BUCCANEER MEN TO OPEN SEASON TONIGHT AT HOME

Buccaneers to work offense through the low post in 2016-17

Entire team has a strong work ethic that will help season be a success

The Blinn College men’s basketball team will use a strong work ethic and an offense that works through the low post in its quest for a deeper postseason run this season.

“Working the ball into the post will open the offense for the guards and also will help us get to the free throw line,” head coach Scott Schumacher said. “We have the big guys down low that can score.”

(After this story was filed, Coach Schumacher suffered a health set-back over the weekend.  The Bucs will be coached by Assistant Coach Stott Carter --former head coach at Eastern New Mexico-- in the interim.)

The Buccaneers finished with a 22-10 overall record in 2015-16 and earned an eighth seed in the Region XIV tournament. Blinn beat Kilgore College 63-53 to open the tournament, but lost to eventual champion Trinity Valley Community College in the quarterfinals.

The Buccaneers will return three players from last year’s team. Forward James Harrison (Dallas) and guards Jarius Kesee (West Columbia) and LeKendric Hyson (Mumford) all saw extensive minutes a year ago.

“All of our sophomores have taken a step in the right direction,” Schumacher said.

Harrison saw his minutes go up as the season went along last year while averaging 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He has shown improvement in his sophomore season with his low-post scoring and his rebounding, Schumacher said.

Kesee has become a hard worker on the court and that should put him in a great position to contribute to the team’s success, Schumacher said. Hyson now understands his role better as a sophomore, which will allow him to focus on just working hard out on the court. Kesee averaged 3.1 and Hyson averaged 3.5 points per game last year.

Juwan Green (Edgard, La.), T.J. Distefano (College Station) and Tyler Barlow (Corpus Christi) are all transfer sophomores that bring playing experience to the Buccaneers.

Green, a point guard transfer from Missouri State University-West Plains, brings athleticism and great ball-handling skills. Distefano, a transfer guard from Texas A&M University, brings a tremendous work ethic. Barlow, a 6-foot-9 forward transfer from Lafayette (Pa.) College, is a big player that can move well laterally and has the tools to be successful.

Schumacher also has 11 freshmen looking to contribute.

“The freshmen are in a situation where they need to improve every day in practice,” Schumacher said. “We have a lot of guys that can shoot it, and that is what we set out for when we went recruiting.”

Anthony Rice (Conyers, Ga.), Jaylen Rhone (Texarkana), and Frederick Tottenham (Houston) are incoming freshman guards.

Rice makes sound decisions with the ball, but suffered a preseason injury and it is uncertain when he will return. Rhone can shoot the ball and run the offense from the point. Tottenham is a player the Buccaneers picked up from tryouts because he makes good decisions on the floor and doesn’t get rattled.

Six freshman wing players will all battle for playing time. Tyrus Grayson (Junction City, Ark.), Antione Lister (Brenham), Markques Houston (Houston), Kaeron Baker (Navasota) and Ricko Bennett (Huntsville) are all options at the wing position.

Grayson is a gifted athlete, while Lister is a solid shooter with a great work ethic. Houston is a long-armed wing who can rebound, while Baker can shoot the 3-point shot and has solid passing skills. Bennett is a left-handed wing who can really shoot the ball well.

Freshman forwards Curtlon Wesley (Houston) and Kobe Wrice (Dallas) will both have a strong presence down low. Wesley is good on the low block and can score with either hand, while Wrice has great shooting range.

“The strength of this team will be its work ethic,” Schumacher said. “They watch film and learn from it. This team is just a bunch of high-character players and that will show on the court.”

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(Story courtesy, Jake Gordon, Blinn Information)