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Despite having nine players on the roster from last
season, the Shawnee State University Men's Basketball Team will take
on a decidedly different look in the 2005 - 2006 season. The
Shawnee State roster features nine new players, including a pair of
NCAA Division I transfers. "We've got a really good mix of new and
old," said Shawnee State Coach Jeff Hamilton.
Seniors Terrence Davison, Billy Younger, and Kevin
Cunningham lead the core of returners. Davison, a 6-1 guard from
Mansfield, comes into the season as the school's all-time leading
scorer. He needs just 350 points to get to the top of the list.
The 1st Team All-AMC performer averaged 17.3 points and 4.3 rebounds
per game as a junior. Billy Younger, a 6-0 guard from Reynoldsburg,
OH, will man the point for the second straight year. Billy averaged
5.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a junior. Kevin Cunningham,
a 6-1 guard from Columbus, OH, will likely see his role expand as a
senior. "All of these young men have shown outstanding leadership
this year," said Hamilton. "They know what it take for us to be
successful and they are doing a good job of relaying that to our
younger guys."
Also back for the Bears are juniors Aaron Davis,
Allassondro Roberts, and Justin Phillips and sophomores Thomas Kluz,
Tyler Lough, and Frank Hall. Davis, a 6-2 wing from Mt. Orab, OH,
hurt his knee in the pre-season and his return is questionable.
"It's really a shame about Aaron," said Hamilton. "He worked his
tail off over the summer and improved exponentially. He's going to
be missed, but it provides an opportunity for someone else to step
up and contribute." Roberts, a 6-3 forward from Columbus has shown
flashes on offense, but will likely be looked upon as the Bears'
defensive stopper. Phillips, a 6-0 guard from Mt. Orab will likely
back up the point but could play the two. Lough, a 6-0 guard from
Marietta will also see time at both guard spots. Kluz, a 6-5
forward from Upper Arlington, OH provides the Bears with some bulk
in the front court. He averaged 3.3 points per game in limited
action as a freshman. Frank Hall, a 6-9 center from Plain City, OH
played in 31 games as a freshman.
Five freshmen appear on the Shawnee State roster
including Shaun Gunnell, Justin Brinkman, and Justin Patrick.
Gunnell a 6-2 forward averaged 22 points and 16 rebounds per game as
a senior Linden McKinley and earned All-Ohio recognition. Brinkman,
a 6-7 center averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior
at Reading High School and was named Honorable Mention All-Ohio.
Patrick is a 6-5 wing out of Westland High School. He led Westland
to Conference and District Championships as a senior. He averaged
18.2 points, and 7.1 rebounds per game and shot 60% from the field.
The Bears face another very challenging schedule. In
addition to a tough conference schedule which features defending
National Champions Walsh University and pre-season #5 Cedarville
University, the Bears also travel to the University of Findlay,
ranked #7 in NCAA Division II. Highlighting the schedule is the Las
Vegas Holiday Invitational. Shawnee State travels plays at Boston
College in the opening round on November 20 followed by a game at
Drake University on November 22. The Bears then travel to Las Vegas
to take on Detroit followed by either Jackson State or Buffalo.
Shawnee State kicks off the season at the Kentucky
Christian Invitational. The Bears open with Lambuth on November 3.
The Bears home opener is November 10 versus Point Park. |
