Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming freshmen of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a look at the Siena Saints.
Siena won just eight games (four in MAAC play) during the 2012-13 campaign. Jimmy Patsos comes north from Baltimore to take over the reins in Loudonville. The first-year coach welcomes seven freshmen to campus: Lavon Long, Jimmy Merrill, Javion Ogunyemi, Maurice White, Mike Wilson, Michael Wolfe and Marquis Wright.
Lavon Long G/F 6-6, 234 Columbia, MD/ Oakland Mills
Averaged 15 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, three assists and 2.5 steals as a senior at Oakland Mills…Was named Fourth Team All-Met by the Washington Post and Howard County Player of the Year after leading the Scorpions to a 24-1 record, the Howard County Championship, and a Regional Finals appearance as a senior…Transferred to Oakland Mills after junior season after studying and playing three years at Mount St. Joseph.
What they’re saying about Lavon Long: Edgar Walker/DMV Elite: “He’s really versatile can probably play two through four. Outside shot is developing. If he develops that shot, it can be a really good weapon for him. He’s got a nice skill set for his size. Certainly has the ability to be a team leader. We’ll see how he fits in their system. I know they’re going to try and build around him a little and really utilize him on the offensive end, but he will really make an impact defensively. He can guard inside. He can guard on the perimeter. He’s shown in the last year he can make an impact at the college level.”
James Lee/ Mid Atlantic Select: “He’s a versatile, face-up forward, strong around the basket. He’s tough. He competes hard on every possession. He’s a winner who will do the dirty work, but also has a pretty good skill set that he can do different things at different times. He’s a pretty good post defender as well.”
Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He’s pretty good. He can shoot. He’s got some size, and he uses his strength.”
Allen Rubin/ Hoop Scoop: “I liked him. He is good. He plays hard, an over-achiever. He puts it on the floor and is a good rebounder for his size.”
Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “The name of Long’s game is strength and motor. Long has touch to 10’-15’ but his game is hunting around the rim. He knows his way around the paint on both ends of the floor and thrives for contact. Long is undersized for the way he plays but his length and pure upper body strength coupled with the fact that he is a very quick leaper allow him to play bigger than listed.”
Jimmy Merrill F 6-9, 192 Rensslear, NY/ Columbia
Versatile athlete at Columbia…Was MVP of the volleyball team, MVP of the tennis team and received the Bob Smith Coaches award for basketball…Second Team Tennis All-Star selection by Albany Times Union in doubles.
Javion Ogunyemi F 6-8, 230 Troy, NY/ Troy
Averaged 18 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game in leading Troy to Section II Championship and New York State semifinal appearance as a senior… 2013 Albany Times Union Large School Player of the Year…Three-time First Team Big 10 Section II Player of the Year…Three-time News Channel 13 All-Star…Three-time All-Area First Team…Third Team All-State as a senior. Was recruited by Temple, Clemson and Providence among others.
What they’re saying about Javion Ogunyemi: Jon Boon/Bishop Kearney: “He kicked the snot out of us. He’s somewhat raw, but he has good post moves. He blocks shots. He plays really good post defense. He’s just got to get a little stronger. Once he gets into that program and gets into a routine, he can probably have a really good career there. As a freshman, he’ll probably get some spot minutes just because of his size. If he keeps getting stronger, he could be really good for them. He took it right at Chinoso (Syracuse University redshirt freshman, Obokoh) in the state semi-final game.”
Maurice White G 6-3, 197 Baltimore, MD/ St. Frances Academy
Averaged 17 points and eight rebounds for St. Frances as a senior…Named First Team All-Metro by the Baltimore Sun after helping the Panthers to the MIAA A Conference tournament championship.
What they’re saying about Maurice White: Edgar Walker/DMV Elite: “He can really score it. He’s another versatile guy played two, three and four for St. Frances. He’s a real tough competitor a real hard-nosed attitude. I like his grittiness and his aggressiveness. He can really operate well from mid-range and get to the rim and score.”
Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “White is a scorer. He is at his best attacking the basket but also finds himself doing a good job of finding the soft spots off the penetration and knocking down spot up jump shots. Looks to be a character kid that will grind for you, really gets after it on the defensive end, taking that side of the ball personal.”
James Lee/ Mid Atlantic Select: “He’s a tough, physical two-guard with a good mid-range game. He plays very good in the big games. He’s a physical defender.”
Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He’s a real hard-nosed athlete.”
Mike Wilson G 6-0, 146 Voorhees, NJ/ Eastern
First Team All-Olympic Conference as a senior…2012 South Jersey Basketball All-Star Game 3-pt contest champion…Al Carino South Jersey basketball Player of the Week selection…2012 Prime Time Shootout MVP.
What they’re saying about Mike Wilson: Jay Gomes/ NJ Hoops: “He’s a very, very good three-point shooter. He’s kind of a one-trick pony. He can really shoot the ball, though. He can probably find some time when they need someone to come in and bury some threes.”
Michael Wolfe F 6-9, 200 Germantown, MD/ Georgetown Prep
Averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in helping Georgetown Prep to a 15-11 overall record, including a 7-3 mark in the Interstate Athletic Conference…Posted eight double-doubles, a triple-double against St. Albans (31 points, 15 rebounds, 10 blocks), and 20 performances eclipsing double-figures in the points column…Earned First Team All-League (IAC) and Second Team All-Gazette and All-Sentinel, and averaged nearly 20 points and nine rebounds per game in IAC competition.
What they’re saying about Michael Wolfe: Edgar Walker/DMV Elite: “He’s still pretty raw but pretty good length. He has a good energy level and runs the floor really well. He’ll definitely be an option in transition as either a trailer or a secondary break option. We’ll see what happens with him. I don’t think he’ll do a whole lot right away, but he can really develop into a solid player. He has a lot of upside.”
Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “Athleticism and upside are a couple words that come to mind when speaking about Wolfe. He has a body that will take to a college strength and conditioning program and help further develop his production. At this point he is very athletic, gliding up and down the floor and quickly rising for rebounds and blocked shots. He has a young looking body that will look to develop. May be a kid that in three years people are asking, ‘how did Siena land this kid?’”
James Lee/ Mid Atlantic Select: “He’s an athletic four man who runs the court very well. He can stretch out and make catch-and-shoot threes. He plays over the rim. He will have to get stronger.”
Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He’s got legitimate size and knows how to use it. He’s got a chance to be pretty good. It might take him a year.”
Marquis Wright G 6-0, 159 Waldorf, MD/ North Point
Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland following his senior season…Led North Point to three straight Maryland 4A East Region titles…Averaged 16.6 points, 6.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 3.9 steals in leading the Eagles to a 24-3 record and a state semifinal appearance as a senior…Two-time Southern Maryland Athletic Conference MVP…Concluded his high school career with 1,084 points, 560 assists, 325 rebounds and 290 steals as a four-year varsity player…Maintained a GPA over 3.0 and was very active in his hometown community.
What they’re saying about Marquis Wright: Edgar Walker/ DMV Elite: “He’s a real winner. He went to the state finals three years in a row. He has a great floor presence, really good vision, a good passer. He makes the smart play almost all of the time. He’s not going to score a whole bunch, but the offense does really well when he’s running it. He’ll probably get a lot of minutes right from the start.”
Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “Wright is a true point guard and leader. He has a slight build, but has a keen ability of getting into the lane and picking apart help defense. Has a very quick handle to begin with, but also has a great change of pace getting him into the lane, more times than not.”
James Lee/ Mid Atlantic Select: “He’s a very quick and smart point guard. He knows how to run a team but also can score. He distributes very well. He can really handle the ball in different areas and is an extension of the coach on the floor. He’s really a silent killer. He doesn’t say much but he can get the job done.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s an up and down athlete, a pretty good ballhandler.”
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