(09-23-2020 10:15 AM)RobtheAggie Wrote:  

(09-23-2020 05:07 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Chicago State adds Aaris-Monte Bonds late to the Cougar roster. He is 6'6, 215-lbs and averaged 14.8 ppg and 8.4 rpg at Southeastern Community College. He only made three 3-point shots last season while shooting over 60% from inside the arc. So, he appears to be an undersized power forward. Looks like a solid pick up for Coach Irvin.

To be honest, any pick-up is a good one for Chicago St. With the mass exodus from the team last year, they need bodies. I hope that the players Irvin has brought in will do well.

Chicago State essentially has all five starters returning. They have five guys who logged 12 or more starts last season... 5' 11 Xavier Johnson (19 starts, 15.4 ppg, 2.8 apg), 6'3 Andrew Lewis (18 starts, 12.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6'3 Rajeir Jones (27 starts, 6.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6'7 Ke'Sean Davis (12 starts, 7.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and 6'9 Solomon Hunt (23 starts, 6.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Additionally, Irvin added a few new players who could make an immediate impact... the aforementioned 6'6 Aaris Bond plus 6'9 Isaiah Simpson, who averaged 13.1 ppg and 8.2 rpg at Santa Monica CC; and an intriguing Euro big man in Lou Demuth, a 7-foot freshman from Luxembourg. I don't expect Chicago State to necessarily get out of the basement but they should make some games much more competitive; especially with the additions of transitioning D2 schools Dixie State and Tarleton State joining the field.