Post by RUFresh on Jul 24, 2006 11:50:44 GMT -5
www.roanoke.com/sports/college/wb/56395
Radford loses special trio
Topping that list is senior Whit Holcomb-Faye, who finds himself in the Big South record books.
By Ray Cox
381-1672
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Not surprisingly, Radford coach Byron Samuels waxed sentimental about the Highlanders' three seniors as last rites were being delivered on the team's season last week.
Of Whit Holcomb-Faye, Andre Bynum, and Anthony Brown, Samuels said, "I couldn't love them more if they were my own children."
Sentimentality aside, life will be vastly different for that distinguished trio as well as for Samuels and his program.
The tenure of Holcomb-Faye and Bynum coincides with the first four years of the Samuels administration. Brown, who served as the manager for Ron Bradley's last team, for which Samuels was an assistant coach, goes even further back than the other two.
There is no question that Holcomb-Faye and, to a slightly lesser extent, Bynum have been the focal points of all four of Samuels' seasons here. Holcomb-Faye, a 6-foot-1 guard, will graduate this spring as the third-leading scorer in Big South Conference history and No. 2 at Radford with 1,856 points. The 33 he scored in the 87-84 conference tournament loss to High Point that ended his collegiate career marked the 36th consecutive game in which he scored in double figures. Only the second player in conference history to lead the Big South in scoring twice, he did it this season and in 2004-05.
That's a lot of firepower, toughness and court smarts exiting the Dedmon Center.
Already signed during the early period for next year are 6-foot-6 swingman Philip Martin of VIS Division II state champion Roanoke Catholic and 5-9 point guard Amir Johnson from just outside Pittsburgh. An oral commitment is in hand from 6-8 Joey Lynch-Flohr from Fairfax. Samuels also would like to sign the best two athletes he can recruit now, preferably another point guard and a wing or inside player.
Johnson is going to have to grow up fast and if he doesn't, then somebody else will. Samuels vows immediate playing time for successful floor general candidates.
The new guys won't have to do it all. There is a solid group of veterans to build around, starting with junior forward Chris Oliver, who joined Holcomb-Faye on the all-conference second team. Oliver led the league with 10 rebounds per game and was sixth in scoring, averaging 17.4 points.
The 6-6 Oliver also had 30 blocks, second most on a team that led the Big South with 133 swats. The team leader with 42, 6-10 Duane Ricks also is back. Ricks, who didn't have much high school basketball experience when he came to Radford, has improved steadily the past two seasons and Samuels thinks he can develop into a formidable low post presence.
Radford will also return starters, 6-6 redshirt sophomore Dan Ross and 6-3 junior Reggie McIntyre. Ross is the leading returning outside marksman whose 62 3-pointers were second only to Holcomb-Faye's 83. Ross earned 23 starts because of his offensive abilities, but his defense and rebounding started to catch up this year. McIntyre is an undersized forward who gets off an uncanny amount of shots using his above-average strength and a variety of post moves.
As the season went on, freshman guard Martell McDuffy's playing time increased steadily. A product of DeMatha High, McDuffy has the look of a consistent contributor as a scorer and defender from here on out. Kenny Thomas, another freshman guard, had his moments this season as well.
Another guard that figures to play a pivotal role is 6-1 Jamal Dixon, who sat out this year after transferring from Loyola, Md., where he was a started as a freshman.
"Pound for pound, he could be our strongest player," Samuels said. "He's more of a 2-guard, but he could also play the point."
Eric Hall, a 6-6 freshman, also figures to be due increased playing time as his career unfolds. Colby Trent, a 6-9 sophomore, has settled into the role of backup post.
Radford loses special trio
Topping that list is senior Whit Holcomb-Faye, who finds himself in the Big South record books.
By Ray Cox
381-1672
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Not surprisingly, Radford coach Byron Samuels waxed sentimental about the Highlanders' three seniors as last rites were being delivered on the team's season last week.
Of Whit Holcomb-Faye, Andre Bynum, and Anthony Brown, Samuels said, "I couldn't love them more if they were my own children."
Sentimentality aside, life will be vastly different for that distinguished trio as well as for Samuels and his program.
The tenure of Holcomb-Faye and Bynum coincides with the first four years of the Samuels administration. Brown, who served as the manager for Ron Bradley's last team, for which Samuels was an assistant coach, goes even further back than the other two.
There is no question that Holcomb-Faye and, to a slightly lesser extent, Bynum have been the focal points of all four of Samuels' seasons here. Holcomb-Faye, a 6-foot-1 guard, will graduate this spring as the third-leading scorer in Big South Conference history and No. 2 at Radford with 1,856 points. The 33 he scored in the 87-84 conference tournament loss to High Point that ended his collegiate career marked the 36th consecutive game in which he scored in double figures. Only the second player in conference history to lead the Big South in scoring twice, he did it this season and in 2004-05.
That's a lot of firepower, toughness and court smarts exiting the Dedmon Center.
Already signed during the early period for next year are 6-foot-6 swingman Philip Martin of VIS Division II state champion Roanoke Catholic and 5-9 point guard Amir Johnson from just outside Pittsburgh. An oral commitment is in hand from 6-8 Joey Lynch-Flohr from Fairfax. Samuels also would like to sign the best two athletes he can recruit now, preferably another point guard and a wing or inside player.
Johnson is going to have to grow up fast and if he doesn't, then somebody else will. Samuels vows immediate playing time for successful floor general candidates.
The new guys won't have to do it all. There is a solid group of veterans to build around, starting with junior forward Chris Oliver, who joined Holcomb-Faye on the all-conference second team. Oliver led the league with 10 rebounds per game and was sixth in scoring, averaging 17.4 points.
The 6-6 Oliver also had 30 blocks, second most on a team that led the Big South with 133 swats. The team leader with 42, 6-10 Duane Ricks also is back. Ricks, who didn't have much high school basketball experience when he came to Radford, has improved steadily the past two seasons and Samuels thinks he can develop into a formidable low post presence.
Radford will also return starters, 6-6 redshirt sophomore Dan Ross and 6-3 junior Reggie McIntyre. Ross is the leading returning outside marksman whose 62 3-pointers were second only to Holcomb-Faye's 83. Ross earned 23 starts because of his offensive abilities, but his defense and rebounding started to catch up this year. McIntyre is an undersized forward who gets off an uncanny amount of shots using his above-average strength and a variety of post moves.
As the season went on, freshman guard Martell McDuffy's playing time increased steadily. A product of DeMatha High, McDuffy has the look of a consistent contributor as a scorer and defender from here on out. Kenny Thomas, another freshman guard, had his moments this season as well.
Another guard that figures to play a pivotal role is 6-1 Jamal Dixon, who sat out this year after transferring from Loyola, Md., where he was a started as a freshman.
"Pound for pound, he could be our strongest player," Samuels said. "He's more of a 2-guard, but he could also play the point."
Eric Hall, a 6-6 freshman, also figures to be due increased playing time as his career unfolds. Colby Trent, a 6-9 sophomore, has settled into the role of backup post.