USU Men’s Basketball Informative Roster

Calendar October 26, 2009 | Posted by AggieNoise

Projected Starters

Jared Quayle:

As the lone senior, Jared Quayle leads this team from the point guard position. A natural scorer, Quayle also has a knack for the ball which allows him to be one of the better rebounding guards in the WAC. Last year was Jared’s first season at point guard and showed discomfort handling the ball against a good press, although he did an adequate job. Expect a stellar senior year from this top 3 WAC point guard.

Tyler Newbold:

Newbold enters his third season as a starter. The sharp shooter plays as hard as anyone and smarter than everyone. Tyler is a lock to be toward the top of the list nationally in assist to turnover ratio. Tyler is a good perimeter defender who may have to spend more time at the 3 this year due to injuries. Newbold has yet to show an ability to create his own shot on a regular basis even when he is constantly asked to take more shots. He will fill the stat sheet again this year.

Tai Wesley:

Also entering his third season as a starter, Wesley is expected to break out this season. What he lacks in height he makes up for in strength, savvy, and touch. Tai is the fire on this team. Last season he showed the ability to control his temper and stay out of foul trouble. This season he will be asked to take on more of a scorers role down low. Tai has a great understanding of the game and is an exceptional passer from the block. Watch out for Tai Wesley.

Nate Bendall:

Filling the shoes of Gary Wilkinson is a tall order, but Bendall may be up to the challenge. He is a different kind of player than Wilkinson was, he is much more comfortable on the block and plays a more physical game. He has great touch around the basket and moves laterally better than Gary. He played for USU as a freshman and gained valuable experience last year at Salt Lake Community College. Bendall should step in and produce right away.

Brian Green:

Expected to replace Pooh Williams on the wing for the first month of the season, Brian Green has many singing his praises early. Coach Stew Morrill loves his competitive nature and his sweet shot. Green, while shorter than Williams, is also expected to be a strong perimeter defender. If he can put up good numbers on offense Pooh Williams will have to fight to get his starting minutes back.

Expected to Contribute

Pooh Williams:

A stress fracture, and the surgical procedure to fix it, will keep Williams sidelined for the first month of the season. After that he will battle Brian Green for minutes at the wing. Williams is the team’s most athletic perimeter player and focuses that athleticism on the defensive side of the ball. Pooh has shown that he is a capable scorer but isn’t a go to guy just yet.

Matt Formisano:

Matt surprised a lot of people last year with his strong play off the bench. He will be ready to fill in for Wesley or Bendall and provide sound play. He has shown the ability to stroke it out to about 18′ and has nice touch around the basket. He understands the system well and will help keep the momentum rolling off the bench.

Brady Jardine:

The best jumper on the team and most hyper to boot, Brady Jardine was given an unfair shake last season. He was thrown, unexpectedly, into the fire last season just months back from a two year mission. While a red-shirt season would’ve been best for him individually, he was able to enjoy being a part of an historic season last year. Jardine could be a big time energy guy off of the bench this season. He has a WOW factor that can provide instant momentum for a team. If things really start clicking for him, Brady could battle for significant minutes in the post.

Jaxon Myaer:

As a redshirt sophomore, Myaer is entering his third season with the Aggies. He has shown flashes of brilliance in his short career, and is expected to spell Jared Quayle at the point. He handles the ball well and can shoot the three ball. His competitiveness makes up for his lack of size. If he can improve his decision making on the court he will provide solid depth at the point guard spot.

Up in the Air

Modou Niang:

Modou has the body and athleticism to be a great college basketball player. He injured his hand last season forcing him to use a medical red-shirt and further slowing his progression as a player. He is possibly the biggest question mark on the team. Unless he has improved the speed at which he makes moves in the post, he will only play spot minutes.

Preston Medlin:

A high school recruit from Texas, Medlin would probably be best suited to red-shirt this season. However, the loss of Pooh Williams to start the season may require Stew Morrill to call on him to spell the other wing players. Medlin is a shooter with a knack for getting open shots. He has good length for a wing player but could use a red-shirt to gain some bulk and learn the system.

Tyrone White:

Tyrone is the other young wing Morrill may use to add depth in the absence of Pooh Williams. He is a year removed from high school having played at a prep school associated with the Air Force Academy. His extra year of experience could give him the nod over Medlin, but White could also use some bulk and experience learning the system. Tyrone is a better athlete than Medlin and a hair taller, but he isn’t as pure a shooter as Medlin. He might be best fit to fill a defensive role.

Anthony DiLoreto:

Standing more than 7′ tall, DiLoreto has already created a buzz. His story is incomplete without mentioning his conviction of bank robbery, fortunately judgement has been passed and we can move on to talking about his future as an Aggie. It would be ideal for Anthony to red-shirt and bulk up before attempting to bang with the big boys, but it may be possible that he helps fill the void left by Gary Wilkinson.

Practice Squad

Morgan Grim:

A transfer from the University of Utah, Morgan is a skilled low post player. He has good height and a nice shooting touch. The knock on him is that he plays soft. A red-shirt year banging with Tai Wesley and Nate Bendall will do him some good.

Preston Eaton:

A scorer in high school who just returned from a mission, Preston Eaton is a preferred walkon at USU. A redshirt for experience and a lot of hard work to prove himself will determine his fate. If his scoring ability from high school can be replicated at the next level, he could be a great pick up.

E.J. Farris:

A walk on transfer from College of the Sequoias in California, Farris will likely redshirt this year. He is a promising point guard with four years to play three, and has experience above the high school level.

Chandler Smith:

A walk-on wing player who will likely redshirt. I’ve yet to find much information on him other than he is pictured on the USU Men’s Basketball Poster.

 

Aggie Noise:

Official Site: Aggie Men Host Northwest Nazarene Friday In First Exhibition Game Of The 2009-10 Season and Utah State Opens Two-Game Road Swing Saturday At Fresno State

Aggieville: Lessons learned

Cache Valley Daily: Aggies get first WAC win, take out La. Tech and Craig Petersen’s Photo Gallery: USU 23, La Tech 21

Deseret News: Extreme Makeover, Spectrum Edition and Utah State football: Aggies build lead, hold on to post WAC victory and Utah State basketball: What will Stew do without Pooh? 

Tyler’s Blog: The Season Has Begun

Salt Lake Tribune: USU football: Aggies ‘grows up’ in win over ‘Dogs

Herald Journal: Turbin effective vs. Tech: Aggies’ pass rush saw improvement and Offense aplenty in closed scrimmage

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