By PAUL GOTHAM
Pegged seventh in the Atlantic 10 pre-season poll, Saint Joseph’s Hawks have the one player, in junior forward DeAndre’ Bembry, who can change the outcome of any game.
Along with Bembry, Saint Joseph’s return four starters in Isaiah Miles (10.7 ppg), James Demery (6.7) and Javon Baumann (3.6). Senior guard Aaron Brown averaged 9.3 ppg off the bench last year.
But if the Hawks are to challenge for the A-10 title, Bembry will have to carry the load much like he did last year.
“He’s a really good offensive player and a guy who can single-handily keep you in a game,” ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg said during a recent conference call. “St. Joe’s might be a little bit better than people think because he’s that good.”
Bembry led the A-10 netting 17.7 points per game last year. He paced the Hawks with 7.7 rebounds 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals.
“He is wired to score,” Greenberg added. “He can get to the rim. He finds ways to create separation.”
Fellow ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas worked with Bembry this past summer at the Nike Skills Academy.
“Bembry’s an NBA player,” Bilas stated. “He can play all over the floor. He was spectacular this summer in Los Angeles. He even played some point. He’s the real thing.”
The Patrick School alum was named to the pre-season A-10 first team and to the watch list for the 2016 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.
Phil Martelli and his staff added a four-player incoming class of Chris Clover, Lamarr Kimble, Markell Lodge and Pierfrancesco Oliva which the National Recruiting Report’s Steve Keller said “down the road could be the best incoming group in the conference.”
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