Atlantic 10 primer

A team-by-team glance at the Atlantic 10 heading into the 2008-09 season.

(In predicted order of finish)

1. Xavier

Strengths: Forward Derrick Brown and guard C.J. Anderson make for a good inside/outside combination; both are outstanding athletes who can shoot and create their own shots. Brown, a very athletic player, averaged 10.9 points and 6.5 rebounds last season. He seems primed for a big season after spending the summer improving his game by serving as a counselor at the Nike Vince Carter Small Forward Camp and the LeBron James Skills Academy. Anderson averaged 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds. He provides versatility by playing multiple positions while showing the ability to score in traffic or off the dribble. Sean Miller is one of the finest young coaches in the country and is both an outstanding recruiter and tactician. Miller is 93-39 in his four seasons at Xavier

Weaknesses: Xavier doesn't have a proven big-time scorer who can take over a game. The Musketeers may need to rely on freshmen for key minutes off the bench.

Scouting the newcomers: Xavier has seven first-year players to the program with five freshmen that may make up the best recruiting class in school history. Freshman center Kenny Frease won numerous high school All-America honors last season after averaging 20.6 points and 12.2 rebounds a game at Perry in Massillon, Ohio. He should see significant minutes right away. Freshman guard Brad Redford was Mr. Basketball in Michigan last season, pouring in an amazing 36.7 points a game for Frankenmuth High. He should provide instant offense off the bench with his outside shooting. Sophomore forward Jamel McLean sat out last season after transferring from Tulsa and should provide frontcourt depth. He was a part-time starter for the Golden Hurricanes two seasons ago with averages of 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds. Freshman guard Terrell Holloway originally signed with Indiana but opted out of that commitment after coach Kelvin Sampson resigned under pressure. Holloway averaged 14.0 points and 7.0 assists a game for Harmony (Ohio) Community High last season.

2. Temple

Strengths: Coach Fran Dunphy led Temple to its first NCAA tournament since 2001 last season in his second season on the job after replacing Hall of Famer John Chaney. Dunphy's reward was a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2012-13 season. Chief among those returning is senior guard Dionte Christmas, who has led the conference in scoring each of the last two seasons He certainly has a chance to be the first player in Atlantic 10 history to do so three years in a row after pouring in 19.7 points a game last season and knocking down 104 3-pointers. The emergence of center Sergio Olmos and forward Lavoy Allen as capable inside scorers last season also should keep defenses honest and give Christmas room to operate.

Weaknesses: Depth is as problem. Temple might be forced to use a six-man rotation if some of the younger players don't develop quickly. Point guard Luis Guzman is erratic and prone to turnovers.

Scouting the newcomers: The Owls have a four-man freshmen class, but none of them should have to be rushed into action before they are ready. Guard Ramone Moore sat out last season to concentrate on his academics after being the top player in the Philadelphia Public League during the 2006-07 season. He averaged 25.1 points a game as a senior as Southern High. Forward Michael Eric was ruled ineligible last season by the NCAA Clearinghouse but still has four seasons of eligibility remaining. Noted for his length and quickness, the Nigerian native averaged 19.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks during his final season at Church Farm School in suburban Philadelphia. Guard T.J. DiLeo is an outstanding long-range shooter and averaged 23.9 points and 6.0 rebounds at Cinnaminson (N.J.) High last season. Forward Andrew Randall was considered the top recruit in Philadelphia last season when he averaged 21.2 points and 11.0 rebounds at Communications Technical.

3. Dayton

Chicago107: Over the past few years, the Atlantic 10 has been a conference of mixed results. Some have offered that it is the closest thing to a seventh major conference, while others refer to it as, "The Big East minus good teams". Last season's runs by Xavier (Elite Eight) and UMass (NIT finals) have this conference looking solid coming in to this year. The Atlantic 10 also has its share of solid coaches; Bobby Lutz, Brian Gregory, Phil Martelli, Rick Majerus, Fran Dunphy and Sean Miller highlight the list. From the outside, it may look like the conference as a whole is in a rebuilding phase. Gone are Charlotte's Leemire Goldwire, Duquesne's Kojo Mensah, Fordham's Bryant Dunston and Marcus Stout, GW's Maureece Rice, LaSalle's Darnell Harris, RIU's Will Daniels and Parfait Bitee and Temple's Mark Tyndale. Even bigger loses include Dayton's Brian Roberts, Duquesne's Shawn James, UMass's Gary Forbes and Xavier's trio of Josh Duncan, Drew Lavender, and Stanley Burrell. But, as I will highlight in the upcoming capsules, the conference's cupboards are far from bare. Read more

Strengths: Dayton has a lot of athleticism with a lineup filled with great leapers who can run the floor. The Flyers also have a strong recruiting class that should provide immediate help. Sophomore forward Chris Wright had a dramatic impact on Dayton's fortunes during his freshmen year last winter. The Flyers were 13-1 when Wright broke his ankle in the Atlantic 10 opener against Rhode Island. They went just 9-10 the rest of the season, though Wright did return in time to help Dayton reach the quarterfinals of the NIT. Wright averaged 10.4 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds was named to the Atlantic 10's all-rookie team.

Weaknesses: Dayton lacks a proven scorer following the graduation of Brian Roberts and also doesn't have many pure shooters. The Flyers have to improve on last year's 64-percent free-throw shooting.

Scouting the newcomers: Dayton has five incoming recruits, including one from the junior-college ranks. Junior Rob Lowery, who was an All-American at Cecil (Md.) Junior College, will challenge junior London Warren to be the point guard, the only spot open in the starting lineup. Lowery averaged 18.2 points and 8.2 assists last season. Guard Chris Johnson, a freshman from Columbus (Ohio) Brookhaven High, averaged a double-double last season with 26.2 points and 13.0 rebounds. Guard Paul Williams, a freshman from Renaissance High, got votes for player of the year in Detroit last season when he averaged 23.8 points and 6.1 rebounds a game. Forward Josh Benson, a freshman from Dayton Dunbar High, had averaged of 18.9 points and 11.0 rebounds a game last season and grew up watching Flyers games at University of Dayton Arena. Forward Luke Fabrizius, a freshman forward from Arlington Heights (Ill.) Hersey High, averaged 14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds last season and made more than 150 3-point field goals in his high school career despite standing 6-9.

4. Charlotte

Strengths: Charlotte has plenty of experience on the front line with all three starters returning: senior forwards Charlie Coley and Lamont Mack and sophomore An'Juan Wilderness, who made the Atlantic 10 Conference's all-rookie team last season. The 49ers's top recruit is also a forward, junior Rashad Coleman, who transferred from Heat (Va.) Academy. Charlotte plays good defense, holding opponents to 42-percent shooting from last season and forcing 23.0 turnovers a game.

Weaknesses: Charlotte will need to develop a go-to guy on the offensive end after losing leading scorer Leemire Goldwire to graduation. Shooting was a problem last season, even with Goldmire, as the 49ers made only 40 percent of their field-goal tries. Junior Ian Andersen will need to step up replacing Goldwire at shooting guard.

Scouting the newcomers: Charlotte has three, one of whom sat out as a redshirt freshman in 2007-08. Junior-college transfer Rashad Coleman, a junior, has two years of eligibility remaining and will add athleticism to the frontcourt as a reserve forward. He averaged 26.0 points and 6.2 rebounds last season at Heat (Va.) Academy. Freshman guard Shamarr Bowden appears ready to help off the bench and shined on a Labor Day weekend trip to Canada. Freshman guard Javaris Barnett is a hometown product who played at Victory Christian High in Charlotte and averaged 14.0 points a game as a senior before taking a redshirt last season. He's a good outside shooter, which should help a team lacking in that area.

5. Saint Joseph's

Strengths: Senior forward Darrin Nivins is a big-time scorer, both on the baseline and from the perimeter. A two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection, Nivins averaged 14.4 points and 5.8 rebounds last season, finishing second on the team in both categories to Pat Calathes, who graduated. Nivins also shot a sizzling 65 percent from the floor. Senior Tasheed Carr and junior Darrin Govens provide experience and steadiness in the backcourt. Carr averaged 10.8 points and 5.6 assists last year as the point guard. Govens scored 9.8 points and drilled 68 3-point field goals.

Weaknesses: The Hawks lack a physical presence inside and will struggle to match up with bigger opponents. The bench is very thin, which will cause coach Phil Martelli to try to get plenty of minutes out of his starters.

Scouting the newcomers: Saint Joseph's has five freshmen who they feel make up a versatile and athletic recruiting class. Guard Mike Auriemma gets high marks for his basketball IQ, not surprising since he's the son of Connecticut women's coach Geno Auriemma. Mike Auriemma averaged 20.0 points and 7.0 assists last season at East Catholic in Manchester, Conn. Guard Chris Prescott is a scorer and figures to get increased playing time as the season goes on. He scored 22.0 points a game to go with averages of 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists as a senior at Northwest Catholic in Bloomfield, Conn. Guard A.J. Rogers was part of the St. Anthony's High powerhouse that went 32-0, won the New Jersey state title and was considered the top team in the nation last season. He averaged 7.0 points and 8.0 rebounds. Forward Bryant Irwin had a gaudy 31.0 scoring average last season at Bridgeport (W. Va.) High and also grabbed 11.0 rebounds a game. But he is also considered a bit raw. Center Terri Adebayo was noted primarily for his interior defense at Montrose Christian in Maryland, averaging 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds as a senior.

6. Massachusetts

Strengths: Former Minuteman point guard Derek Kellogg is a first-time head coach but learned at the hand of John Calipari during eight seasons as an assistant at Memphis and appears to be the perfect fit as the replacement for Travis Ford, who took Massachusetts to the NIT final last year before leaving for Oklahoma State. Massachusetts has a deep and talented backcourt that matches up with anyone in the Atlantic 10 and includes two potential all-conference players in Chris Lowe and Ricky Harris. The ultra-quick Lowe averaged 11.8 points and an Atlantic 10-leading 6.3 assists last season while topping the team with 57 steals. Harris won the conference's Chris Daniels Most Improved Award after increasing his scoring average from 4.5 to 18.2 points a game while knocking down 104 3-point field goals.

Weaknesses: Massachusetts has no proven threats in the front court. While senior forwards Luke Bonner and Tony Gaffney have experience coming off the bench, neither has shown the ability to be a consistent scorer.

Scouting the newcomers: Massachusetts has three freshmen, including one signed by Ford before he left, along with a high-profile transfer who should make an immediate impact. Sophomore guard Anthony Gurley should fit Kellogg's dribble-drive offense well after sitting out last season following his transfer from Wake Forest. Gurley showed he could compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference during his one season with the Demon Deacons, averaging 6.4 points a game. Freshman guard David Gibbs, who was Ford's prized recruit last year, should get significant minutes off the bench after a stellar career at The Master's School in East Hartford, Conn. Gibbs averaged 22.5 points, 12.0 assists and 8.5 rebounds as a senior. Freshman forward Travon Wilcher could see a lot of action in a thin frontcourt after averaging 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds a game at Lee (Maine) Academy last winter. Freshman forward Tyrell Lynch originally signed with Auburn after graduating from Laurinburg (N.C.) Prep but never enrolled and has now landed at Massachusetts. He is a wild card after being away from organized basketball for a year.

7. Saint Louis

Strengths: Seniors Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddle form an outstanding and experience backcourt. Both have scored 1,000 points in their first three seasons and are on pace to finish among the school's top 10 all-time scorers. Lisch averaged a team-high 14.6 points last season and also led the Billikens with 63 3-point field goals, 97 assists and 38 steals while being named to the Atlantic 10's all-defensive team. Liddell had a 12.3 scoring average. The Billikens get after it on the defensive end, leading the Atlantic 10 last season by giving up 61.6 points a game.

Weaknesses: Saint Louis has almost no experience in the frontcourt and will struggle against bigger teams. The Billikens were last in the conference in points scored last season, averaging 60.1 a game and being held to a humiliating 20 in a loss at George Washington.

Scouting the newcomers: The Billikens have eight freshmen on the roster -- two-thirds of their scholarship players. Center Brett Thompson should provide immediate help to a very thin front line. He averaged 20.0 points and 11.1 rebounds last season at Vienna (Ill) High and finished his career with 1,776 points and 1,006 rebounds. Guard Kwamain Mitchell was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Wisconsin last season, averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds for Dominican High in Whitefish Bay. Mitchells is heir apparent to senior point guard Kevin Lisch. Guard Kyle Cassity is noted for his outstanding passing ability and had averages of 20.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season at Pinckneyville (Ill.) High. Guard Ruben Cotto averaged 22.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game for Alton (Ill.) High last season and is noted for his strength. Guard Femi John can light it up from long range and averaged 17.2 points a game as a senior for McCluer North High in St. Louis. Forward Brian Conklin starred at North Eugene (Ore.) High, the alma mater of Danny Ainge, and averaged 20.4 points and 11.2 rebounds last season. Center Willie Reed sat out his senior season at Bishop Miege High in Kansas City, Mo., last season but could get significant minutes as a freshman because of his good feel for the game. Guard Daniel Lisch was pretty much destined to play for the Billikens. He's the younger brother of Kevin, and his sister, Theresa, plays for Saint Louis' women's team. Daniel Lisch averaged 9.2 points as a senior as Belleville (Ill.) West High.

8. Richmond

Strengths: Richmond has scoring punch and versatility in the backcourt and will look to sophomore Kevin Anderson for leadership in the absence of junior forward Dan Geriot. Anderson was the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year last season, averaging 10.7 points and three assists while playing a team-high 34.8 minutes a game.

Weaknesses: Geriot, who led the Spiders is scoring and rebounding last season with 14.3 points and 5.5 boards a game, injured a knee while playing in a summer league in his native Philadelphia. Geriot needed surgery that will likely cause him to miss this season. Without Geriot, the Spiders lack a reliable inside scoring threat. They also don't play good interior defense or rebound well. The Spiders ranked last in rebound differential in the A-10 at minus-5.7.

Scouting the newcomers: Richmond has four freshmen, including one who sat out last season as a redshirt. Freshman forward Josh Duinker should challenge for playing time right away on a thin frontline; the Australian averaged 25.6 points and 12.2 rebounds for St. Pius X in Sydney last season. He also added 15 pounds of muscle over the summer. Freshman guard Francis Cedric Martel is considered a bit of a project, and the Canadian and isn't likely to get much playing time this season. He averaged 19.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in his senior season at Montgomery in Montreal. Freshman forward Darrius Garrett was the only domestic player in the recruiting class and needs to add some bulk after averaging 16.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.3 blocked shot a game at McEachern Prep in Georgia. Freshman forward Conor Smith sat out last season as a redshirt but still is rather raw. He averaged 16.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in his senior season at Brookfield (Wis.) Catholic Memorial.

9. Rhode Island

Strengths: Rhode Island will be able to shoot the 3, even with the line being moved back by a foot this season. Senior guard Jimmy Baron is one of the top long-distance marksmen in the country and junior forward Ben Eaves, a transfer from Connecticut, is also a threat. Jimmy Baron, son of coach Jim Baron, averaged 14.2 points a game last season while hitting 99 3-point field goals. Baron has 243 in his career. Senior forward Kahiem Seawright gives the Rams a strong presence on both the offensive and defensive glass. Seawright is a ferocious rebounder and grabbed 8.4 boards a game last season, tops among returning players in the Atlantic 10. He also had a team-high 42 blocked shots while scoring 8.4 points a game.

Weaknesses: The Rams don't have a reliable inside scorer, and that puts an inordinate amount of pressure on Baron to carry the offense. Teams guarded Baron more closely than ever down the stretch last season when Rhode Island lost nine of its final 11.

Scouting the newcomers: Rhode Island has four new faces, including three freshmen, but only one figures to get significant playing time. Junior forward Ben Eaves is transfer from Connecticut and figures to be a key reserve with his ability to shoot from the outside. He played sparingly for the Huskies but should be a contributor in the Atlantic 10. Freshman forward Orion Outerbridge averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds at New Hampton School in Boston last season. He needs to gets stronger but should eventually turn into a top-notch inside presence. Freshman guard Jamal Wilson is also a little on the frail side and will likely spent this season developing his skills in practice after averaging 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds for Neumann-Goretti in Norristown, Pa., last winter. Freshman guard Stevie Mejia is small but quick, and he too needs to add strength. However, his averages of 19.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals at Lawrence Academy in Boston last season show that he has plenty of potential.

10. La Salle

Strengths: La Salle was one of the big surprises in the Atlantic 10 last season, going 15-17 and finishing tied for seventh when the coaches picked them to finish 13th in the preseason poll. La Salle has plenty of experience with four starters returning along with six of their top seven scorers. The Explorers also have a strong and athletic front court and one of the top point guards in the conference in Rodney Green. Green averaged 13.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season. He scores a majority of his points on slashing moves to the basket but worked hard on his outside shot over the summer.

Weaknesses: Outside shooting is a concern following the graduation of Darnell Harris, who holds the Atlantic 10 career record for 3-point field goals. The Explorers don't have anyone who has proven to be a consistent long-range threat at the college level. Defense is also not a strong suit; opponents shot 47 percent from the field last season.

Scouting the newcomers: La Salle has only two freshmen, one of whom will sit out the season, but a transfer from the Southeastern Conference should make an impact. Sophomore forward Vernon Goodridge, from Mississippi State, should be the first big man off the bench. He sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules. He will provide a physical presence, and it would not be surprising to see his minutes increase as the season goes on. Freshman forward Devon White averaged 11.6 points and 12.0 rebounds for Strawberry Mansion High in Philadelphia last season. He is a strong rebounder but needs to work on his scoring touch. Point guard Karon Burton, who helped lead Chester to the state title in Pennsylvania's highest classification last winter, was a late recruit but will sit out this season to work on his academics. He averaged 18.1 points and 7.9 assists last season.

11. George Washington

Strengths: George Washington has a veteran frontline with outstanding leaping ability and good rebounding skills. Senior forward Rob Diggs has the potential to be one of the biggest forces in the Atlantic 10 after leading George Washington in scoring and rebounding last winter with 13.9 points and 7.7 rebounds a game. The springy Diggs also shot 50 percent from the field, blocked a team-best 31 shots and came on strong late in the season, averaging 16 points over the final 10 games. Senior forward Wynton Witherspoon averaged 11.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists and had a team-high 30 steals in his first season with the Colonials after transferring from Virginia Tech. Junior forward Damian Hollis, who is both adept at driving to the basket and hitting the jumper, averaged 9.1 points and 6.3 rebounds a game. George Washington has been adept at closing games out during coach Karl Hobbs' tenure as coach. The Colonials are 100-5 when leading with five minutes left since Hobbs took over eight years ago.

Weaknesses: The backcourt is a question as shooting guard Xavier Alexander is erratic and point guard Travis King will try to shake off the rust after missing last season because of knee surgery. The Colonials shot just 41 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range last season and those figures may not get appreciably better.

Scouting the newcomers: George Washington has three freshmen who all averaged at least 20 points a game as high school seniors. Guard Tony Taylor averaged 29.1 points, 7.1 assists and 6.3 rebounds for Archbishop Stepinac in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. He is smallish for a major college point guard but he has an outstanding stroke from 3-point range. Forward Aaron Ware scored 20.4 points and grabbed 9.7 rebounds a game for Bishop Montgomery in Los Angeles and should fit George Washington's up-tempo style extremely well. Guard Matt Albritton averaged 21.4 points and 6.4 rebounds for Garland Christian Academy in Dallas but is not likely to see much playing time this season.

12. Duquesne

Strengths: Duquesne has the type of talent necessary for coach Ron Everhart's fast-paced game with a group of players who can run the floor, create high-percentage shots and play strong defense. Aaron Jackson, the only player who has been in the program for four years, provides veteran leadership. He averaged 9.0 points and 3.5 assists a game last season while shooting 55 percent from the field. He also has 311 assists and a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio for his career.

Weaknesses: Duquesne is woefully thin on experience, losing its top five scorers from last season, and will likely start two freshmen. The Dukes also lack size; no one on the roster is taller than 6-9.

Scouting the newcomers: The Dukes have eight freshmen on the roster and their recruiting class was ranked No. 28 in the nation by Hoop Scoop. Notables include guard Melquan Bolding from Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep, who averaged 18.0 points and 7.0 rebounds a game last season and originally made a verbal commitment to Louisville. But coach Rick Pitino had to take away the offer because he did not have a scholarship, so Bolding, a Mount Vernon, N.Y., native, wound up Duquesne and should be in the starting lineup while adding versatility with his ability to play any spot on the floor. Guard Eric Evans was one of the top recruits in Michigan, averaging 26.3 points, 8.1 assists and 6.0 rebounds for Detroit Northwestern High. He should see significant playing time right away.

Guard B.J. Monteiro was the Connecticut high school Player of the Year last season, averaging 21.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.3 rebounds for Waterbury Crosby. Guard Chase Robinson was a finalist for Mr. Basketball in Alabama last season while averaging 23.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists for Huntsville Lee High. Forward Oliver Lewinson of Payson (Ariz.) High was a late-summer recruit and is the biggest player on the roster at 6-9.

13. Fordham

Strengths: Fordham has a very athletic team that will allow coach Derrick Whittenburg to play his preferred style of play, which is up-tempo on offense and fullcourt pressure on defense. Junior guard Brenton Butler provides an experienced backcourt scorer. He averaged 11.0 points and 2.3 rebounds last season.

Weaknesses: Fordham has only one starter returning in Butler. The Rams are particularly shaky in the frontcourt -- none of their forwards averaged more than 3.1 points last season. Fordham also shot just 42 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range and 67 percent from the free-throw line.

Scouting the newcomers: Fordham has five freshmen and a transfer on its roster, including the starting backcourt for Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony's High last season, when it won the mythical national championship by going 32-0. Freshman guard Jio Fontan averaged 10.5 points and 6.5 assists for St. Anthony's as a senior. He figures to start at the point and be a strong candidate to win Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors. Freshman guard Alberto Estwick, Fontan's teammate at St. Anthony's, is not quite as talented but averaged 8.0 points last season. He should eventually turn into an above-average player in the Atlantic 10. Sophomore forward Jacob Green becomes eligible in December after transferring from West Virginia and should move right into the starting lineup with the backcourt depleted by graduation. Green averaged only 0.8 points and 2.0 rebounds for the Mountaineers last season.

14. St. Bonaventure

Strengths: St. Bonaventure didn't do many things right last season in going 8-22 but they did shoot foul shots well. The Bonnies converted 75.2 percent of their free throws, which led the Atlantic 10. The Bonnies should be a much quicker team, especially with the addition of three junior college guards in Ray Blackburn, Jonathan Hall and Lewis Leonard. Senior forward D'Lancy Carter provided a physical presence in the low post and on the boards.

Weaknesses: Only three lettermen return, and coach Mark Schmidt will have to acclimate an almost entirely new roster to his system. There is a culture of losing that is pervasive in Olean, and Schmidt is still working on changing it. St. Bonaventure has failed to qualify for the conference tournament three consecutive seasons.

Scouting the newcomers: St. Bonaventure has almost a whole new team as nine of their 12 scholarship players are in their first year in the program, including two Division I transfers, three junior college recruits and four freshmen. Among the notables, junior guard Jonathan Hall was named the Most Valuable Player of the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament last season in helping lead South Plains (Texas) Community College to the championship. Hall figures to get extensive playing time after averaging 18.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season. Junior forward Maurice Thomas figures to step right into the starting lineup after sitting out last season following his transfer from Texas-El Paso. Thomas was a key player for the Miners two seasons ago, averaging 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. Junior point guard Ray Blackburn is likely to start after averaging 19.7 points and 6.9 assists at Erie (New York) Community College last season. Junior guard Lewis Leonard is a big-time scorer who averaged 25.2 points and 5.9 rebounds a game for San Bernardino Valley (Calif.) Junior College last season. Junior guard Chris Matthews is another player with Division I experience, spending two seasons at Washington State before transferring and sitting out last season. Matthews averaged 3.7 points a game for the Cougars in 2006-07. Freshman forward Da'Quan Cook sat out last season as a redshirt, got stronger, and now seems ready to be a contributor. He averaged 13.4 points and 6.7 rebounds during his senior season at The Miller School in Elizabeth, N.J.