Compiled by PAUL GOTHAM
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming players of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a look at the first-year players of the Iona Gaels.
Iona finished 22-11 (16-4 in MAAC play) last season and fell to Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Tim Cluess and his staff welcome to the lineup Sam Casell Jr., E. J. Crawford, Jon Severe, Jan Svandrlik, DeAndre Turner and Tyrell Williams.
Sam Casell Jr. G 6-4, 190 Baltimore, MD/Notre Dame Prep (UConn) GR
Graduate transfer from the University of Connecticut will play final season in Maroon & Gold.
AT UCONN: Appeared in 36 games for the Huskies in two seasons. Scored 110 points (3.1 ppg) and grabbed 31 rebounds (0.9 rag). Hampered by injuries, missing the second half of UConn’s 2014-15 and games in 2015-16 with leg ailments.
AS A FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE (2012-13, 2013-14, CHIPOLA COLLEGE): Played one year at Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., under Coach Patrick Blake. Named NJCAA First Team All-American, FCSAA All-State Player of the Year and Panhandle Conference Player of the Year after averaging 18.7 points and 3.8 assists. Led Chipola to a 26-6 record, to the NJCAA Region VII Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NJCAA National Tournament.
PRIOR TO CHIPOLA COLLEGE: Attended Notre Dame Prep (Fitchburg, Mass.) and played alongside Steven Adams (OKC Thunder, Pittsburgh), Myles Davis (Xavier), Adonis Fiiler (Clemson, Fla. Atlantic) and Mandell Thomas (Fordham). Helped lead team in National Prep Championship semifinal round where he scored 27 points in a loss. Notre Dame Prep defeated an A.J. English led St. Thomas More Academy in the quarterfinal round. Played his junior season at Saint Francis Academy in Baltimore, MD.
What they’re saying about Sam Casell Jr. – Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He should be one of the better guards in the league. Coming in as a graduate student, he will bring a lot of experience. I expect him to make a big impact right away.”
E. J. Crawford G/F 6-6, 210 Hartford, CT/ St. Thomas More/ Simsbury
Played two seasons at St. Thomas Moore Academy under head coach Jere Quinn after beginning scholastic career at Simsbury High School. Comes from same AAU program as former Iona star A.J. English and current teammate Schadrac Casimir. He and six teammates signed NCAA Division I letters of intent for the 2016-17 campaign. Ranked No. 10 in Connecticut and 26 in New England on New England Recruiting Report’s Class of 2016 lists.
What they’re saying about E.J. Crawford – Adam Finkelstein/ESPN: “He’s a lefty wing, just a natural scorer of the basketball. He’s a little bit stockier by nature but a very good mid-range shooter off the dribble, has a little bit of throwback mid-range game. He became an increasingly effective three-point shooter during the course of his high school career. Even though he’s not explosively athletic, he’s really smart and crafty off the dribble, so he can get to the rim at times. He’s one of those guys with a true range scoring guys. If he can adjust to Iona’s up-tempo, I expect him to be very, very good.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He shows offensive skills to go with good size and athleticism. Mostly he rebounds and scores around the basket, but he has a chance to contribute early for Iona.”
Jon Severe G 6-2, 195 Middle Village, N.Y./ Christ the King (Fordham) GR
BEFORE IONA: Earned his degree in three years from Fordham University and elected to transfer to Iona for his final season of eligibility as a graduate student. Enters this season with 911 career points and 123 three-point field goals.
BEFORE FORDHAM (CHRIST THE KING HIGH SCHOOL): Graduated from Christ the King High School in Queens, NY. Named a 2013 Parade All-American and New York’s Mr. Basketball, the state’s highest honor. Was also the NY Daily News and NY Post Player of the Year. Led the Royals to the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens regular season and postseason titles, the CHSAA Class AA intersectional championship and New York State Federation Class AA championship as a senior. Named All-State and the 2012-2013 MSG Varsity All-Metro Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Set a Class AA State Federation two-game scoring mark with 68 points in a pair of wins in Albany, including 40 points in a 68-55 victory over Bishop Kearney in the semifinals, earning MVP honors of the tournament. Appeared in the Jordan Brand Classic at Barclays Center on Apr. 18, netting 16 points and dishing out five assists to lead the White Team, made up of New York City stars, to a comeback win over the Black Team. Scored over 1,100 points in his Christ the King career, averaging 21.6 ppg as a senior, shooting 40 percent from three-point range.
What they’re saying about Jon Severe – Ryan Lazo/New York Post: “Jon Severe and Iona are the perfect match for each other and one worth keeping an eye on this college basketball season. The graduate transfer from Fordham joins the Gaels after a disappointing three seasons as a Ram where he averaged 17.3 points per game in his freshman campaign, but just 7.2 in the two subsequent years. The high-volume shooter spent more time pouting on the bench than on the court due to being in the dog house of not one, but two coaches in Tom Pecora and Jeff Neubauer. No matter though as Tim Cluess’ up-tempo, motion offense is the perfect fit for the former 3-star recruit. The Gaels averaged 79.6 points per game last year, ranking No. 60 in the nation on Ken Pomeroy’s Adjusted Offensive Efficiency (110.4) and ranked as the 44th “fastest pace” team in the country, averaging 72.2 possessions per game. But the loss of leading scorer A.J. English’s (22 ppg) hurts which is where Severe enters the fray. With his ability to score in transition, get to the hoop at will and ability to shoot the 3-point shot – 36 percent last season – he could help offset the loss of firepower immediately for the preseason ranked No. 3 team in the MAAC.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He is a big time scorer, a volume shooter both from mid-range and beyond the three-point arc. His shot selection will be vital. He’s a good defender who can handle opposing players off the dribble and on the perimeter.”
Jan Svandrlik G/F 6-7, 210 Pilsen, Czech Republic/Indian Hills CC/Canarias Basketball Academy
AT INDIAN HILLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Scored 522 points and grabbed 234 rebounds with 115 3FG in 64 games played over two seasons at Indian Hillis Community College. Earned superior Academic Achievement Award from the NJCAA and was named Region 11 Academic All-Region First Team following his sophomore campaign. Helped lead Warriors to back-to-back Iowa Community College Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships, two appearances in NJCAA National Tournament, a 58-10 overall mark and 13-2 in ICCAC regular season play in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
BEFORE INDIAN HILLS (CANARIAS BASKETBALL ACADEMY):
Helped lead CBA to a Canary Islands Championship in 2013-14 with a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double in the quarterfinal vs. Nautico and 23 points and four rebounds in the championship game vs. La Matanza.
Also helped CBA to a F4 regular season championship.
DeAndre Turner G 6-3, 215 Winter Park FL/ Winter Park/ Broward
AT BROWARD COLLEGE: Appeared in 59 contests and scored 1,243 points (21.1 ppg) in two seasons at Broward College in Davie, FL. Connected on 187 three-pointers at a 38.5% conversion rate. Scored 30 or more points six times, 20 or more points 34 times and 10 or more points in 57 of his 59 games played. His career-high 36-point effort came on Dec. 3, 2014 in a win over the Adelaide Clippers, a visiting team from Australia. Also averaged 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals while leading his team to a 41-21 mark.
BEFORE BROWARD (WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOL: Averaged 18.1 points per game as a senior helping to lead Winter Park High School to a Class 8A state championship. The Wildcats won their last three games in overtime leading to the Florida title. Played alongside current UC Irvine red shirt sophomore Spencer Rivers. Averaged 12.5 points per game during freshman year at Ocoee High School in 2011 and challenged almost all of the school’s single-season scoring records.
What they’re saying about DeAndre Turner – Rick Staudt/SourceHoops.com: “He’s a strong-build athlete who really like to shoot the three ball. He can get to the rim and finish with contact. He has a true scoring mentality.”
Tyrell Williams F 6-9, 250 Miami, FL/ Norland/ Western Nebraska
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2015-16, WESTERN NEBRASKA COMMUNITY COLLEGE): Helped Western Nebraska to an 18-14 mark and a NJCAA Region IX quarterfinal appearance.
Appeared in 31 games with 21 starts and led the Cougars with 12.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg and a 63.3 FG%.
Posted 21 games with 10 or more points and 10 with 10 or more rebounds and nine double-doubles.
Had season-highs 19 points vs. Southern Idaho on Nov. 13, 2015 and 14 rebounds vs. Lamar CC on Jan. 9, 2016.
AS A FRESHMAN (2014-15, UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING): Red-shirted his first season in the Wyoming program and did not appear in a game due to the presence of current LA Laker Larry Nance Jr.
BEFORE WYOMING (NORLAND HIGH SCHOOL): Completed his prep career in 2013-14 by helping Norland High School take its place among Miami-Dade County’s all-time best programs. Under the direction of coach Lawton Williams, the Vikings notched a 27-5 overall record to capture their third-straight Class 6A state championship in 2014. Williams averaged 7.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game as a senior, while shooting 59 percent from the field. He tallied five double-doubles including 11 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks in the state title game. A three-year starter, Williams posted 595 points, 568 rebounds and 207 blocks in his varsity career.
What they’re saying about Tyrell Williams – Rick Staudt/SourceHoops.com: “He’s a good inside scorer and rebounder at the the high school level. That should translate well to Iona.”
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