Basketball in Bramlage!
It’s time to get things started for the K-State men’s basketball team and tonight they open the season at home in the Octagon of Doom against Charleston Southern. This season begins as an enigma with there not being any real clear indications of how the team might end up. The preseason Big 12 coaches poll put the Wildcats at 6th. Coming off an NCAA tournament appearance that seems a bit harsh but when you throw in the general turmoil that came during the offseason with plenty of players bailing out of Coach Martin’s program it’s pretty understandable. The usual suspects are known. Expect to see Martavious Irving, Rodney McGruder, Jordan Henriquez, and Will Spradling start the game. There’s no need to rehash what those guys bring to the table (and other sites have done it way better already) but continue reading to get a quick blurb about all the new players that have been added to the roster.
(This was taken straight from KStatesports.com. Find the full game preview here: http://www.kstatesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111011aaa.html )
Here are brief thumbnails on each newcomer:
–Jeremy Jones (6-2, 170, Junior) – A transfer from Seward County [Kan.] Community College, he averaged a team-best 18.6 points on 48.9 percent shooting, including 37.2 percent from 3-point range, to go with 4.5 assists per game en route to earning third team NJCAA All-American honors. He helped the Saints to a 27-7 record and a Jayhawk West Conference title.
–James Watson (6-8, 230, Junior) – A transfer from Cowley [Kan.] College, he averaged 10.4 points on 48.8 percent shooting with 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He helped the Tigers to 25 wins. He also played two years at Washington State.
–Omari Lawrence (6-3, 220, Sophomore) – Sit out the 2010-11 season after playing his freshman year at St. John’s in 2009-10. He averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds for the Red Storm in 25 games as a rookie and a trip to the NIT.
–Adrian Diaz (6-10, 225, Freshman) – Rated among the Top 150 players in the country, Diaz averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks as a senior at Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School, where he helped the Trojans to a 23-5 record in 2010-11.
–Thomas Gipson (6-7, 275, Freshman) – Also another Top 150 prospect, Gipson helped Cedar Hill High School to a 33-4 record as a senior while averaging just over 15 points per game. He scored in double figures in 32 games with seven 20-point outings.
–Angel Rodriguez (5-11, 180, Freshman) – One of the top prospects in the state of Florida, Rodriguez helped Krop High School to the No. 1 ranking in the state before the season was cut short due to an ineligible player. He averaged 23 points and 6 assists.
–Shawn Meyer (6-3, 210, Freshman) – Averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds in his two-year career at Blue Springs South High.
–Brian Rohleder (6-3, 210, Freshman) – Averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds as a senior at Bishop Carroll High School.