Likes to attack the basket. Dylan Warlick 6’5” 210, So, Small Forward, 10.1 Min, 2.4 Pts, 1.6 RB, 3P% 38.5 FT% 75, Ast .4, TO .4, Stl .1 Brady Dunlap 6,7” 180, Jr, Small Forward, 16.5 Min, 5.7 Pts, 2.2 RB, 3Pt% 37.5, FT% 83.3, Ast .7, TO .3, Stl .4 (10 games) St. Johns, Big East conference (Had 2 significant injuries last season, high ceiling if healthy) Cameron Hutson 6’6” 190, Fr, 247 3*, 18.9 Pts, 7.2 RB, 45% 3pt Shooting Guards: Ishan Sharma 6’5” 192, So Guard, 12.8 Min, 3.4 Pts, 1.3 RB, 3 Pt% 33.3, FT% 93.8, Ast .8, TO .3, Stl .2, from Virginia, ACC conference. Likes to shoot 3s. Can also help bring the ball up the floor. Luke Dion Brown 6’3” 180, Sr Guard, 25.6 Min, 7.5 Pts, 3.9 RB, 3 Pt% 35, FT% 75.7, Ast 1.3, TO 1.0, Stl .5, from Boston College-ACC. Laczkowski 6’7” 200, Fr, 247 3*, 21.5 Pts, 8.5 RB, 2000 points for his high school. Considers himself shooting guard. Nickname Lach. Couldn’t find percentages. Point Guards Ball Handlers: Amari McCottry 6’6” 215, So, Guard, 14.5 Min, 4.6 Pts, 3.1 RB, 3pt% 38.5, FT% 58.7, Ast 1.0, TO 1.4, Stl 1.0. Can play any guard position or power forward in a pinch. Can bring the ball up the floor. Trey Green 6’0” 168, Jr, Guard, 13 Min, .5.5 Pts, 1RB, 3 Pt% 33, FT% 96.3, Ast 1.1, TO 1.1, Stl .5, from Xavier-Big East . Only played 9 games beginning of last year. Had undefined health issue. Ranked about 70 out of high school. Stats from combined first 2 years. He is a gamble with very high ceiling. These guys all want to start. The guys that played last year have the benefit of knowing the system. Kellen Thames and Brady Dunlap have to prove they are healthy. My projected starters for game one: Center: Robbie Avila – No question Power Forward: Paul Otieno played 31 min a game last year, shot 81% FT and 37% 3pt., 8.6 RB. In my view the biggest signing that we have this year. Small Forward: Quentin Jones played 32 min a game last year, 13.1 Pts, 4.8 RB, 3 Pt% 35.5, FT% 76.6. Likes to attack the basket Shooting Guard: Ishan Sharma I see Ishan as a Gibson like player who can also help bring the ball up the floor. He shot 94% FT. A lot of his 3pt attempts were a full step behind the line. He seems to read the floor well. I think he will be hard to keep off the floor. Would love to see Gibson coaching him. Point Guard: Amari McCottry knows the system and that will be important especially early, when all of the newbies are trying to figure the system out. Amari can play any of the guard positions and if Trey Green emerges and takes the point guard position Amari could be super valuable as the 6th man off the bench taking the spot of any guard who is having problems.

I love this addition. Avila is our only veteran player over 6'8". Now we have 2, 6'10" freshmen, hopefully at least one of them will be able to be productive when they get on the floor. That was a problem last year. They are both skinny, stretch the floor, had 10 pts and 5 RB, last season. These are guys growing into their bodies. Hope they get on campus soon, find the food, the weight room and learn the system. Good job by the coaching staff!

On3 says he is committed to SLU.

With enough money it would be easy to assemble the best players in the country, for any team, in any conference. A billionaire could out spend everyone.

Hope you all have a happy and holy Easter.

I count 14 current scholarships. So are we done? Centers: Robbie Avila 6’10” 240 Jr, Center, 33.9 Min, 17.3 Pts, 6.9 RB, 3Pt% 35.9, FT% 75 Jax Kerr 6'11' 190, 247 Fr 4 star recruit averaged 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He shot better than 40 percent from the arc (high-school) Jax might be needed as we only have 1 player over 6’8” at this moment. Power Forwards: Paul Otieno 6’8” 225, Sr Forward, 31.1 Min, 10.4 Pts, 8.6 RB, 37.5 3Pt%, FT% 81.1 from Quinnipiac Kalu Anya 6’8” 215, Sr, Forward, 27.9 Min, 6.5 Pts, 7.5 RB, 3Pt% 125, FT% 31.6 Kellen Thames 6’6” 210, Jr, Guard, 16.3 Min, 6.2 Pts, 3.4 RB, 3 Pt% 30, FT% 62 Big Health question. Can also play a small power forward. Wings: Amari McCottry 6’6” 215, FR, Guard Wing, 14.5 Min, 4.6 Pts, 3.1 RB, 3pt% 38.5 FT% 58.7. Can play any guard position or small power forward in a pinch. Dylan Warlick 6’5” 210, So, Small Forward, 10.1 Min, 2.4 Pts, 1.6 RB, 3P% 38.5 FT% 75 Brady Dunlap 6,7” 180, Jr, Small Forward, 16.5 Min, 5.7 Pts, 2.2 RB, 3Pt% 37.5, FT% 83.3 (10 games) St. Johns (Had significant injuries last season, high ceiling if healthy) Shooting Guards: Quentin Jones 6’5” 170, Jr, Guard, 33.6 Min, 13.1 Pts, 4.8 RB, 3 Pt% 35.5, FT% 76.6 from Northern Ill. Ishan Sharma 6’5” 185, So Guard, 12.8 Min, 3.4 Pts, 1.3 RB, 3 Pt% 33.3, FT% 93.8 Virginia Point Guards Ball Handlers: Dion Brown 6’3” 180, Sr Guard, 25.6 Min, 7.5 Pts, 3.9 RB, 3 Pt% 35, FT% 75.7 from Boston College. Trey Green 6’0” 168, Jr, Guard, 13 Min, .5.5 Pts, 1RB, 3 Pt% 33, FT% 96.3 from Xavier . Only played 9 games beginning of last year. Had undefined health issue. Ranked about 70 out of high school. Stats from combined first 2 years. He is a gable with very high ceiling. Freshman: All 3 have reputations as outside shooters. Hutson might provide help, Cameron Hutson 6’6” 190 , 247 3*, 18.9 Pts, 7.2 RB, 45% 3pt Luke Laczkowski 6’7” 200, 247 3*, 21.5 Pts, 8.5 RB, 2000 points for his high school. Considers himself shooting guard. Nickname Lach. Couldn’t find percentages.

I really like this kid. He looks like Gibson with the ability to bring the ball up the floor. Watched some video. It's easy to like his deep 3s, but watch closer and he is often one of the 2 guards bringing the ball up the floor when pressed.

Dunlap 6'7", 180#, so he is skinny. 247 ranked him 150, out of high-school. He is a shooter. Listed most places as a small forward.

My recollection of Schertz comments about Pikaar, was more as a 3 and maybe a 4, but that he was a long way from the body mass to defend a 5.

I agree with your opening statement. Kerr however is 6' 11. Otieno and Anya are 6'8" and Thames is 6'6" we get really small with a 6'8" center and Anya has very limited range. I think we need another 6'9"+ transfer. Height alone will give Kerr a chance. I'm hoping he has put on some muscle. If our biggest man on the floor is 6'8", I think we are in trouble.