KennesawBasketball Wrote:Jay Mitchell:

Don't have as much info on Jay, as I have never seen him play, but here is what I do know. SF game in a PF body. Not afraid to take it outside, but also enjoys physical play in the paint. Was a highly recruited Junior College player in Florida after several years of playing Minor League Baseball (sound familiar Nickerson?). I am perhaps more anxious to see Mitchell play than any other of our new players. We haven't had a guy that could consistently score in the post since we moved to Division I.

Since I don't have a great grasp on Mitchell I won't do strengths and weaknesses, but here is what I have heard. He is a very sneaky athlete with a very developed offensive game. He averaged a double double in one of the most difficult Junior College Leagues in the country (14pts 10rbs I believe), and this was while playing in the post with an NBA talent. Due to his age he should bring maturity, experience, and most importantly legit size to our frontcourt. It will be interesting to see what kind of shape he is in after basically back to back redshirt seasons. He didn't get any run at Texas Tech with Bobby Knight, and last year redshirted for us. If Mitchell brings the work ethic on a daily basis he should play a serious role in our rotation.

Next Up: Mirza Medinic

If Mitchell can be as effective as Stegall in the paint I'll be satisfied. He's a little bigger than Shaun and I think (considering his size) he has more potential. As crazy as it sounds I'm more worried about our backcourt than our frontcourt. I think Mitchell and Cummings will do great things at the 4 and 5.

Corn_3024 Wrote:As crazy as it sounds I'm more worried about our backcourt than our frontcourt. I think Mitchell and Cummings will do great things at the 4 and 5.

Cummings has medical problems and may not play. I know Golden Ingle has graduated, but what is the backcourt worry? There were 5 guards bought in by Ingle in the offseason to go along with the leading 3 point percentage leader in the conference. Can any of them fill our/your needs?

Cummings may not play and Jay Mitchell has battled injuries ever since he came back from playing baseball. That is part of the reason he didn't get any run at Texas Tech. I think we have question marks at every position except Point Guard. Kelvin has proven he can play but who else has proved anything? We do have guards that have been more highly touted than any other group of guards we have brought in since going Division 1 but they are still unproven. I think if everybody is healthy (Kelvin, Jay, Markeith, Kurtis, JMAC especially) we will have a good season but if any one of them go down we could be in trouble. I don't want to already start talking about next year but next year we will be talented, deep and experienced! We just have to get through this year.

I still question McConnell's speed. Can he shoot? Yes. Is that all it takes to be a great point guard? Hardly. I'm worried about replacing Wooten and having no one with experience at SG.. If Mitchell and Cummings aren't healthy it'll be a long year.

Corn_3024 Wrote:I still question McConnell's speed. Can he shoot? Yes. Is that all it takes to be a great point guard? Hardly. I'm worried about replacing Wooten and having no one with experience at SG.. If Mitchell and Cummings aren't healthy it'll be a long year.

No worries, he didn't need speed to beat Belmont. I have seen the team and due to offseason work he is much quicker this year as you will see soon. That gives you a defensive advantage also. Not only that, Spencer Dixon and Brandon Chambers are as quick as they come, so speed shouldn't be an issue in the backcourt this year.

The starting 5 should be Kurtis Woods (high energy), McConnnell, Dixon, Nickerson and Whipple. This group can press, penetrate, distribute and bring high energy if Whipple gets some help on the boards and in the paint.

Again Corn, Ingle has graduated and is on the bench as a coach. Move forward. I think that when you see the team in action by Nov. 18 you will have changed your mind. Besides, the schedule is not as tough this year as it was last year. That in itself will make a difference.

Good insight...did not realize that Mitchell has battled injuries...hopefully those will work themselves out.

Go, Fly, Win, Owls! Wrote:

Corn_3024 Wrote:I still question McConnell's speed. Can he shoot? Yes. Is that all it takes to be a great point guard? Hardly. I'm worried about replacing Wooten and having no one with experience at SG.. If Mitchell and Cummings aren't healthy it'll be a long year.

No worries, he didn't need speed to beat Belmont. I have seen the team and due to offseason work he is much quicker this year as you will see soon. That gives you a defensive advantage also. Not only that, Spencer Dixon and Brandon Chambers are as quick as they come, so speed shouldn't be an issue in the backcourt this year.

The starting 5 should be Kurtis Woods (high energy), McConnnell, Dixon, Nickerson and Whipple. This group can press, penetrate, distribute and bring high energy if Whipple gets some help on the boards and in the paint.

Again Corn, Ingle has graduated and is on the bench as a coach. Move forward. I think that when you see the team in action by Nov. 18 you will have changed your mind. Besides, the schedule is not as tough this year as it was last year. That in itself will make a difference.

Lets hope McConnel's speed has improved. I've seen Spencer play so I guess it depends on your definition of "as quick as they come" before I agree/disagree. I have no idea on Chambers.

As for your starting lineup, we'll see. I can only base my knowledge off of last year but if we are without Cummings and Mitchell for an extended period of time we will be in for a very long season.

I'm not living in the past with Ingle so theres no need in moving forward. The fact remains that NOTHING has me sold on the backcourt. Until I see these guys in action (and I'm talking games not practice) its hard to form an opinion. I remember last year many here were really hyping Daugherty and Mattone. Fact is we don't know until the season begins.

Exactly Corn. Until we see these guys in game action we won't know for sure.

I can't wait to see what some of the guys can do. I have heard good things about Spencer and his work ethic but outside of that I have not heard all that much.

Alright, since the season is right around the corner, I am going to start wrapping this up. Sorry that I haven't done a better job of updating these, but things have been crazy in my household...so here goes as best I have heard or know:

Mirza Medinic (JR): Big strong kid, but fairly limited athletically. Kind of showed up on campus one day and displayed a desire to learn, and a good work ethic...and oh yeah, he is 6'10" and built like a tank. Considering we only have two years with him, I am not sure how much to expect out of him, but all reports are that he fits in great with the team, and he will be great for our team as our big men need tough, strong competition in practice. One last thing, last year Kelvim McConnell started as a walk-on and became our starting PG. You never know what Coach Ingle will do other than work to find the best players and put them on the court. He is not afraid to put a walk-on out there if he is what we need to win. Perhaps Mirza is one of those guys.

Junior Ajayi (JR): Don't know anything about Junior to be honest. Don't want to speculate, as I have zero information. If someone else has something feel free to post it.

Matt Heramb (RSJR): Boom or Bust Pick of the century. A Big time talent that had trouble finding his spot at Auburn. Older brother Stephen was a walk-on for the Owls back in our first season of Division I and was a great teammate, good player, and an excellent worker. If the younger Heramb has the passion for his teammates and for the game of basketball as his older brother he could become something special. A big strong post player that has guard skills it is time for him to turn his excellent talent into an excellent basketball player. I have big hopes for Heramb, but also a wait and see approach. What kind of player does Heramb want to become? After watching Coach Ingle for 6+ years I have confidence that he will only accept the best from Heramb, and I am hoping that is exactly what Heramb gives. If he commits, the sky is the limit. A front line of Heramb, Green, Allison, and Mitchell is a scary thought for the ASun next year.

John Allison (SO): A great young talent, with room to grow. Last year we saw flashes of the future followed up with a lot of mistakes. Seems to have increased his strength in the off-season, and needs to continue that trend. Has very polished post moves, and great touch around the basket, but often can't finish when he is pushed around. Has very good timing on the defensive end, and perhaps the only thing holding Allison back from a large role in the rotation is the confidence gained from stringing together a few solid games. I am as interested in seeing Allison's progression this year as any other player that we have. The great thing about John is that he is now entering his 3rd year under Ingle's tutelage. He should be fully emersed in the type of offenses and defenses that Ingle likes to run and now can start playing with his instincts. Could be a difference maker this year, especially if Cummings and Mitchell are sidelined for any amount of time.

Kelvin McConnell (SO): What a freshman year for Kelvin. From walk-on to starting PG, he had quite a progression. A good basketball mind with a sweet stroke and unlimited range, he should contribute in this year's rotation. Defensively he gives great effort, but his quickness is somewhat of a concern. Needs to make sure that he can keep up with even the quickest of guards. Ingle loves pressure defense, and that can be a weakness at times of McConnell. This will be a year of growth for McConnell, and it will be interesting to see if he can adjust to defenses knowing his tendencies. He will not just be able to sit back and shoot open threes. Creating for other teammates and playing lock down defense are the next steps for this very talented Kennesaw Owl.

Zadrian Gibson (SO): Don't know much about Gibson, but all I have heard is that you should get out of the way if he is around the rim. Apparently he has embarrassed several current and former Owls in pickup games with his freak athleticism. The rumor is that due to his athletic ability and personality several current and former players approached the coaching staff and requested that he be a part of the team. I don't know if he can play or not, but I LOVE that our team is a family, and that they felt Zadrian should be a part of it. If they believe he should be a part of our team, then I believe he should. I don't know if he will ever see the court, but if he does, then I am hoping for something spectacular.

We will go through the freshman in alphabetical order:

Brandon Chambers: A tenacious guard, with a killer instinct. Recruited out of a tough district in Alabama, he is the kind of hard nosed guard that should be able to do a variety of things for the Owls. I have not seen him play, and have only heard and read a small bit about Chambers but from what I have heard he is going to be a guard pushing for playing time. More of a scoring slasher than a pure shooter, but has the ability to put in the basket in a variety of ways. I am most interested in seeing his defense, as I have a sneaky feeling that he might be a player that causes a lot of havoc for opposing PGs.

Markeith Cummings: Originally a PF out of Savannah, Markeith prepped in MS last year along with Ladaris Green. Phenomenal athlete with a nose for the basketball. Has a solid stroke, but it needs some tuning up. By the end of his career he could become a very good shooter if he puts in the time and tweaks his fundamentals. I have seen players with much worse form transform themselves into excellent shooters. He can play the 2,3, or 4, and excel at all three positions. I have a feeling that he will play more 3/4 this season as we wait on our post depth of Heramb and Green. So far it seems as though he has not been medically cleared, which is very worrisome, and could cause him to be somewhat behind at the start of the year. Could be an impact player immediately for the Owls, but will likely have a good amount of 'freshman moments'.

Spencer Dixon: A scoring PG from nearby Kennesaw Mountain High School. Can fill it up in a big way, and rebounds well for a small guard. I saw Spencer play a few years ago, and thought he was a very good player. I will be interested to see him in action. Spencer and Chambers bring quickness to a position that we lacked last year. Dixon matches up well athletically with players such as James Florence or Ben Smith. Freshman are often hard to predict, but it would not surprise me in the least to see Dixon carve out a role in our rotation.

Ladaris Green (RS): Big time recruit that was heavily looked at by a slew of mid-majors and even some high-majors. Length and athleticism cannot be denied, and while I only saw him play once he has a nice free throw stroke, and excellent defensive instincts. Based on what I saw a red-shirt year couldn't have been a better fit. While it sure would be nice to have him in the lineup this year, it will be better for us and Ladaris to have his 4 best years instead of him learning on the job this year. Can't wait to see him suit for the Owls next year. I hope he takes advantage of his RS year and gain some strength and learn the Ingle system.

Artie Marine: SF from North Carolina who made his name as a shooter. I haven't seen him play, but can only go on what I have read and heard. Seems to have a good basketball build, and all I know is that 15 points 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the Charlotte Public School System is nothing to sneeze about. Coach Ingle seems to be very excited about Artie, and I think the fact that we brought him in from NC should speak volumes. At 6'6" if he is the shooter that he was recruited to be, he should make a great addition to the Owls. Could be the sleeper of this recruiting class.

Kurtis Woods: Probably the most hyped player of this class from the write-ups on the Owls Web Site. Comes highly rated by many recruiting analysts and seems to have the talent to really excel in Ingle's system. Coach Ingle won the national championship with aggressive guards that get after it on both ends of the court. From the reports on the Black and Gold game, that is exactly the kind of game that Woods brings to the table. It is often tough to judge just how good a freshman will be since very often talent has little to do with it. Commitment, work ethic, and coachability are the keys to becoming a great college player. Talent is only the launching point...We really won't know what kind of player Woods is going to become until his sophomore year, but I have a feeling that he is going to be a contributor to our program from the very beginning.

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I think that I took care of everyone. These are obviously just for fun, but hopefully they continue to get you excited for the season. Our exhibition is right around the corner, and we need to amp up the support for the Owls. From the looks of the Black and Gold game, the area is starting to recognize the Owls. Lets keep up the good work!

KennesawBasketball Wrote:We will go through the freshman in alphabetical order:

Brandon Chambers: A tenacious guard, with a killer instinct. Recruited out of a tough district in Alabama, he is the kind of hard nosed guard that should be able to do a variety of things for the Owls. I have not seen him play, and have only heard and read a small bit about Chambers but from what I have heard he is going to be a guard pushing for playing time. More of a scoring slasher than a pure shooter, but has the ability to put in the basket in a variety of ways. I am most interested in seeing his defense, as I have a sneaky feeling that he might be a player that causes a lot of havoc for opposing PGs.

Markeith Cummings: Originally a PF out of Savannah, Markeith prepped in MS last year along with Ladaris Green. Phenomenal athlete with a nose for the basketball. Has a solid stroke, but it needs some tuning up. By the end of his career he could become a very good shooter if he puts in the time and tweaks his fundamentals. I have seen players with much worse form transform themselves into excellent shooters. He can play the 2,3, or 4, and excel at all three positions. I have a feeling that he will play more 3/4 this season as we wait on our post depth of Heramb and Green. So far it seems as though he has not been medically cleared, which is very worrisome, and could cause him to be somewhat behind at the start of the year. Could be an impact player immediately for the Owls, but will likely have a good amount of 'freshman moments'.

Spencer Dixon: A scoring PG from nearby Kennesaw Mountain High School. Can fill it up in a big way, and rebounds well for a small guard. I saw Spencer play a few years ago, and thought he was a very good player. I will be interested to see him in action. Spencer and Chambers bring quickness to a position that we lacked last year. Dixon matches up well athletically with players such as James Florence or Ben Smith. Freshman are often hard to predict, but it would not surprise me in the least to see Dixon carve out a role in our rotation.

Ladaris Green (RS): Big time recruit that was heavily looked at by a slew of mid-majors and even some high-majors. Length and athleticism cannot be denied, and while I only saw him play once he has a nice free throw stroke, and excellent defensive instincts. Based on what I saw a red-shirt year couldn't have been a better fit. While it sure would be nice to have him in the lineup this year, it will be better for us and Ladaris to have his 4 best years instead of him learning on the job this year. Can't wait to see him suit for the Owls next year. I hope he takes advantage of his RS year and gain some strength and learn the Ingle system.

Artie Marine: SF from North Carolina who made his name as a shooter. I haven't seen him play, but can only go on what I have read and heard. Seems to have a good basketball build, and all I know is that 15 points 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the Charlotte Public School System is nothing to sneeze about. Coach Ingle seems to be very excited about Artie, and I think the fact that we brought him in from NC should speak volumes. At 6'6" if he is the shooter that he was recruited to be, he should make a great addition to the Owls. Could be the sleeper of this recruiting class.

Kurtis Woods: Probably the most hyped player of this class from the write-ups on the Owls Web Site. Comes highly rated by many recruiting analysts and seems to have the talent to really excel in Ingle's system. Coach Ingle won the national championship with aggressive guards that get after it on both ends of the court. From the reports on the Black and Gold game, that is exactly the kind of game that Woods brings to the table. It is often tough to judge just how good a freshman will be since very often talent has little to do with it. Commitment, work ethic, and coachability are the keys to becoming a great college player. Talent is only the launching point...We really won't know what kind of player Woods is going to become until his sophomore year, but I have a feeling that he is going to be a contributor to our program from the very beginning.

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I think that I took care of everyone. These are obviously just for fun, but hopefully they continue to get you excited for the season. Our exhibition is right around the corner, and we need to amp up the support for the Owls. From the looks of the Black and Gold game, the area is starting to recognize the Owls. Lets keep up the good work!

Thanks! Why weren't you at the game???

Excellent anaylsis Kennesaw Basketball! Junior is obviously a walk on and he has good athleticism and an uncanny knack for making plays. However, I don't think he will see much time on the court this season. Also, I have seen Artie Marine play and he can really shoot the ball. He does lack quickness but his size and shooting ability may give him a chance to prove himself, especially if we have injuries to an already thin team. This year may be tough but it will allow people to get more playing time than they will next year and it will allow next year's team to be very dangerous because of the talent, experience and depth! John Allison is the player that is interesting to me because if he doesn't make big strides this year then next year he will be behind, Mitchell, Heramb, Green, and Whipple unless Cummings and Nickerson play some post then he will be behind both of them as well. So without big improvements this year Allison will be 5th on the depth chart at best. Also, I agree with you about McConell but he actually plays surprisingly good defense. However, I agree that its going to be interesting this year and next with Coach Ingle having more athletes to play better pressure defense to see how Kelvin fits in. Kelvin is extremely tough and competitive so I would not count him out no matter what offense or what defense we are going to run.

Go Fly Win - I no longer live in the area. It is a 6 hour drive from my house to Kennesaw :( So I only make a few games a year...I made it to the Auburn game last year, and then the Mercer game (which was unbelievable...the one that Ronell made the halfcourt shot to send it into overtime). Anyway - I am looking at my schedule to see when I can make a trip up for a weekend and catch two games.

KB, do you invest in ASUN.tv?

yes sir...loved it last year....you?

well I'm a student so I try to make it out to a majority of the games at the Convocation Center. Although I do try and catch a couple games on the road via ASUN.tv every season.

I am trying to find an ASun.tv schedule of our games...you know where I can find one? The new ASun.tv web site looks cool, but I couldn't find a schedule.