Sunday, October 21, 2012

The 2012-13 Texas Arlington Mavericks


Here's Coach Scott Cross' 2012-13 roster:

(alphabetical)

Vernell Blackman 6-5/202 Forward JR Dallas, TX/Canarsie High School/Lon Morris JC

Kevin Butler
6-5/214 Forward SR Duncanville, TX/Duncanville/TCU

Cameron Catlett
6-3/188 Guard SR San Antonio, TX/Madison

Drew Charles
6-2/193 Guard FR Azle, TX/Azle

* Luke Davis
6-1/154 Guard RS FR Lubbock, TX/Monterey

Vincent Dillard
6-5/200 Forward JR Sanford, FL/Lake Brantley/Colby CC

Roger Dowell
6-1/183 Guard JR Duncanville, TX/Duncanville/Oklahoma State

Brandon Edwards
6-6/224 Forward JR Fort Worth, TX/South Hills

Greg Gainey
6-5/212 Forward JR Dayton, OH/Marshall/South Plains College

Karol Gruszecki
6-5/200 Forward SR Lodz, Poland//North Platte CC

Stuart Lagerson
7-0/220 Center JR Converse, TX/Judson

* Kyle McElvain
6-2/191 Guard JR Arlington, TX/Pantego Christian/Texas Wesleyan

Jamel Outler
6-2/183 Guard SO Houston, TX./Bellaire/Texas Tech

Jordan Reves
6-10/240 Forward SR Jeffersontown, KY/Jeffersontown

Deon Rodgers
6-6/265 Forward FR Fort Worth, TX/Dunbar

Shaquille White-Miller
5-9/176 Guard JR Port Arthur, TX/Memorial

* walk-on

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Here's what PTW wrote earlier (May 29) about Texas Arlington hoops:

Scott Cross heads the Mavericks' program which is coming off a Southland Conference championship after posting a 15-1 record, 24-9 overall.

It looks like three seniors have moved on -- Bradley Gay, Bo Ingram (the second leading scorer at 12.8 points a contest) and LeMarcus Reed III (the leading scorer at 17.8 points per game) -- the latter two very effective as wings. Four newcomers are arriving.

The TA backcourters:

* Cameron Catlett, 6-3/185 guard senior

5.5 points per game, 86 assists and a second-on-the-team 48 steals but his shooting accuracy needs upgrading.

* Luke Davis, 6-1/160 guard sophomore (didn't play last season)

* Jamel Outler, 6-2/180 guard junior  (didn't play last season)

* Shaquille White-Miller, 5-9/165 guard junior

Just 4.8 points per game but a team-leading 123 assists as a regular starter.

As for recruits in the backcourt:

* Drew Charles guard TX HS 6-foot-2

Crafty with long distance shooting talent, he understands how to play plus how to use his teammates efficiently.

* Vincent Dillard Jr. guard Colby KS College 6-foot-5

12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, shooting 42%, 37% and 59% respectively, he's a creative lefty who performs best in transition.

The TA frontcourters:   

* Kevin Butler, 6-5/210 forward senior
 
Produced 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds a game and he led the Mavs with 51 steals.

* Brandon Edwards, 6-6/210 forward junior

4.3 points (shooting 60%), 4.4 rebounds and 23 blocked shots in 15 minutes a contest.
   
* Karol Gruszecki, 6-5/195 forward senior

41 of his overall 55 shots were of the trey variety -- he shot 37%.

* Jordan Reves, 6-10/240 forward senior

A starter last season, Reves averaged 9.1 points (shooting 55%) and 7.8 boards per game, plus 57 shotblocks overall, all in 24 minutes a contest
    
* Stuart Lagerson, 7-0/210 center junior

He's a backup with some inside shooting and shotblocking prowess.

The Maverick frontcourt recruiting class

* Greg Gainey forward South Plains C.C. 6-foot-5

14 points (on 62% shooting) and 5.4 rebounds a game   

* Deon Rodgers forward TX HS 6-foot-6 245

A knee injury slowed his senior season but he's thick, posts up and seals well as an inside scorer.

In summary, a fantastic last season in the Southland Conference will be met with an initial who-knows one in the Western Athletic Conference. It will be a one season trial whose finish will be determined by the level of  returnees and newbies stepping up.

The Mavs shot 45% overall in 2011-12 to 41% for opponents and out-boarded the competition by a remarkable six a game.

Turnovers played a hand in Texas Arlington's losses last year and will need reducing since the Mavs will likely not shoot as well this go-around. There is also minimal size in the frontcourt.

College Park Center is a brand new facility and the new homecourt for the Mavericks, who were able to play in it four times late in the  2012-13 season.
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The Maverick starting five:

* Jordan Reves
* Brandon Edwards
* Kevin Butler
* ?
* Shaquille White-Miller

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