Colonial Offseason News Recap
Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens
Newcomers:
Andrew Washington, G, Washington, DC/Friendly HS(Allen County CC, KS)
Sam McMahon, G/F, Lohman, MO/Jefferson City HS(Bridgton Academy, ME)
New Coaches:
Steve Groothuis, Assistant Coach (Delaware ’02)
Off-Season News:
What the Blue Hen’s gained in young talent, they lost in leadership and experience. Assistant coach John Moseley resigned due to family considerations. He had served as an assistant to Head Coach David Henderson for the past two seasons. The Hens also lost senior guard David Lunn, who decided to forego his final year of eligibility and no longer play college basketball due to his injury troubles.
Drexel Dragons
Newcomers:
Randy Oveneke, F/C, Antwerpen, Belgium/Saint-Anna College High School
Frank Elegar, C, Bronx, NY/St. Raymond’s HS
Randy Hampton, G, Washington, DC/Dunbar HS
Dominic Mejia, G, Voorhees, N.J./Eastern HS(N.C. State)
New Coaches:
Tony Chiles, Assistant Coach (Columbia ’89)
Off-Season News:
The Dragons looked to solidify the center position with the addition of Randy Oveneke, who averaged 27.5 points and 14 rebounds as a high school senior. The freshman should log a lot of playing time, as sophomore Timothy Tillman is the only other center on the roster. Forward Chaz Crawford might be tossed into the mix, as he is taller than both of the centers. Drexel also bolstered its coaching staff with the addition of assistant Tony Chiles, who had been coaching at Iona the past six years.
George Mason Patriots
Newcomers:
Jordan Carter, G, Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf Jesuit Prep
Folarin Campbell, G/F, Silver Spring, MD /Springbrook HS
John Vaughan, G, Laurel, MD/Laurel HS
Will Thomas, F, Baltimore, MD/Mount St. Joseph’s HS
Off-Season News:
The Patriots look to be an early favorite in the CAA, returning three starters and seven letter winners from last year’s squad. That team went 23-10, recording the most wins in the 37 year history of the program. They also achieved the most home wins (14) since 1985, the best non-conference winning percentage since joining the CAA, two consecutive post season wins for the first time ever, and the most games played in a single season. Head coach Jim Larranaga clearly has this team on the right path, as he has led the Patriots to a 123-84 record in his seven years at the helm, including the best regular season record over the past six years in the CAA (72-30) and an outstanding 67-11 record at home.
Hofstra Pride
Newcomers:
Jorge Lebron, G, San German, PR/Florida Prep
Antoine Agudio, G, Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman HS
Brian Sisti, F/C, Northport, NY/Northport HS
Off-Season News:
Head coach Tom Pekora has had success in the past, but with Hofstra he has done nothing but struggle. He has led the team to two losing seasons, the lone bright spot being the Pride’s 10-8 conference mark last season. Things do not look to get any easier this year either, as senior forward Kenny Adeleke was recently dismissed from the team for a violation of University and team rules. The Pride also lost sophomore center Omar Alston, who left the team due to personal reasons.
James Madison Dukes
Newcomers:
Gabriel Chami, C, Cordoba, Argentina/New Hampton HS
Joe Posey, G, Colonial Beach, VA/Notre Dame Academy
New Coaches:
Dean Keener, Head Coach (Davidson ’88)
Robert Brickey – Assistant Coach (Duke ’90, first year)
Michael Kelly – Assistant Coach (St. Joseph’s [Maine] ’93, first year)
Jake Morton – Assistant Coach (Miami [Fla] ’93, first year)
Off-Season News:
Head Coach Sherman Dillard resigned after seven years at the position, opening the door for Dean Keener. The new coach has never held a head coaching position, but has been an assistant for 16 years. Keener coached at JMU during the ’99-’00 season when the Dukes tied for the CAA title. The Dukes also added three new assistant coaches. While the school brought in new coaches, James Madison did not recruit heavily and this season will determine if that was a bad move.
Old Dominion Monarchs
Newcomers:
Sam Harris, C, Newnham, Tasmania, Australia
Brandon Johnson, G, Orlando, FL/Edgewater HS
Jason Thompson, F, Sanford, NC/Chatham HS
Off-Season News:
Old Dominion earned the fourth seed in last year’s CAA tournament. With returning starters Alex Loughton (16.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1st team all-CAA), Isaiah Hunter (13 ppg, 2.5 apg, 3rd team all-CAA), Arnaud Dahi (9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, CAA-all rookie team) and Drew Williamson (4 ppg, 3.3 apg), the Monarchs look poised to make a run at the league title. Add to that the fact all four starters are juniors or sophomores, and the youth movement is officially on. The Monarchs furthered this trend by adding two young recruits to go along with European center Sam Harris.
Towson Tigers
Newcomers:
Cantrell Fletcher, G, Philadelphia, PA/St. John Neumann HS(Cecil CC)
Sean Raboin, F, Columbia, MO/Mexico HS
New Coaches:
Pat Kennedy, Head Coach (Kings College of Pennylvania ’75)
Jay Eck – Assistant Coach (Xavier ’76)
Eric Skeeters – Assistant Coach (Coppin State ’97)
Rob Norris – Assistant Coach (Indiana University of Pennsylvania ’99)
Off-Season News:
The addition of Pat Kennedy as head coach should help a team that managed just four conference wins last season. Kennedy is currently tied with Rick Pitino for 19th place as the winningest active D1 coach. Known as a great recruiter, Kennedy wasted no time bringing in talent when he signed guard Cantrell Fletcher. With just two years of eligibility remaining, count on Fletcher to make an immediate impact as floor general.
UNC Wilmington Seahawks
Newcomers:
Daniel Fountain, G, Woodbridge,VA/Woodbridge HS
Vladmir Kuljanin, C, Toronto, Canada/Forest Hills Collegiate
Off-Season News:
The Seahawks have won the CAA three of the past five years(’00, ’02, ’03). They have also placed in the NCAA tournament in each of those years. In ’01, they reached the NIT. Third year coach Brad Brownell has posted a 39-22 record and expects nothing less than greatness. The Seahawks have won 10 or more CAA games in 11 consecutive seasons, leading the league in scoring defense all of those years. It is for these reasons that UNC Wilmington is a favorite to win the league and advance to the NCAA tournament. However, the team did very little in the off-season, adding just two new players. This lack of action could hurt the Seahawks a year from now.
Virginia Commonwealth University Rams
Newcomers:
Sam Faulk, C, Fayetteville, NC/E.E. Smith HS
Michael Anderson, F, Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown HS
Calvin Roland, C, Hephzibah, GA/Aiken Technical College
Jamal Shuler, G, Jacksonville, N.C./Jacksonville HS
Off-Season News:
In two years as head coach, Jeff Capel has achieved a 41-18 record. Last year, the Rams won the CAA and hope to do the same this season. Junior Calvin Roland transferred from Aiken Technical College and looks to be the starter at center. Technical College and NCAA Division 1 are two completely different levels, but the Rams are counting on Roland to put up big numbers as the only true center on the roster.
William & Mary Tribe
Newcomers:
Kyle Carrabine, G, Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley HS
Adam Dutton, G, Winchester, VA/Handley HS
Laimonas Kiselius, F, Vilnius, Lithuania/Miller School (VA)
Nathan Mann, G, Overland Park, KS/St. Thomas Aquinas HS
Edwin Ofori Attah, G, Davidson, NC/Statesville Christian HS
Hawley Smith, F, Jacksonville, FL/The Bolles School
Also:
Adam Payton, G, Burlington, NJ/The Lawrenceville School (transfer from Vanderbilt, will not be eligible until the ’05-’06 season)
New Coaches:
Chad Warner – Assistant Coach (Georgia ’98)
Off-Season News:
The Tribe was by far the busiest team in the CAA when it came to recruiting. They brought in five new guards and two forwards. Though guard Adam Payton will not be eligible to play until the ’05-’06 season, William & Mary proved it is committed to improving a team that went just 7-21 last season, receiving the #8 seed in the CAA tourney. The Tribe also added assistant coach Chad Warner to Tony Shaver’s staff.
