ARKANSAS STATE MEN S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS

Transcription

1 ARKANSAS STATE MEN S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS

2 ARKANSAS STATE MEN S BASKETBALL QUICK FACTS GENERAL Location...Jonesboro, Arkansas (67,263) Nickname...Red Wolves Enrollment...13,900 Colors...Scarlet & Black Founded Arena (Capacity)...Convocation Center (10,038) Press Row Phone Affiliation...NCAA (Division I) Conference...Sun Belt President...Dr. Charles L. Welch Chancellor...Dr. Tim Hudson Director of Athletics...Terry Mohajir (Arkansas State 93) Athletic Dept. Phone Athletic Web Site...astateredwolves.com COACHING STAFF Head Coach...John Brady Alma Mater...Belhaven College 76 Record at Arkansas State (4 Years) Overall Record (21 years) Phone Best Time to Call...Mornings ...lkeller@astate.edu Associate Head Coach...Melvin Haralson (Auburn 89) Assistant Coaches...Corey Barker (Prairie View A&M 03)...Jeff Clapacs (Wooster 07) Director of Bskb Operations...Brodrick Johnson (Arkansas State 10) IMPORTANT NUMBERS ASU Dept. of Athletics ASU Basketball Office ASU Basketball Fax ASU Sports Information Convocation Center Press Row Sun Belt Conference Sun Belt Fax HISTORY First Year of Basketball All-Time Record...1,087-1,037 NCAA Tournament Appearances...1 Last , L vs. Utah NIT Postseason Appearances...4 Last , Quarterfinals TEAM INFORMATION Overall Record Sun Belt Conference Record/Finish /5th West Starters Returning...4 Trey Finn (G) ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.5 spg. Marcus Hooten (G) ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.6 apg Brandon Peterson (F) ppg, 7.9 rpg, 33 blocks, 23 steals Ed Townsel (G) ppg, 3.6 rpg, 103 assists, 66 steals Starters Lost...1 Malcoln Kirkland (F) ppg, 6.2 rpg Letterwinners Returning...6 Rakeem Dickerson (So., G), Trey Finn (RSr., G), Darion Griswold (So., F), Marcus Hooten (Sr., G), Brandon Peterson (Sr., F), Ed Townsel (Jr., G) Letterwinners Lost...4 Bryce Clark, Malcoln Kirkland, Adam Sterrenberg, Kinley Ogbonnaya-Branch Newcomers...8 Kristopher Brown (Fr., F), Kelvin Downs (Fr., F), Cameron Golden (Fr., G), Seth Kisler (Jr., F), Josh Pierre (Fr., G), Kendrick Washington (Jr., F), Jordan Weaver (So., G), Raeford Worsham (Fr., G) SPORTS INFORMATION Assistant AD/Sports Information Director...Jerry Scott Office Phone Cell Phone jscott@astate.edu Assistant Director...Chris Graddy Office Phone Cell Phone cgraddy@astate.edu Assistant Director/MBB Contact...Joe Gorby Office Phone Cell Phone jgorby@astate.edu Graduate Assistant...Dennen Cuthbertson Office Phone Sports Information Phone/Fax / Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1000, State University, AR Mailing Address: 217 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro, AR RADIO INFORMATION Radio...Arkansas State Radio Network Flagship Station FM, KFIN Play-by-Play Announcer...Matt Stolz Stolz Phone ARKANSAS STATE MEN S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS

3 ALPHABETICAL ROSTER NO. NAME HT. WT. YR. POS. EX. HOMETOWN/LAST SCHOOL 42 Kristopher Brown Fr. F HS Fort Worth, Texas/Richland 1 Rakeem Dickerson So. G 1L Little Rock, Ark./Brehm Prep 14 Kelvin Downs Fr. F HS Arlington, Texas/Juan Seguin 2 Trey Finn (C) R-Sr. G 3L Little Rock, Ark./Parkview 0 Cameron Golden Fr. G HS Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway 3 Darion Griswold So. F 1L Dumas, Ark./Dumas 5 Marcus Hooten (C) Sr. G 1L Jackson, Miss./Copiah-Lincoln 31 Melvin Johnson III Sr. G TR Dallas, Texas/U. Texas-San Antonio 34 Seth Kisler Jr. F TR Fort Wayne, Ind./Paris 15 Brandon Peterson (C) Sr. F 3L Birmingham, Ala./Erwin 4 Josh Pierre Fr. G HS Baton Rouge, La./Stillwater, Okla. 24 Ed Townsel Jr. G 2L Starkville, Miss./Starkville 20 Kirk Van Slyke Sr. F TR The Woodlands, Texas/U. Houston 40 Kendrick Washington Jr. F TR Shreveport, La./U. Houston 23 Jordan Weaver R-So. G TR Parkin, Ark./Iowa Western 35 Raeford Worsham Fr. G HS Waynesboro, Miss./Wayne County NUMERICAL ROSTER NO. NAME HT. WT. YR. POS. EX. HOMETOWN/LAST SCHOOL 0 Cameron Golden Fr. G HS Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway 1 Rakeem Dickerson So. G 1L Little Rock, Ark./Brehm Prep 2 Trey Finn (C) R-Sr. G 3L Little Rock, Ark./Parkview 3 Darion Griswold So. F 1L Dumas, Ark./Dumas 4 Josh Pierre Fr. G HS Baton Rouge, La./Stillwater, Okla. 5 Marcus Hooten (C) Sr. G 1L Jackson, Miss./Copiah-Lincoln 14 Kelvin Downs Fr. F HS Arlington, Texas/Juan Seguin 15 Brandon Peterson (C) Sr. F 3L Birmingham, Ala./Erwin 20 Kirk Van Slyke Sr. F TR The Woodlands, Texas/U. of Houston 23 Jordan Weaver R-So. G TR Parkin, Ark./Iowa Western 24 Ed Townsel Jr. G 2L Starkville, Miss./Starkville 31 Melvin Johnson III Sr. G TR Dallas, Texas/U. of Texas-San Antonio 34 Seth Kisler Jr. F TR Fort Wayne, Ind./Paris 35 Raeford Worsham Fr. G HS Waynesboro, Miss./Wayne County 40 Kendrick Washington Jr. F TR Shreveport, La./U. of Houston 42 Kristopher Brown Fr. F HS Fort Worth, Texas/Richland Ineligible for season due to NCAA DI Transfer Rule HEAD COACH: John Brady (Fifth Year) ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH: Melvin Haralson (Second Year) ASSISTANT COACHES: Corey Barker (First Year), Jeff Clapacs (Fifth Year) DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS: Brodrick Johnson (First Year) BY CLASS Seniors (5): Finn, Hooten, Johnson, Peterson, Van Slyke Juniors (3): Kisler, Townsel, Washington Sophomores (3): Dickerson, Griswold, Weaver Freshmen (5): Brown, Downs, Golden, Pierre, Worsham BY POSITION Forward (7): Brown, Downs, Griswold, Kisler, Peterson, Van Slyke, Washington Guard (9): Dickerson, Finn, Golden, Hooten, Johnson, Pierre, Townsel, Weaver, Worsham ROSTER BREAKDOWN BY STATE Alabama (1):Peterson Arkansas (4): Dickerson, Finn, Griswold, Weaver Indiana (1): Kisler Louisiana (2): Pierre, Washington Mississippi (3): Hooten, Townsel, Worsham Tennessee (1): Golden Texas (4): Brown, Downs, Johnson, Van Slyke (C) Denotes captain ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MEN S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS

4 ARKANSAS STATE MEN S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE DATE DAY OPPONENT LOCATION TV/WEBCAST RADIO TIME Nov. 1 Thu. SOUTHERN ARKANSAS (Exhibition) Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Nov. 6 Tue. HENDERSON STATE (Exhibition) Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Nov. 10 Sat. at Dayton Dayton, Ohio TBA ASRN 6 p.m. Nov. 13 Tue. ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Nov. 16 Fri. at Tennessee-Martin Martin, Tenn. TBA ASRN 7 p.m. Nov. 21 Wed. at Central Arkansas Conway, Ark. TBA ASRN 7 p.m. Nov. 25 Sun. LAMAR Jonesboro TBA ASRN 2:05 p.m. Nov. 29 Thu. at Florida International* Miami, Fla. TBA ASRN 6 p.m. Dec. 1 Sat. at Florida Atlantic* Boca Raton, Fla. TBA ASRN 6 p.m. Dec. 8 Sat. ST. BONAVENTURE Jonesboro TBA ASRN 2:05 p.m. Dec. 16 Sun. AUSTIN PEAY Jonesboro TBA ASRN 2:05 p.m. Dec. 19 Wed. MURRAY STATE Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:35 p.m. Dec. 22 Sat. at Kent State Kent, Ohio TBA ASRN 6 p.m. Dec. 27 Thu. LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Dec. 29 Sat. at South Alabama* Mobile, Ala. TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Jan. 3 Thu. MIDDLE TENNESSEE* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Jan. 5 Sat. WESTERN KENTUCKY* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Jan. 10 Thu. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Jan. 12 Sat. at Louisiana-Lafayette* Lafayette, La. TBA ASRN 7 p.m. Jan. 19 Sat. LOUISIANA-MONROE* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Jan. 24 Thu. at Troy* Troy, Ala. TBA ASRN 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 Sat. FLORIDA ATLANTIC* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Jan. 31 Thu. SOUTH ALABAMA* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Feb. 2 Sat. NORTH TEXAS* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Feb. 7 Thu. at Middle Tennessee* Murfreesboro, Tenn. TBA ASRN 7 p.m. Feb. 9 Sat. at Western Kentucky* Bowling Green, Ky. TBA ASRN 7 p.m. Feb. 14 Thu. ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Feb. 16 Sat. at Louisiana-Monroe* Monroe, La. TBA ASRN 4 p.m. Feb. 23 Sat. TROY* Jonesboro TBA ASRN 7:05 p.m. Feb. 28 Thu. at North Texas* Denton, Texas TBA ASRN 7 p.m. Mar. 2 Sat. at Arkansas-Little Rock* Little Rock, Ark. TBA ASRN 7 p.m. Mar Fri.- Mon. at Sun Belt Conference Tournament Hot Springs, Ark. TBA TBA * Sun Belt Conference game All Times Central Home Games in BOLD ARKANSAS STATE MEN S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS

5 TEAM NOTES Arkansas State will return 73.4 percent (1,614-2,198) of its scoring production and 71.4 percent (736-1,031) of its rebounding output from a season ago. Five of the squad s six top scorers are back in the fold for the campaign, including the Red Wolves top points leader last season in senior guard Marcus Hooten (12.5 ppg.). The five, which includes four starters, accounted for 68.7 percent (1,510-2,198) of ASU s scoring. A-State has compiled a record at home dating back to the season for a 72.4 winning percentage. The Red Wolves have compiled double-digit home wins in a single season 14 times to date, including posting a 10-5 home ledger in the season. A season ago, ASU tied for the biggest upset in the history of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the ninth-seed Red Wolves upset the tourney s top seed Middle Tennessee (64-61). A new integrated video display system was installed at the Convocation Center in early October. The display system, produced by Daktronics, consists of four identical LED video displays measuring 12 feet high by 26 feet wide mounted in the four corners of the arena. A-State finished tops among Sun Belt Conference leaders in defensive rebounds allowed (29.6 rpg.) while ranking second in both defensive rebounding percentage (70.9 percent) and threepoint field goal percentage (37.3 percent) in league matchups only. The Red Wolves are in November games, in December, in January, in February, and 3-5 in March contests since current ASU head coach John Brady s arrival in the season. Entering the season, A-State has amassed an all-time 1,052-1,040 record (50.3 winning pct.) dating back to its inaugural campaign. The Red Wolves have produced 20 or more victories in a season on five occasions (21-13), (21-14), (20-10), (23-9), and (20-9) since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in the season. A-State registered an 11-5 record last season in games which the Red Wolves scored 65 points or more. Conversely, ASU notched a 4-14 ledger in contests which the opposition netted at least 65 points. Terry Mohajir, a 20-year leader in collegiate athletics and an ASU alumnus, was appointed as the University s 11th Director of Athletics on Sept. 19, Prior to ASU, Mohajir was served as the University of Kansas Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Chief Marketing Officer. Mohajir, who s a 1993 ASU graduate and was a two-year (1990 and 1991) A-State football team letterwinner, replaced Dr. Dean Lee. INDIVIDUAL NOTES Senior guard Trey Finn enters this season only 147 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point career mark. The backcourt standout has tallied 853 career points in 91 games to date and would become the 24th player to attain the milestone. Finn also presently ranks seventh among the school s all-time leaders in both three-point field goal percentage (40.5 percent), three-point field goals made (131), and career steals (119). Senior forward Brandon Peterson s 123 career blocked shots is the third most on ASU s all-time list. Peterson had a team-high 33 shot rejections in 34 outings last season after chalking up a career season-most 61 blocks in 31 games as a freshman in He recorded at least two blocks in a game on 10 occasions a season ago and claimed or shared team-high blocked shot honors a squadbest 17 times. Brandon Peterson, who has grabbed 585 career rebounds in 96 contests to date, presently ranks 15th among A-State all-time leaders and is 65 boards away from moving into the school s top 10 list. A season ago, he accumulated 11 double-digit rebounding games in 34 appearances and led or shared top ASU honors in a team-best 24 outings. Trey Finn, Marcus Hooten, Brandon Peterson, and Ed Townsel combined for 64 double-figure scoring games in Finn led the way with 21 such performances while Hooten had 20 efforts. Trey Finn is a nominee for the Senior CLASS Award, which is bestowed to a NCAA Division I senior student-athlete who will exhaust their eligibility at the conclusion of the current season. The award recognizes involvement in the community, classroom, character, and competition. Freshman guard Josh Pierre s father, Butch, will embark on his fifth season as the associate men s basketball head coach at Oklahoma State University. Butch spent 11 seasons ( ) at LSU as a member of current A-State head coach John Brady s staff, including six as the associate head coach. Pierre has a twin brother, Joseph III. Trey Finn and Marcus Hooten epitomize the term student-athlete as the pair each received Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll recognition for maintaining a gpa between for the academic year. Junior guard Ed Townsel s team-high 66 steals in games tied for the third-best season output in A-State history. Townsel recorded 47 more steals a season ago than in the campaign (19 in 32 games). Trey Finn (61 three s), Ed Townsel (46), and Marcus Hooten (42), ASU s top three-point field goal shooters from , combined to account for 84.7 percent ( ) of the Red Wolves output from beyond the arc this past season ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MEN S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS

6 ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MEN S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS

7 ARKANSAS STATE MEN S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS

8 A proven winner in the collegiate coaching ranks, John Brady s vision of taking the Arkansas State men s basketball program to the highest competitive level nationally has made the two entities a perfect match. Brady has certainly become accustomed to success throughout his distinguished coaching career as evidenced by a Final Four appearance and 295 career victories to his credit. A new era in ASU men s basketball history began on March 19, 2008 when Brady was announced as the Red Wolves 15th head coach in the program s history. For Brady, the appointment was one he relishes. I am excited about the opportunity to lead the Arkansas State men s basketball program to a position I feel like it deserves in the Sun Belt Conference, said Brady. Our goal is not only to play for conference championships, but to advance to the NCAA Tournament. This has always been considered a great basketball community and region that will support this basketball program in a big way. Not only is it our goal to win championships, but to lead the Sun Belt Conference in attendance because of the great fans this University has. We are excited about it and look forward to the opportunities that are ahead. Brady wasted little time making a positive impact on the A-State program as in his initial three years at the helm, he turned the Red Wolves into a success story on the court by capturing a share of the Sun Belt Conference s Western Division Championship title in along with compiling double-digit SBC wins back-to-back for the first time in nearly 20 years and going JOHN BRADY HEAD COACH FIFTH YEAR undefeated at home with a 13-0 record. During his first season with the Red Wolves, Brady helped lead ASU to one of the best starts in program history and achieved the No. 22 ranking on Collegeinsider.com s Mid-Major Top 25 poll. As a team, A-State greatly improved upon its defending and rebounding numbers, finishing near the top of the conference in several statistical categories. Brady would take the Red Wolves a step further in his second season ( ), improving their record to while making a Sun Belt Conference Tournament Semifinal appearance and finishing second in the SBC s West Division. For his efforts, Brady was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year and the District VII Coach of the Year by the USBWA. ASU also claim top league honors in three-point field-goal defense, rebounding offense, and defensive rebounding in For the season, A-State registered an 11-7 SBC record which signified its best conference mark since the campaign when ASU achieved an identical league mark. A-State s 11 wins represented the seventh time in which the Red Wolves compiled a double-digit league victories total since joining the Sun Belt. ASU would then duplicate its SBC wins in the season by finishing with an 11-5 conference ledger. Prior to Arkansas State, Brady spent 10- plus seasons serving as LSU s head coach. During his tenure at the school, Brady guided the Tigers to six postseason berths, two Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship crowns and three SEC Western Division titles. With his success, Brady was tabbed as the SEC Coach ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MEN S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS