Compiled by PAUL GOTHAM
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming players of the Atlantic 10 with a look at the first-year players of the La Salle University Explorers.
La Salle finished 9-22 (4-14 in A-10 play) last season and fell to Davidson in the second round of the A-10 tournament.
Dr. John Giannini and his staff welcome two players to campus this fall: Saul Phiri and Cian Sullivan. In addition, transfers Demetrius Henry, B.J. Johnson and Pookie Powell will take the floor for the Explorers this season.
Demtrius Henry F/C 6-9, 225 Miami, FL (Transfer-South Carolina)
2015-16: Redshirt after transferring from South Carolina.
2014-15 (at South Carolina, 6.0 ppg./3.6 rpg./0.8 bpg.): Appeared in 21 games, starting 19…Averaged 6.0 ppg. and 3.6 rpg…Shot 52-for-102 (.510) from the field…Led the team in scoring with 12 points in 20 minutes against North Florida… Pulled down eight rebounds against Baylor… Led the team with nine rebounds against Akron… Scored a career-high 15 points with eight rebounds and three blocks against UNC Asheville… Blocked a pair of shots with eight points and five rebounds in just 16 minutes against Clemson… Set a new career high in scoring with 16 points in just 19 minutes against Coker… Scored 12 points with eight rebounds in just 26 minutes against Tennessee.
2013-14 (at South Carolina, 4.0 ppg./3.4 rpg./0.6 bpg.)
Saw action in all 34 games with 29 starts during rookie campaign … Averaged 4.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 18.0 minutes per game … Recorded three double-figure scoring games, eight games with at least six rebounds and posted one double-double … Led or shared the team lead in rebounding twice, in blocks 11 times, in steals five times, and posted six games with at least two blocks … Started the first 16 games of the season … Scored four points and collected six rebounds in first career game vs. Longwood (Nov. 9) … Posted nine points and pulled down six rebounds, with two blocks in contest at No. 23 Baylor (Nov. 12) … Scored nine points and pulled down five rebounds, including three on the offensive glass, vs. Clemson (Nov. 17) … Scored season high, marking his first-career double-figure scoring game, with 14 points in win vs. FIU (Nov. 24) … Solid in win vs. Saint Mary’s (Dec. 22) at Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, scoring six points and pulling down eight rebounds … Marked first-career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds in home win vs. SC State (Jan. 3) … Played a season high 32 minutes vs. the Bulldogs … Scored three points and collected two steals vs. Ole Miss (Jan. 18) … Scored six points and collected three rebounds vs. Auburn (Feb. 5) … Pulled down six rebounds, with two blocks in win vs. Vanderbilt (Feb. 13) … Dished a season high three assists in regular season finale victory at Mississippi State (March 8) … Named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
High School: Played high school basketball at Northeast High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. … Averaged 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game during prep school season at Faith Baptist … Rated a four-star recruit from Rivals.com and the No. 100 overall prospect, No. 119 overall recruit according to 247sports.com, No. 92 overall prospect and No. 20 forward according to Scout.com and the No. 33 power forward according to ESPN.com.
Major: Sociology.
What they’re saying about Demetrius Henry – Rick Staudt/SourceHoops.com: “He is an inside-outside performer. Long arms. A good shot blocker. He runs the floor well and has an improving touch from the outside. He can score inside as well as step outside and knock down shots.”
B.J. Johnson G/F 6-7, 200 Philadelphia, PA (Transfer-Syracuse)
2015-16: Redshirt after transferring from Syracuse.
2014-15 (at Syracuse, 4.3 ppg./3.3 rpg.) : Johnson played in 25 games for the Orange and started four contests … Averaged 4.3 ppg. and 3.3 rpg…He tallied a career-high 19 points and nine rebounds in the season opener against Kennesaw State … He scored eight points and recorded five rebounds in the home victory against Hampton … Johnson recorded seven rebounds in the 2K Classic matchup with Cal … He made his first collegiate start versus Loyola and finished with six points, nine rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes of action … The next time out he had six points and eight rebounds in the home victory against Holy Cross … Johnson scored eight points and hauled in six boards against Colgate … In a victory at Boston College, Johnson accumulated 12 points and four rebounds while logging a career-high 34 minutes … He converted a personal-best four 3-pointers versus the Eagles … Johnson was 3-of-5 from the field, including 3-of-4 on 3-pointers and made both free throw attempts in an 11-point showing against Pittsburgh … He equaled his career-best scoring outburst by tallying 19 at #9/8 Notre Dame … He added six rebounds.
2013-14 (at Syracuse, 1.4 ppg./0.9 rpg.): Appeared in 10 games off the bench…Averaged 1.4 ppg. and 0.9 rpg…He scored seven points and blocked two shots in his collegiate debut against Cornell … Johnson pulled down a season-high three rebounds against Binghamton … He had two rebounds against Western Michigan in the first round of the NCAA tournament … He earned a spot on Syracuse Athletic Director Honor Roll following the Fall 2013 semester.
High School: Johnson was rated the 17th small forward and 82nd overall prospect on the 2013 ESPN 100 … Rivals.com ranked him as the 24th-best small forward and 136th overall … Johnson was rated 20th among small forwards and 89th overall by Scout.com … He went to Lower Merion High School, the same school that Kobe Bryant attended … In 2011-12, Johnson helped Lower Merion to a 28-4 record under coach Gregg Downer … Johnson averaged 15.8 points per game as a junior … He attended the 2012 Summer Nike Skills Camp … In 2012-13, Johnson led Lower Merion to a 30-3 record and a Pennsylvania Class AAAA state title … He was named First Team Class AAAA All-State by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers … In the season opener, he posted 28 points against national power Neumann-Goretti ..Johnson averaged 19.2 points in five Class AAA playoff games … He produced another double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Aces’ state-title clinching, 63-47 win over Chester, ending Chester’s 78-game win streak against in-state opponents .
Personal: Major is marketing…Full name is Robert Johnson…Father, Bob, was a four-year letterwinner for La Salle from 1986-90 who scored 878 career points and helped the Explorers to three NCAA Tournaments (1988, 1989, 1990) and the NIT Finals (1987).
What they’re saying about B.J. Johnson – Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s really talented, a high flier with plenty of skills. He could be pretty good.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s a wing-forward, a two, three. He gets to the rim. He’s a lefty. He shoot the ball well from outside and mid-range. He’s a very good player.”
Saul Phiri G 6-4, 210 Haverhill, MA/ Putnam Science
High School: Helped Putnam Science to a 37-4 record this season and a Final Four berth in the National Prep School tournament…Averaged 12.2 points per game and connected on 107 three-pointers…Also averaged 5.3 rebounds, second on the team, and 2.3 assists per game…Previously played two seasons for Worcester Academy and was named to the NEPSAC Class AA 1st Team….Started his career at Haverhill High School, averaging 13.3 ppg. on his way to All-Eagle Tribune honors.
Personal: Native of Harare, Zimbabwe who moved with his family to America when he was three.
What they’re saying about Saul Phiri – Adam Finkelstein/ESPN: “Saul was a high-profile prospect as a youngster. He is guy who will make shots. He’s known as a shooter, but I think he is more of a versatile player than he often gets credit for. He’s a good ballhandler and guy who has got a high, compact release, so he can score over top of smaller guards and less physical wings.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “Saul can really shoot. He’s physical. He’s a two-guard, but he’s got a fair handle who doesn’t have a lot of speed. He can be a specialist. I always liked him. He can hot and really shoot.”
Pookie Powell G 6-0, 185 Orlando, FL (Transfer-Memphis)
2015-16: Redshirt after transferring from Memphis.
2014-15 (at Memphis, 4.3 ppg./ 1.3 rpg./2.7 apg.): Appeared in 27 games, starting 11…Averaged 4.3 ppg. and a team-best 2.7 apg… Played 17 minutes in collegiate debut vs. Wichita State (11/18)…Set career-high with 13 points in 27 minutes vs. Baylor (11/27)…Had five points and five assists vs. North Carolina Central (12/15) in first start…Started next 10 games for Memphis…Set career-highs in points (18) and assists (eight) in 34 minutes vs. USC Upstate (12/17)…Followed that with 14 points and seven assists vs. Oral Roberts (12/20)…Scored 10 points vs. Western Illinois (12/23)…Set new career-high with nine assists vs. Tulane (1/3)…Had six points and eight assists vs. Central Florida (1/17)…Scored five points vs Gonzaga (1/31)…Had seven points vs. South Florida (2/14).
High School: After the 2012-13 season, ranked among nation’s elite players by Scout.com (No. 77), ESPN.com (No. 95) and Rivals.com (No. 95) … Averaged 27.8 points, 5.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals in his senior season (2012-13) … Connected on 89 three-pointers … Set Dr. Phillips High School season records for scoring average (27.8), points scored (811), free throws made (202-of-303) and three-pointers made (89-of-261) … Helped lead the Panthers to a 20-8 overall record and the regional final … Named the state of Florida’s Class 8A Player of the Year … One of eight finalists for Florida’s Mr. Basketball award … Earned All-Central Florida first team honors … Selected to play in the Florida vs. USA Hardwood Classic … Scored 14 points in the classic …A top-100 recruit … Rated nationally by Scout.com (No. 87) and ESPN.com (No. 93) … Rivals.com ranked him the No. 101 player in the country … A consensus top-25 point guard in the country … Rated among the nation’s top point guards by Scout.com (No. 20), Rivals.com (No. 21) and ESPN.com (No. 23) … ESPN.com ranked him the region’s No. 25 recruit and the state of Florida’s No. 5 player …As a junior in 2011-12, was a Florida Class 8A All-State second team pick … Averaged 19.2 points, 6.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists last season … Helped lead Dr. Phillips High School to a 24-6 overall record … The Panthers spent part of the 2011-12 campaign as the No. 1 team in Florida’s Class 8A state rankings … Dr. Phillips won Metro Conference and district titles en route to advancing to the state regional semifinal round …As a sophomore in 2010-11, was a member of the Dr. Phillips squad that advanced to the Florida Class 8A state championship game.
Major: Liberal arts.
What they’re saying about Pookie Powell – Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s a combo-guard. He has a great chance to start at the point for La Salle. He can shoot the ball, put it on the floor. He is a good defender.”
Rick Staudt/SourceHoops.com: “He is a very quick guard. An excellent shooter from the outside who can get to the basket and can finish over and around defenders.”
Cian Sullivan C 7-2, 215 Tralee, Ireland/St. Andrew’s Prep R.I.
High School: Played prep basketball at St. Andrew’s in Rhode Island…Originally from Tralee, Ireland and attended Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School.
Personal: Only eighth Irish men’s basketball player to sign NLI in United States, and first from County Kerry.
What they’re saying about Cian Sullivan – Adam Finkelstein/ESPN: “He’s a project. He’s at least a year away. He’s long and skinny but has some upside with his touch. Coach Giannini and his staff showed some foresight there and taking this kid. I thought it was good move for them considering the lack of big guys on the market.”
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