Bradley Braves – Talented and Deep

Braves Are Deeper Than Last Year

(St. Louis, MO) – Bradley’s tumultuous struggles of last season are over and the Braves are deeper than last year. Coach Brian Wardle (ranked third among MVC coaching staffs) has recruited to some specific needs and has six returners that started games last season.

Bradley’s talent level is improved and the team is taller and more athletic than last year. While the Braves won’t be a favorite in the league’s preseason rankings, they will be better than a lot of people have predicted.

The return of 7’1 center Ari Boya and the continual growth of forward Ja’Shon Henry form the nucleus of this year’s team. Henry, a Valley all-bench member last season, finally becomes a full-time starter and incoming players will log big-time minutes for Bradley.

The Braves are deeper than last year.

Henry Stepping Into A Leadership Role

The 6’6 Henry is a dynamic athlete and was part of the league’s all-most-improved team in 2020. Last year the Canadian native averaged 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds for the 12-16 Braves. As a two-time MVC Scholar Athlete, Henry is a leader on and off the floor.

Henry realizes that it is his time to take a larger leadership role amongst his Bradley teammates. He lists Wardle’s consistency as a major strength of leadership, noting that his relationship with the head coach is solid and growing.

 

 

Fellow senior Ari Boya played just nine games last year. Bradley was 6-3 during his nine starts. His post presence is a huge part of the Bradley defense. Boya’s return as well as Bradley’s six newcomers means the Braves are deeper than last year.

 

 

Wardle thinks his talented team is taller, deeper and has great potential.

Wardle’s Balanced and Talented Roster

College basketball teams and coaches are thankful for more ‘normal’ summer and preseason workouts. Wardle believes coaches build culture and chemistry during the offseason. He’s grateful that this Peoria summer was more typical than last year. Even with two of his five foreign players spending significant time playing for their national teams, summer workouts helped develop Bradley’s team chemistry.

 

 

Bradley has great depth in the frontcourt. Netherlands native Rienk Mast was named to the Valley’s all-freshman team and continues to work on his game. The 6’9 sophomore posted 8.6 (scoring) and 5.8 (rebounding) averages and made 33 triples. He and others along Wardle’s frontcourt have multiple talents.

Bradley has a balanced roster from a ‘class’ perspective.

 

 

Henry, Mast, Boya, Ville Tahvanainen, Jayson Kent, Darius Hannah all started games last season. Veteran newcomers Mikey Howell, Terry Roberts and Malevy Leons add to the talent and experience of this team. The Braves are deeper than last year, in part because of three talented freshmen.

 

 

Bradley maintained their solid defensive identity last year but struggled to score. Pass first guard Mikey Howell looks to be the quarterback of this year’s team. He averaged six assists per game last year for UC San Diego.

Leons was the junior college national player of the year by averaging almost 19 points and ten rebounds per game for Mineral Area Community College. The 6’9 Leons is from the Netherlands.

Hannah and Kent showed flashes of what they can become during their shared freshman season. That proverbial sophomore jump is expected from these two talented players.

The Braves are deeper than last year and open the season on November 9 at South Dakota State. To hear our entire conversations with Brian Wardle and Ja’Shon Henry visit Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts.

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