Compiled by Paul Gotham
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming freshmen of the Atlantic 10 with a look at the first-year players of the University of Dayton Flyers.
The Flyers finished 26-11 (10-6 A-10) and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Archie Miller and his staff welcome two players to campus: Ryan Bass and Darrell Davis.
Ryan Bass RSr. G 5-9, 170 Dayton, OH/ Oakland University
Ryan Bass joins the University of Dayton basketball program as a graduate student transfer with one year of eligibility remaining. Bass will be eligible right away for the 2014-15 season after spending his three previous athletic seasons at Oakland University where he earned his undergraduate degree.
At Oakland
Bass played in 96 games at Oakland, starting 41 over his last two seasons. As a junior in 2012-13, he started 24 of the 32 games he played, averaging 9.6 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game. He shot .830 (73-of-88) from the line and .349 (30-of-86) from three-point range. For his Oakland career, Bass was .815 (137-of-168) from the line and .338 (50-of-148) from beyond the arc.
High School
Bass is a local high school standout who played three seasons at Chaminade-Julienne High School before finishing his high school career on a state championship team at Dunbar High School. He garnered all-state, all-tournament, and all-area honors in high school and was a two-time athlete of the week by Channel 7 during his senior season. Bass still owns the Chaminade-Julienne High School record by going 11-of-11 from the foul line in a single game. He also played in the District 15 Ohio North-South Kings of the Court All-Star game his senior season.
What they’re saying about Ryan Bass – Chris Johnson/ Hoop Scoop: “For a kid 5-9, he has explosive vertical. He can be an inconsistent 3-pt. shooter but capable of penetrating. He could be one of those kids who you don’t realize because of his height. He just gets in the lane, and he’ll throw it down on you. Tremendous hops.”
Darrell Davis Fr. G 6-4, 168 Detroit, MI/Frederick Douglass
Darrell Davis is a 6-4, 168 lbs. combo-guard from Frederick Douglass High School in Detroit, MI. Davis was the Flyers’ first commitment for the class of 2014 for UD head coach Archie Miller when Davis committed after making his official visit to UD. He is ranked 112 overall for the class of 2014 by Rivals.com and is ranked as the 24th best shooting guard and 5th best player in Michigan for his class by ESPN.com.
Scouts describe Davis as an athletic and aggressive combo-guard that can score and get his teammates involved with his ability to penetrate and his excellent court vision. He competes on both ends of the floor and attacks the rim and finishes well through contact for a guard his size.
Davis is coming off of a senior season where he was named the AP Class B Player of the Year, Class B All-State, and finished 5th in Mr. Basketball for Michigan as he led Detroit Douglass to their first regional title since 2010. He is Detroit Douglass’ all-time leading scorer with over 1,400 points. As a senior, Davis averaged 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
As a junior, Davis averaged 20.2 points and 5.5 assists. He was also named to the AP Class B All-Michigan team as a junior as he led Detroit Douglass to the Regional Finals. Davis fielded recruiting offers from teams in the Big Ten, Big East, ACC and Big 12.
Davis not only excels on the court but in the classroom as well. He was his high school’s class valedictorian while sporting a 4.0 GPA. Davis earned the 2013-14 Detroit Public School League Proud Strong Learner of the Year award. He collected three Proud Strong Learner of the Week honors in his high school career.
What they’re saying about Darrell Davis – Steve Schwanda/ All Eyes on Hoops: “Long and lanky scoring guard who can knock it down from the outside while also getting to the basket. Above average athlete and should be able to come in and help score points right away. Very talented player. Should add some weight in a college setting that will only help his game.”
Also – Steve McElvene Partial Qualifier/ will redshirt the season C 6-11, 260 New Haven, IN/ New Haven
Steve McElvene is a 6-11, 260 lbs. true center from New Haven High School in New Haven, IN. McElvene is originally from Indiana but had lived in Alabama for several years before moving back to the Hoosier State and enrolling in New Haven High School. ESPN.com rated McElvene as the 40th best center and the ninth-best player in the state of Indiana for the class of 2014.
McElvene’s stock rose during the summer of 2013 after played on a talented Spiece Indy Heat AAU team that featured two top 25 prospects. He chose Dayton over offers from teams in the ACC and Big 12.
McElvene is a true big that has great hands around the rim, rebounds well, and is an excellent defender in the post. He won’t venture far from the post, but he does not have to. He can alter the game on both sides of the ball with his length, his ability to alter shots on the defensive end, and his scoring touch around the basket.
He will sit out the 2014-15 season as an academic redshirt. Ruled a partial qualifier by the NCAA, he will be able to practice but not play this year. He will have four seasons of eligibility beginning in 2015-16.
As a senior, McElvene averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game as he helped New Haven High win their second consecutive Northeast Hoosier Conference Championship. McElvene was First-Team All-Conference and was Honorable Mention All-State as a senior.
As a junior at New Haven, McElvene averaged 10 points and eight rebounds, but erupted in the post-season to lead New Haven to its first sectional championship since 1996. After winning the sectional, McElvene had 39 points, 33 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots in two regional games.
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