A.J. Merriweather is currently ranked 2nd in the ASun in rebounding with 7.5 rebounds per game. The 6’2” 185 Freshman Merriweather is sandwiched between 6’6” 230 R-Sr Travis Wallace of UNF with 8.0 rpg, and 6’10” Sr. Daniel Coursey of Mercer with 7.0. http://www.atlanticsun.org/media/2013-14...m#conf.wki

Merriweather is also ranked tied for 192nd in D1 nationally. There are ahead of him, by my count, 4 other guys 6’2” (2 Seniors, 1 Junior and 1 Sophomore - but no other 6'2" or smaller Freshmen) and 1 guy smaller: the 6’1” 180 Senior star Shabazz Napier of UConn who leads the Huskies with 7.8 rpg, and also leads them in scoring with 16.8 ppg. http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men...ual/137/p1

Clearly, inch for inch and pound for pound, A.J. is one of the best rebounders in D1 ball.

But we must never think of Merriweather as a possible ETSU legend in the making. That would be so wrong.

A.J.'s success in rebounding is based on high energy and great desire. Here's hoping that he never loses it. And that he maybe shares a little of it with some teammates.

And another suggestion for A.J.. Maybe talk a little to Rashawn Rembert about developing a long range shot. Rashawn, and Tommy Hubbard before him, showed that it can be done.

That's an incredible accomplishment. There have been several sequences this season where AJ outbattled the opposition or flew in from no where to grab the rebound. He just wants it more than everyone else. In hindsight, Timmy was a great reboudning guard too--didn't he grab around 5 rebounds for his career? This sort of tenacity also reminds of me of former Gardner Webb star, Thomas Sanders. I think he led the country (or close to it) in rebounding at 6'4". Clearly, rebounding is about tenacity (understanding of positioning helps too, as Parker of SFU demonstrated) and effort.

I'm a big NBA fan, and this nonstop effort on the glass reminds me of one favorite all-time NBA players, "the worm", Dennis Rodman. I once heard Barkley say that you couldn't box out Rodman. Rodman routinely gave up 4-5 inches and 40-50 lbs., yet he controlled the glass.

AJ has won me over with his relentlessness and his gregarious personality. I get fired up when he slaps the floor with both hands on defense, a la former Duke Blue Devil, "Wojo". If he develops a jumper....lookout.

The 5'9" Tim Smith averaged 4.2 for his career, with a season high of 4.5 as a senior. http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/player/.../tim-smith

Another example of competitor who just burned to win - he always wanted it more than the next guy.

This is the type of thing that makes me really like AJ.

AyeJay Merriweather ‏@AYEdeadlyJAY 23 Nov
I've played this game hundreds of times and I still get jitters when I step out on the court. So much love for the game.

You can contrast A.J.'s rebounding style with the Jacob Parker/Mike Smith approach. Smith and Parker did not so much out leap or out muscle people. They just seemed to have decided to stand right where the ball was coming down. Both were masters of position. Really with Mike, that knowledge seemed to click in about half way through his Junior season - suddenly his rebounding average jumped from 4.7 to 7.7 as he seemed to have discovered the perfect place to set up.

With freshman A.J. Merriweather, it's not a matter of being set up just right - it's a matter of flying to the ball with an attitude as it comes off the rim. You may have set up better - but he's going to fly to that ball first.

By the way, another reason I don't like the Mike Smith comparison - Mike as a freshman averaged 3.7 rpg. It was only in his last 2 seasons that he became an excellent rebounder. A.J. as a freshman is averaging twice Mike's rebounding numbers at 7.5 rpg.

In fact, I don't know how far back you'd have to go to find an ETSU freshman matching A.J.'s 7.5 rpg. Gerald Fields didn't (4.3), nor did Zakee Wadood (3.0). However Zakee DID average more per minute - snagging 3.0 rebounds in only 9 minutes per game - give him the minutes and the 6'5" 220 Wadood would PROBABLY have averaged 8 or 9 a game, as he did for the remainder of his career. Isiah didn't get more - 4.6, nor Brad Nuckles, 4.3, nor Andrew Reed, 4.8. The 6'9" 250 pound Nuckles did probably have a little higher per minute total.

I know that I am comparing full season totals with the work of less than a quarter of a season for A.J. That season gets awfully long for freshmen, and some tail off toward the end (as Lester did). Still, it's one heck of a start.

(11-25-2013 04:12 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  That's an incredible accomplishment. There have been several sequences this season where AJ outbattled the opposition or flew in from no where to grab the rebound. He just wants it more than everyone else. In hindsight, Timmy was a great reboudning guard too--didn't he grab around 5 rebounds for his career? This sort of tenacity also reminds of me of former Gardner Webb star, Thomas Sanders. I think he led the country (or close to it) in rebounding at 6'4". Clearly, rebounding is about tenacity (understanding of positioning helps too, as Parker of SFU demonstrated) and effort.

I'm a big NBA fan, and this nonstop effort on the glass reminds me of one favorite all-time NBA players, "the worm", Dennis Rodman. I once heard Barkley say that you couldn't box out Rodman. Rodman routinely gave up 4-5 inches and 40-50 lbs., yet he controlled the glass.

AJ has won me over with his relentlessness and his gregarious personality. I get fired up when he slaps the floor with both hands on defense, a la former Duke Blue Devil, "Wojo". If he develops a jumper....lookout.

What a pleasure it is to watch that young man play!

I like Bucfaithful's comparison of Thomas Sanders. Sanders was no more than 6'3" and 210 tops. He did rebound with an aggressive athleticism that was remarkable for his size. As a freshman and sophomore he was at Texas PanAmerican and didn't do much. He transferred up to Gardner Webb as a Junior and pulled down 7.0 rebounds and 11.0 points in 22.8 minutes. Compared to 9.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in 28.8 minutes for Freshman Merriweather. Sanders didn't have much range, either, getting 3 from three on 25% shooting for the season.

Sanders upped that his Senior season to be ASun POY with 18.1 points and 10.8 rebounds in 32.5 minutes. He shot only .211 from 3, but hit 8 of them. http://www.atlanticsun.org/media/stats/m...08/gwu.htm

He wasn't a high flyer like A.J., but he did depend on athleticism and just plain "want-to" for his success against the tall trees.

The thing about A. J. is he is a really great athlete. He's more athletic than Hubbard, for example, at least in my opinion. As a Freshman Hubbard wasn't much of a factor as I remember. Don't get me wrong - I loved Hubbard too, but A. J. is a more complete package this early in his career. And SWVa is right - develop a long range shot, and he's unstoppable.

Honestly, I think Bartow has the makings of a good team. Oh, I know - it's only 2 wins thus far - but there's some talented players with some desire, and after we lost Cooley & Dubose last year, it was lights out, pretty much. We took it to SFA - something we haven't done in forever. There's some confidence brimming, I hope they can maintain vs Tech.

Gonna really enjoy watching this kid for 4 years!! His energy, athleticism, attitude & "Love of the Game" has made him a fan favorite!

(11-26-2013 10:16 PM)Bucfan4life Wrote:  Gonna really enjoy watching this kid for 4 years!! His energy, athleticism, attitude & "Love of the Game" has made him a fan favorite!

You are assuming a lot that he will be around 4 years. Odds are 50/50 based on track record.

AJ named POW-12.09.13.
http://www.etsubucs.com/mbasketball/news...-the-week/

According to the release, AJ averaged 18 pts (63% FG, 73% FT) 9 boards, 1.5 steals against Austin Peay and Georgia Tech.

Congratulations to AJ. We've hit the recruiting jackpot with him.

(12-09-2013 07:27 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  AJ named POW-12.09.13.
http://www.etsubucs.com/mbasketball/news...-the-week/

According to the release, AJ averaged 18 pts (63% FG, 73% FT) 9 boards, 1.5 steals against Austin Peay and Georgia Tech.

Congratulations to AJ. We've hit the recruiting jackpot with him.

And I hope we recruit many more just like him! AJ is the man.

Good Article in the Jackson Sun about Merriweather's early success.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/201312.../312120017

6’2” Freshman A.J. is currently (12/12/2013) number 1 in the ASun in rebounding, just ahead of 6’6” 230 Rs-SR Travis Wallace and 6’8” SR Jod Maxey. http://www.atlanticsun.org/media/2013-14...m#conf.wki

Nationally, he is now tied for 161st in D1 with, among others, 6’6” Junior Jacob Parker of Stephen F. Austin. By my count there is only 1 guy under 6’4” who is currently ranked ahead of him: 6’2” Junior Kevin Hardy of McNeese State. http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men...ual/137/p4

Exceptional. No debate.

Another interesting thing - about 11 D1 freshmen are currently ranked ahead of A.J. in rebounding: one is 6'5" 225 Ryan Taylor of Marshall who averages 0.2 rebounds per game more (7.6 to 7.4 rpg). Two others are 6'7". The other highly ranked freshmen are all 6'8", 6'9" and up. http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men...ual/137/p3

A.J. is currently rebounding better than anyone else of similar size in the freshman class.

(12-12-2013 09:30 PM)swvabucsfan Wrote:  Another interesting thing - about 11 D1 freshmen are currently ranked ahead of A.J. in rebounding: one is 6'5" 225 Ryan Taylor of Marshall who averages 0.2 rebounds per game more (7.6 to 7.4 rpg). Two others are 6'7". The other highly ranked freshmen are all 6'8", 6'9" and up. http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men...ual/137/p3

A.J. is currently rebounding better than anyone else of similar size in the freshman class.

AJ's exceptional start to his college career and extraordinary work on the glass bears repeating.

I hesitate to look ahead, but if he can develop a jump shot, he'll be unstoppable with the way he defends and slashes.