Saturday, May 12, 2012

What the heck does Utah State look like next season?

In the 2012-13 go-around, Coach Stew Morrill will be missing Brockeith Pane, Brady Jardine, Morgan Grim, Mitch Bruneel, Igor Premasunac and Adam Thoseby.

But before a call for a talent roundup collection is posted or a leniency pleato opponents is issued, consider that Morrill and Company has restocked the shelves quite handily.

6-foot-10 sophomore Jordan Stone, 6-foot-11 junior Jarred Shaw (redshirt Oklahoma State) and 6-foot-11 sophomore Matt Lopez (redshirt La Salle who will become eligible in late December) will man the middle

Stone is still sculpting his game, Shaw looks like the best defender of the group and Lopez brings offensive possibilities. There's no Gary Wilkinson among the bunch as yet but it will be fin watching each enjoying the touches that the Aggie offense generates for bigs. Plus, there's count-em 15 fouls to give in league play.

6-foot-6 senior Kyisean Reed will play the four, probably backed by 6-foot-7 soph returnee Ben Clifford and 6-foot-7 JC transfer Sean Harris, if and when he becomes healthy. A fully focused Reed would amp up the scoring potential from this spot but that has yet to become a reality and he has just one season remaining. He will continue to bring the spectacular but it's the steady that is needed.

At the three, it looks like a rotation of juniors Spencer Butterfield, Marvin Jean and 6-foot-6 Danny Berger unless one emerges from the pack. A lot of MB posts have Berger redshirting next season but that remains to be seen. 6-foot-5 frosh Quincy Bair may also don a magenta jersey or might see some time at the two. Morrill has a bountiful crop here.

6-foot-4 junior Preston Medlin owns said two spot and should be on the court for 35 minutes a game in 2012-13.

Running the point will be 6-foot-1 JC transfer TeNale Roland, plus a pair of challengers in 6-foot-2 freshmen in Marcel Davis and Riley Bradshaw. The latter will also see time at the deuce.

In summary, it remains to be seen if a consistent point producer will come from the four and five positions. There's a lot to like at the three even if a each is unproven. Medlin will be in the running for conference MVP while Roland has to adjust quickly to getting down USU offensive sets because a freshman at the point is simply asking too much too soon.

The Aggies are back, if they ever left.

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