New Talent Level in OVC

(St. Louis, MO) – Ohio Valley Conference ‘Player of the Year’ Evan Bradds, ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ Tahjere McCall and second leading scorer Josh Robinson are all gone, but the OVC may be more talented than ever.

As the league’s annual media day approaches, the breadth and depth of talent is spread around the league, and more teams have more star power than in recent years. Starting with Murray State’s Jonathan Stark and Eastern Kentucky’s Nick Mayo, the league has proven top end players.

Defending tournament champion Jacksonville State has a deeper and more accomplished roster. Stark’s side-kick at Murray, Terrell Miller and Mayo’s running mate at EKU, Asante Gist were both part of the ‘All-Newcomer Team’ last year, averaged 16 points per game and Miller was sixth in rebounding and Gist was ninth in assists.

Beyond returning stars like assist leader Austin Luke (Belmont), rebounding and blocked shot leader Muusa Dama (Eastern Illinois), there is a large number newcomers coming with strong resumes.

Austin Peay – First year coach Matt Figger hit the recruiting trail hard and has added two junior college transfers and two graduate transfers, including South Carolina State’s Ed Stephens (9.7 ppg) and Indiana prep school product 7’ Ivan Cucak. Three of Figger’s freshmen come from Bowling Green. Two of them, Acoydan McCarthy and Terry Taylor are 6’6 high school teammates. Grad student Averyl Ugba averaged nearly a double-double (13.0 ppg & 9.7 rebounds per game) for Grambling.

Belmont – Belmont is loaded with Luke, Amanze Egebekze (11.3 ppg) and Dylan Windler (9.2 ppg & 6.3 rpg) returning. Rick Byrd also returns 6’9 Mack Mercer who missed last season due to injury but averaged 7.5 points per game in 2015-16. Headlining Byrd’s four freshmen class is three-time all-state forward DeAndre Bradshaw. The 6’7, three star recruit led the state of Kentucky in rebounding.

Eastern Illinois – There are four starters returning to Charleston. Damma is joined by four-year point guard starter Terrell Lewis (the former Cornell Johnston), leading scorer Montell Goodwin (14.3 ppg) and fellow senior Ray Crossland (10.5 ppg & 6.1 rpg) are the most veteran group in the OVC. The star of Jay Spoonhour’s recruiting class is JC transfer D’Angelo Jackson who averaged over 20 points per game at Highland Community College.

Eastern Kentucky – Mayo and Gist are joined by fellow returning starter Zach Charles. Butler transfer Jackson Davis was a dominant high school player in the state of Kentucky before signing with the Bulldogs. The 6’8 Davis was a 2.7 star recruit coming out of high school. 6’5 freshman Peyton Broughton was a two-time all-state player and averaged over 30 points per game, and senior transfer Dillon Avare walked on at Louisville and averaged 6.5 points per game for the Cardinals.

Jacksonville State – The Gamecocks three returning starters Norbertas Giga (11.0), Christian Cunningham (8.2 & 8.1) and Malcolm Drumwright (12.5) played huge roles in JSU’s run to the NCAA Tournament. Giga scored 30 points in their tournament loss to Louisville in the ‘Big Dance.’ Transfer Jason Burnell averaged over 20 points and ten rebounds for St. Petersburg College. The 6’7 Burnell was the Florida JUCO player of the year. A 2.7 star, Maurice Dunlap is a prolific shooter.

Morehead State – Preston Spradlin went 12-9 as an interim head coach, and the new ‘head coach’ has no returning starters from last year’s squad but has a large contingent of recruits, including freshman De’Von Cooper who spent a year at Henderson, Nevada’s Findlay Prep and averaged over 20 points per game last year at Louisville’s Waggener High. Verbal commits calls Cooper the 42^nd best shooting guard in country.

Murray State – Joining the electric Stark and Miller are some talented players. Towson transfer Bryan Hawkins averaged almost 14 points per game and freshmen Tevin Brown (3 Stars) and Ja Morant were both two-time all-state performers. Morant averaged 27 points per game. JC wing LeRoy Buchanan was ranked as country’s the 66^th best junior college player.

SIUE – The last place Cougars have three returning starters headlined by Jalen Henry (12.5 ppg & 5.6 rpg). Fellow senior Keenan Simmons and sophomore Christian Ellis are the others. Coach Jon Harris prefers developing high school players to mining the transfer talent pool, but has pressed hard in the latter direction this season. He believes this season’s accumulation of players will be able to play the style of basketball he prefers. See (SIU – Increased Firepower) for our in depth interview with Coach Harris on his newcomers.

SEMO – The OVC’s ‘Freshman of the Year’, Denzel Mahoney is the lone returning starter for the Redhawks. The 6’4 Mahoney averaged 14.9 points per game. Head coach Rick Ray is hopeful that redshirt freshman Ray Kowalski can be a solid three-point threat and that Mineral Area CC product Mark Laros can, at 6’10 be an inside presence SEMO has lacked.

Tennessee State – Dana Ford has four solid veterans leading this year’s squad. Darreon Reddick, Christian Mekowulu, Ken’Darrius Hamilton and Delano Spencer all logged big minutes during last season’s 17-win season. Freshman guard David Morris was a big-time scorer during his prep career in Erie, PA, and JC transfers Kamar McKnight (3-stars) and DaJion Henderson bring their big-time potential to Nashville.

Tennessee Tech – The Golden Eagles return four senior starters, including leading scorers Aleksa Jugovic (15.2 ppg) and Kajon Mack (11.8). Freshman shooter Hunter Vick averaged 22 points per game during his senior year of high school and transfers Corey Tillery and Shaq Calhoun figure to contribute early and often.

UT Martin – Anthony Stewart’s reputation as a recruiter, strategist and motivator is growing by the week. His 22-win team last season gave the Skyhawks their third straight 20-win season. As an assistant to Heath Schroyer for the first two of those seasons, Stewart didn’t miss a step last season. ‘All-Newcomer’ team member Matthew Butler averaged 13.7 points and 3.7 assists per game. The former walk-on hopes to be the role model for current walk-on Da’Jon Streeter who was a 16 point per game performer at Independence CC last year. Stewart is high on 6’8 junior Fatodd Lewis and freshman guard Parrish Hewitt. The 6’3 Hewitt was ranked the fourth best player in Tennessee by 247Sports.com and scored at least 30 points eight times.

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