Strawbridge & New and Improved Purple Aces

1 on 1 with Kenny Strawbridge Jr

(St. Louis, MO) – Evansville guard Kenny Strawbridge Jr is a foundational piece for the new and improved Purple Aces. The third-team, all-Valley guard returns for his graduate season and is ready to take a greater leadership role during David Ragland’s second season at the helm of UE basketball.

While the Aces went 5-27 last year, Strawbridge started every game, led the team in scoring and was a source of stability in an otherwise inconsistent season. The 6’6 guard reached double figures in scoring 24 times and in eight of those games he scored at least 20.

Strawbridge, Yacine Toumi, Gage Bobe and Sekou Kalle form the nucleus of Ragland’s returners. A host of talented newcomers provides hope for a better season.

A long standing relationship with former UE great and (then) assistant coach Marcus Wilson was key to Strawbridge’s initial connection to the program. When Ragland was hired, one of the first contacts he and Wilson made was to the younger Strawbridge. Strawbridge has a unique St. Louis to Evansville connection.

 

 

His outstanding high school career in Rockford, Illinois is part of a connection he has with an NBA player. Former Wichita State great and current Houston Rocket Fred VanVleet graduated from Rockford’s Auburn High School. The two-time Missouri Valley Conference Larry Bird Trophy winner spent seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors and recently signed with the Rockets.

Strawbridge says VanVleet is a Rockford legend and a source of inspiration.

 

 

Returning Purple Aces

Ragland’s roster won’t look much like last year’s late in the recruiting season collection of players. The ‘new and improved Purple Aces’ have solid returning foundation stones. While holdovers Toumi, Bobe and Kalle will provide some veteran leadership, this team is built the way Ragland wants it. Improvement is expected.

Strawbridge calls Ragland a ‘players coach’ and yet he is detail oriented. The multi-dimensional Strawbridge enjoys a strong relationship with both Toumi and Bobe.

 

 

Bobe is a former walk-on that shamefully was left off last season’s Missouri Valley ‘most improved team’. He started 31 of 32 Evansville contests and converted .393 of his long distance attempts. When you look up ‘scrappy’ in the dictionary, Bobe’s picture is there. Toumi contributed 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game to last year’s team.

Newcomers & New Attittude

Ragland’s newcomers include the Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year, a former Bradley Brave and a host of highly rated high school players. Some UE insiders believe as many as four of the newcomers could start along with Strawbridge.

The veteran gushes when describing transfers Ben Humrichus, Cam Haffner (Eastern Illinois), Antonio Thomas (Kentucky Wesleyan/Bradley) and tall freshmen Joshua Hughes and Michael Day. The 6’9 Humrichus was an outstanding NAIA player for Huntington University. He rebounds, blocks shots and makes threes.

 

 

Michigan’s sixth rated player Chuck Bailey III, highly rated junior college transfer Tanner Cuff are incoming backcourt players with great promise. This year’s team will have six players 6’9 or taller and three with international experience.

Strawbridge says there is a brand new attitude around the new and improved Purple Aces.

 

 

Our entire conversation is available on YouTube. It can be heard at Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts. We discuss why he wears the number 20, how his parents met and we discuss the summer of 2020. The new and improved Purple Aces have solid leadership in coach David Radland and in Kenny Strawbridge Jr.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo courtesy of gopurpleaces.com.