Basketball adds height with next season's recruits
Charger basketball adds four recruits for the 2009-10 season; coaches say 'size and versatility' will help the team in future years
Betsy Woodruff
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Sports
The men's basketball team is set to add four new players come the 2009-10 season.
"They all fit in, and they're all the same kind of player," Dan Evans, assistant men's basketball coach, said. "Winning is number one, which is important to them."
"They have size and versatility that will help us," he added.
One of the team's goals in adding new recruits was to get larger players. So Evans was particularly pleased with the addition of Nick Washburn from Illinois, who is 6'9" and about 230 pounds, and Tony Nelson from Michigan, who is 6'7". These men will be replacing seniors like Tony Gugino and Chris Skaggs who were among the tallest of this year's team.
Anthony Mel, from suburban Detroit, is 6'3" in wingspan.
"He's a physical kid who's able to shoot the basketball. He's a leader," Evans said of Mel. "He's got great work ethic and will be a great edition from that perspective."
The fourth recruit, Chris Caster, files in as a point guard. Evans described him as intelligent with a good understanding of the game.
"He'll be able to contribute a lot to us," he said. "We feel like he has a chance to be really good as he develops. As soon as he matures, which is already starting to happen, we feel like he's going to be pretty good."
Evans is not worried about any problems the recruits may have adjusting to playing on a college team.
"Almost every kid who comes to college basketball has an adjustment period, and we think they'll adjust pretty quick," he said.
"They're all good kids, and we have a good group," Evans said. "I think they'll link on pretty quick. The upper classmen are all great kids, and I don't think it will be hard to integrate them."
The size of the team grow to 18 players. This past season, there were 16 eligible players on the roster, one student who sat out the season and one redshirt.
"They all fit in, and they're all the same kind of player," Dan Evans, assistant men's basketball coach, said. "Winning is number one, which is important to them."
"They have size and versatility that will help us," he added.
One of the team's goals in adding new recruits was to get larger players. So Evans was particularly pleased with the addition of Nick Washburn from Illinois, who is 6'9" and about 230 pounds, and Tony Nelson from Michigan, who is 6'7". These men will be replacing seniors like Tony Gugino and Chris Skaggs who were among the tallest of this year's team.
Anthony Mel, from suburban Detroit, is 6'3" in wingspan.
"He's a physical kid who's able to shoot the basketball. He's a leader," Evans said of Mel. "He's got great work ethic and will be a great edition from that perspective."
The fourth recruit, Chris Caster, files in as a point guard. Evans described him as intelligent with a good understanding of the game.
"He'll be able to contribute a lot to us," he said. "We feel like he has a chance to be really good as he develops. As soon as he matures, which is already starting to happen, we feel like he's going to be pretty good."
Evans is not worried about any problems the recruits may have adjusting to playing on a college team.
"Almost every kid who comes to college basketball has an adjustment period, and we think they'll adjust pretty quick," he said.
"They're all good kids, and we have a good group," Evans said. "I think they'll link on pretty quick. The upper classmen are all great kids, and I don't think it will be hard to integrate them."
The size of the team grow to 18 players. This past season, there were 16 eligible players on the roster, one student who sat out the season and one redshirt.
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