The season hasn’t yet started.
That comes on Monday, Nov. 2 against Akron in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge game at the Cajundome.
But as second-year coach Quannas White spoke at Tuesday’s Sun Belt basketball media day on zoom, he’s relishing the many options currently at his disposal after last year’s injury-plagued season.
“All summer and into the fall, we can play as many as 10 guys, maybe even 11,” White said.
Indeed, UL fans will need to bring a roster to that season opener.
Technically, there are five familiar names, but only three got significant playing time last season.
Oklahoma State transfer Jamyron Keller was supposed to, but he suffered a season-ending injury after just two games. He was averaging 17 points a game at that early juncture.
“Having Jamyron Keller back is big,” White said. “He led us in scoring after two games last year. He’s a kid who has Big 12 experience. He can score the ball at three levels, but the other good thing about Jamyron is he can defend.”
The three returnees in the regular rotation are: De’Vion Lavergne (9,9 points, 3.3 rebs) at 30.2 minutes a game, Todd Jones (3.1 pts, 3.9 rebs) at 16.5 minutes and Jeremiah Evans (3.0 pts, 2.0 rebs) at 10.9 minutes a game.
“Getting De’Vion Lavergne back is also big, because he’s a guy that we we believe in and that can score at all three levels,” White added.
Among the 11 newcomers to the roster are four Division I transfers in 6-3 guard Trent Middleton from North Carolina A&T, 6-foot guard Mekhi Cooper from Lindenwood, 6-8 Dani Pounds from Tennessee Tech and Josiah Harris from Cleveland State.
“Dani averaged about eight or nine rebounds last year,” White said. “That’s really critical for us because rebounding is important, It helps wins games. It helps create second and third chance opportunities, which is needed.
“It really helps going along with a guy like Todd Jones, who has taken a step this summer. Not only has he gotten bitter and stronger, but he’s more consistent.”
Then there’s junior college transfer Deion Ware from South Plains Junior College to aid with the ball handling behind Keller, along with Middleton.
“During the recruiting process, we wanted to recruit guys out of the transfer portal that had some familiarity with each other,” White revealed.
For instance, Ware and Pounds played together began their careers together at Old Dominion. Also, Middleton and Pounds once played on the same prep school together.
The roster will also include incoming freshmen in 5-9 guard Isaiah Wilks from Oklahoma, 6-8 forward Tyshawn Duncan from Alexandria, 6-6 forward Derrick Florence from Alabama and 6-10 forward Mikhail Dulkay from Russia.
“I’m really excited about the season,” White said. “I like the group that we’ve recruited and the guys that we brought back. Having coached in this league for a year now, experience the best teacher. So having that year under my belt, I’ve learned a whole lot.”
In addition to having more scoring help this season, White is also hoping the increased depth will allow UL to apply more fullcourt pressure defensively.
“We’re doing some different things defensively in terms of wanting to speed up our opponents, because we do have the depth,” White said.
“But again, you have to earn playing time. You have to keep it every day in practice. We don’t take any days off. We’ll let the practices and the games determine how many guys we’re able to play.”
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