Huskies Hoops Positional Breakdown and (Amateurish) Analysis and Predictions
Huskies Basketball Breakdown
Seniors (all 3 are former JUCO transfers):
Chris Johnson
Zaire Matteen
Nathan Scott
Juniors (all are either transfers or walk-on):
Darius Beane (T-Possibly a walk-on)
Trendon Hankerson (walk-on)
Tavon Jones (JUCO)
Zool Keuth (JUCO)
Adong Makuoi (JUCO)
Chinedu Okanu (JUCO)
Sophomores:
Tyler Cochrane
Keenan Cole
Anthony Crump (JUCO)
Dan Filippone (walk-on)
Justin Lee (RS)
Kaleb Thornton (JUCO)
Freshmen:
None
Positional Break Down:
Center:
Chindeu Okanu - Junior - 6'7" - C - started his career at Vincennes University (Vincennes, IN) where he played in 23 games averaging 2.3 ppg/1.7 rpg shooting 54% from the field and 66.7% from FT..
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Power Forward:
Chris Johnson - Senior - 6’7” - PF - Johnson was a JUCO transfer last year and saw increased minutes down the stretch of the season. As a junior, Johnson played 27 games (0 starts) averaging 6 minutes and 0.7 ppg and 1.5 rpg shooting 27.8% from the field (5-18) and 45.5% from FT (10-22). Johnson is not a scorer. Repeat….Johnson is not a scorer. He wasn’t in JUCO and he won’t be at NIU. With that said, he does have benefit. Personally, I believe he’s better suited to fill the Gairges Daow role of defense and rebounding than Daow was as a guard who really couldn’t play guard. With Johnson, you get a little more size and a lot more strength. Daow had a real knack for the ball whether it was at the rim or on the floor and Johnson shows those same tendencies. He’s a high-motor guy with a strong frame. The two times I was able to watch the Huskies, I flat out enjoyed watching Johnson battle with players in the post often taking on guys a few inches taller than him and holding his own. Ultimately, this will be his role and he’s going to provide all of his value when he does not have the ball in his hand.
Nathan Scott - Senior - 6’8” - PF - Scott was also a JUCO transfer last season and impressed some at the onset of the season but faded in his usage and benefit as the season progressed. I believe most saw him and saw a right handed version of Levi Bradley. He’s tall and lanky and has a high release shot from the outside. But, as a junior, that’s about where the comparison ended. In that junior campaign, Scott played 27 games (with 4 starts) averaging 11 minutes and 3.3 ppg/2.6 rpg shooting 34.4% from the field (30% 3PT - 15-50) and 70.6% from FT (12-17). Hopefully this season, Scott becomes more comfortable and can provide more offense. His height is a benefit and if he can shoot better from the arc, he’ll be a valuable asset.
Keenan Cole - Sophomore - 6’7” - PF - Cole was a true freshman last year coming out of Streamwood HS. As a freshman, Cole saw sporadic floor time playing in 10 games and averaging 6.7 minutes and 2.3 ppg/1.6 rpg shooting 40% from the field (8-20) and 58.3% from the line (7-12). Cole saw the bulk of his playing time early in the season and then played 8 minutes in the season finale. I was in attendance to see him play in that last game and I came away hopeful. He’s big. Looked bigger than 6’7” but he’s got size. And for a sophomore, I find that really intriguing. He’s also athletic. He still needs refinement but that’s what summers are for. He should see an uptick in floor time this season.
Adong Makuoi - Junior - 6'9" - PF - Makoui started his career at Daytona State College where he started 30 of 30 games averaging 6.6 ppg/5.4 rpg while shooting 69.8% from the field and 75% FT. He also blocked 46 shots which is about 1.5 per game.
Zool Keuth - Junior - 6'7" - PF - Last season as a sophomore at PCC, Kueth started 21 of 31 games averaging 26.9 minutes and 14.5 ppg/4.9 rpg shooting 42.6% from the field (32.9% 3PT - 69 of 210) and 77.9% from the line (53 of 68). Pratt CC went 19-12 last season scoring 80 points per game (while giving up 76 ppg). Zueth's 14.9 ppg were 2nd on the team to Jamel Horton's 17.3 ppg who has committed to Albany. Zueth started his collegiate career at D-I factory Tallahassee CC where he was limited to 17 games due to a broken ankle. He apparently decided to transfer to Pratt last year for a new opportunity to showcase his talents. (I'm thinking it was because TCC brought in 7 D-I players as transfers and he more than likely knew he was behind the 8-ball there...which he probably was). In his sophomore season, Zueth was named to the All-KJCCC Second Team (KJCCC = Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference). I'm guessing, at the D-I level he will play more SF than PF.
Kueth appears to be long and thin. Physically, I'd say a taller version of Gairges Daow. He's got a high release on a pretty quick shot (he doesn't jump much on the shot, it's barely more than a set shot, but a real quick one).
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Small Forward:
Justin Lee - RS Sophomore - 6’8” - SF - Lee is a bit of a mystery. He came to NIU with some hype and promise but sat out and redshirted his freshman season. Then, last season, as a RS Freshman, Lee again found himself injured and missing a lot of action. When he was in, you could see why there was excitement about him but you could also see what happens when a guy misses an entire year injured. As a RS Freshman, Lee played in 6 games averaging 8.3 minutes and 3 ppg/1.5 rpg shooting 41.2% from the field (20% from 3PT - 1-5) and 75% from FT (3-4). Lee has to be healthy this year or he runs the risk of becoming the next Dontel Highsmith who had Huskie fans hoping and wishing but was ultimately washed away by injuries. So far, and fortunately, Lee hasn’t had the type of devastating injuries Highsmith suffered, but missed time is missed time and at some point he needs to be on the floor. If he’s healthy, expect Lee to be a big part of this year’s team. I’d like to say “major contributor” but after playing in only 6 games in 2 years, expectations have to be realistic. He’s also just in his sophomore season so any step forward (together forward!) will be positive.
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Shooting Guard:
Darius Beane - Junior - 6’3” - SG - Beane is always listed as a PG, but I’m sorry...I just don’t see it. He’s a SG plain and simple. Beane is the topic of much debate regarding the Huskies roster and scholarships. I think we’ve all narrowed it down to him being a walk-on with a discounted tuition due to his dad being an employee. Anyway, Beane was a walk-on at SIU and saw a good amount of action but chose to transfer after SIU dismissed Chris Lowery as head coach. Dad was an assistant there as well and, well I’m not sure exactly which came first, but they both brought their talents north to DeKalb and I, for one, am happy they did. For one, Beane played high school for the Carbondale Terriers and, being from Southern Illinois myself, I’d seen (or listened on the radio) my fair share of Darius Beane as my own alma mater is in the same conference so I knew exactly how good Beane could be. Anyway...plowing ahead...as a sophomore at NIU, Beane saw his playing time quickly increase as he found his way into the starting lineup. Beane played in 29 games (14 starts) averaging 24.5 minute and 7.3 ppg/3.3 rpg/1.5 apg shooting 41.8% from the field (34% 3PT - 12-37) and 74.1% FT (20-27). I’d say it’s safe to assume that Beane is a starter going forward and will be counted on to be one of the primary contributors the next two seasons.
Tavon Jones - Junior - 6'3" - SG - As a sophomore at OCC, Jones started 24 of 30 games averaging 25 minutes and 13.7 ppg shooting 49.8% from the field (35.6% 3PT - 128 of 179) and 72.3% FT. He also averaged 4.8 rpg and 1.8 apg. Jones appears to be a go-to-the-rim type of player who has been improving his outside shot.
Anthony Crump - (Will sit out 2020-21 due to transfer) - 6'8" - SG
Tyler Cochran - Sophomore - 6’2” - SG - Cochran was a true freshman coming out of Bolingbrook HS (one of two local HS recruits...three if you count walk-on Filippone) and he made his presence felt almost immediately. As a freshman, Cochran played in 31 games (1 start) averaging 18.4 minutes and 5.5 ppg/4.2 rpg shooting 46.9% from the field (27.6% 3PT - 8-29) and 59.1% FT (26-44). If there ever was a guy who changed guys more just based on pure energy, I don’t know who he is. Cochran is a guy who will go to the floor or to the rim to secure any ball that isn’t already secured (and even some that are secured). Scoring isn’t exactly his strong suit, but he can convert. He’s strong as a bull and fearless. Hopefully, he can become a better free throw shooter as that is absolutely his Achilles’ Heel. And with how he plays, he’s going to find himself on the line a lot and he simply cannot be a <60% shooter from the line. Cochran is probably best suited as a 6th man in the rotation. If a team is counting on him to be a starter at guard, then they don’t have the strongest rotation of guards. But as the first man off the bench, one who is only 6’2” but can play bigger due to his bulk and strength, he’s a valuable asset. And...he’s only a sophomore.
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Point Guard:
Trendan Hankerson - Junior - 6’2” - PG - Hankerson, I believe, is another guy who is mis-labeled in his position as he’s typically listed as a SG but he’s clearly a PG. I think a lot of this is because of Eugene German. But, he’s gone now, so let’s make it clear….Hankerson is the point guard of this team. He’s also a starter AND a walk-on so he allows Mark Montgomery to utilize that scholarship to bolster the roster elsewhere. Why he is still a walk-on is anyone’s guess (I’ve yet to see an explanation) although I have my theories because, otherwise, there is no good reason he shouldn’t have a scholarship (I suspect he’s on an academic scholarship and/or has college paid for in some other means that doesn’t require him to pay it back). As a sophomore, Hankerson played in 31 games (all starts) averaging 31.4 minutes and 7.5 ppg/3 rpg/2 apg shooting 46.7% from the field (46.1% 3PT - 41-89) and 83.3% FT (25-30). Hankerson is a playmaking PG first but, as it became evident last year, he is a fantastic shooter especially from distance establishing himself as one of, if not the best, 3 point shooter in the conference. Going forward, Hankerson will be the starting point guard and will most likely be the leader on the floor. Ever since he made his debut back in January of 2019, he’s shown a high level basketball IQ. He’s clearly not the best at inbounding the ball but he strikes me as the kind of guy who will figure it out and be good at it (i believe Montgomery switched to having Cochran inbound the ball, which I actually like better). Anyway, Hankerson is like having a sharp-shooting coach on the floor and is a huge asset to the success of the team.
Zaire Mateen - Senior - 6'0" - PG - Mateen was having a pretty typical season (compared to the only other season he had for NIU...) where he saw bouts of increased playing time and then bouts of much less playing time with most of his heavier workloads coming in the pre-conference part of the season. Clearly, Montgomery was seeing what he had in guys and, at least in my opinion, Mateen never really stood out as anything more than a bench compliment. Then February hit and his time greatly increased. From Feb 1, to the end of the season, Mateen played in exactly one game in which he didn't log at least 10 minutes and most times was one the floor for more than 15 minutes. In my opinion, he was the same player. And then February 25th happened and Zaire Mateen became a name that even passive Husky fans knew. In that game at Eastern Michigan, Mateen scored 15 points and scored all of those points on three pointers. After that, he went back to the guy he's always been however, I was in attendance for the last two regular season games and he clearly had a much stronger confidence than I'd seen before...he just wasn't backing it up. After that 5 of 9 3PT performance against EMU, he shot 2 of 9 over the last three games. It was like fans, announcers, and Zaire, just assumed he'd become some kind of sharp shooter from downtown and it's pretty clear he hadn't. With that said, let's talk about his season. As a Junior, Mateen played in 27 games (1 start - unsurprisingly the game after the EMU game) averaging 11.3 minutes and 4.4 ppg/1.4 rpg shooting 39.5% from the field (35.6% 3PT - 26-73) and 75% FT (3-4....remember that 1 miss?....sigh....). Going into next year, I see Mateen as a bench player. Personally, I don't think he should start at all. He's a decent ball handler and outside shot (better than decent but not elite). Other than that, he's fine. He plays good team defense and he'll grab a rebound if you aren't paying attention. He's a sold bench piece and the most experience senior on the team. I see him as a solid bench contributor and team leader.
Dan Filippone - Sophomore - 6’1” - PG - Filippone is a walk-on who did not see any game action as a freshman. But, in the few times I was in attendance, he seems to be a well-liked member of the team and, I’m sure, will provide a spark to the bench the first time he gets into a game and everyone is rooting for him to score.
Kaleb Thornton - Sophomore - 6'0" - PG - Thornton started his college career at Iowa Western CC (Council Bluffs, IA) where, as a freshman, he played 30 games averaging 10.8 pgg/3.2 rpg/3.4 apg shooting 44.9% from the field (27.1% 3PT) and 75% FT. Thornton is a very intriguing player. He’s quick and handles the ball extremely well and appears to be a true point guard unlike many who “play” the position but are often of the “score first” mentality. Thornton looks like a playmaker.
Projections:
Now, after all of that, I’m going to preface this by saying that I’m in no way presenting any of this as a guarantee or anything of the sort. This is my best guess and only intended for conservation purposes. I’d also like to apologize as someone requested I do something like this and it put the bug in my head. Unfortunately, I simply cannot remember who it was and I’ve searched through a lot of the threads and I can’t find the mention. So, I thank you (whoever it was) and apologize.
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Guards:
As far as projection or predicting a starting lineup for the Huskies, looking at the guard position is pretty straight forward. It’s the bigs that create some mystery. At guard, I think it’s a forgone conclusion that Hankerson will be the starting PG with Darius Beane as the SG. That gives Montgomery a supporting cast of Tyler Cochran and Tavon Jones on the wing and Kaleb Thornton at the point. There’s a lot of depth there and it’s actually quite experienced with the addition of the two JUCO guards.
I'm writing this section after I realized (was made aware of) I forgot to include Zaire Mateen. In my opinion, Mateen slots in to the guard rotation and can run the point in short stints. If Hankerson has to miss a game or longer, I think the guy we're going to see start to emerge at the point is Thompson but I could see Montgomery relying on the veteran presence of Mateen in that situation as well with a growing season for Thompson. Including Mateen just underscores how much depth we have at guard and how much of a strength it is. As I said earlier, I could see a scenario where Montgomery rolls out 4 guards and Mateen could be part of that.
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Forwards/Center:
I’m going to just combine these positions because there isn’t a clear cut center on the team. One would have to assume that Justin Lee would have the benefit of his tenure but it’s all going to come down to his health and how he plays but I’m guessing he’s going to have every opportunity to take the starting position. If not, it hurts, but we’ve not had him at all for two seasons so it’s not like they’re missing out on anything.
After Lee, it gets complicated due to uncertainty. They have bodies and they have potential, but which ones rise to the top is anyone’s guess. I lean towards Adong Makuoi and Keenon Cole as the two big bodies underneath and, if not Lee, then I think either Nathan Scott or Zool Keuth can be productive at SF. Scott has to be better than he was last year when he was somewhat disappointing as the season progressed. Keuth could be no better than Scott, but he has the benefit of being unknown other than YouTube videos against JUCO competition.
After this, we have some role player types who should be coming off the bench in Chris Johnson and Chindeu Okanu who are similar players (kind of redundant actually) in that they are poor scorers and heavy on defense and rebounding. I’ve said it before, but I did enjoy watching Johnson last year and if Okanu can provide the same kind of minutes, great. That is if the others are able to score, having these two bruisers coming in off the bench is actually a positive. I mean, there’s 10 fouls right there to lay out.
So, ideally, I’d set the starting lineup as such:
PG - Hankerson
SG - Beane
SF - Scott
SF - Lee
PF/C - Makuoi
There’s actually a lot of height in the frontcourt there with all players at least 6’8” although I wouldn’t exactly say either Scott or Lee are post players. So, when I look at it that way, I start to want to shift things around but I’m not sure how to. We don’t really have a PF on the roster that can score. Makuoi could possibly be that guy but he’s about it. Hopefully, Scott and Lee will score enough that it won’t matter. Then again, Lee has good size, maybe he’ll actually be able to, but he’s more of a swingman.
I think the team is again going to be defense and 3 PT heavy. They’ve got the guns, size and athletes to do it. I’d predict a good transition offense that will have a tendency to stall or struggle in half court sets. But, back when I was coaching middle school basketball, I always coached from a defense/pressure perspective first and always had to teach the kids that if you keep the other team from scoring, it makes it a heck of a lot easier to win. I’d rather win 65-60 than 90-85.
(This post was last modified: 07-21-2020 10:10 PM by Big Red.)
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