"Eye of the Tiger" - The Coaching Legacy of Jason Whitt (CH2k8)

[VandyRedskins21]

Had to point this typo out to you. It says that Vandy made it to the Elite 8... I'm pretty sure you meant to have Wright St. beat them in the first round. That would be more realistic.

[jasontoddwhitt]

Quote: Originally Posted by VandyRedskins21

Had to point this typo out to you. It says that Vandy made it to the Elite 8... I'm pretty sure you meant to have Wright St. beat them in the first round. That would be more realistic.

HAHA...yeah, I've been burned by Vandy in the past when it came to bracket pools. Finally smartened up this past season.

[jasontoddwhitt]

2008 Recruiting Class

Chad Crumbley, Cincinnati OH
*** (65 OVR) 6’8” 218lbs HS SR PF
C Pot – OVR #419 – POS #84

With the departure of three post players from last year’s team, we knew that we would need front court help. We were on this kid from day one. We were worried when Ohio State offered a scholarship at the last minute, satisfying his #2 and #3 recruiting priorities of playing for a big program and being close to home. Luckily for us, his #1 priority, feeling wanted, won out for us as he signed his letter of intent. Very springy big who has a good mid-range game and has quick hands on the defensive end.

Ije Stefanov, Cincinnati OH
** (52 OVR) 6’10” 229lbs HS SR PF
F POT – OVR NR – POS NR

He has size…and that’s about it. In a small conference, sometimes, that’s all you need.

Darek Carrington, Columbus OH
** (51 OVR) 6’2” 172lbs HS SR PG
D POT – OVR #662 – POS #179

Has a decent jumper, but he’s a bit on the slow side. Not the ideal PG for our system, but could potentially grow into the role if he improves his handle and his jumper.

Regis Cobb, North Richland Hills TX
** (51 OVR) 5’8” 162lbs JUCO SO PG
F POT – OVR NR – POS NR

Walk-on PG who is fast….but that’s about it. Gives us the option of redshirting Darek Carrington if we decide to go that route.

Darrall Garza, Taylor MI
** (48 OVR) 6’4” 190lbs HS SR PG
F POT – OVR NR – POS NR

Very speedy PG and good on-ball defender, but unfortunately has trouble going full speed and hanging on to the ball. If he can improve his handle and his jumper, could be a player for us down the road. Likely redshirt candidate.

Kasib Gill, Corpus Christi TX
** (48 OVR) 6’7” 201lbs HS SR SF
F POT – OVR NR – POS NR

Walk-on slashing SF. Does a decent job getting into the lane, but not much else. Most likely, a JAG.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach Jason Whitt - 2nd year
Legacy Points: 4,125
Record: 16-12
Overall: C
Offense: C-
Defense: C-
Teaching: A
Scouting: C-
Charisma: C-
Discipline: C-

Assistant Coach Vinnie Doellman - 1st year
Overall: C
Offense: D
Defense: C
Teaching: D
Scouting: C-
Charisma: B-
Discipline: C-

Assistant Coach Ljubisa Joseph - 1st year
Overall: C
Offense: D
Defense: C-
Teaching: C
Scouting: D
Charisma: B-
Discipline: C-

While I was happy with our first recruiting class, in the end, we want to build a dynasty here at Radford and middle-of-the-road recruiting classes just won't cut it. We went out and hired two of the best recruiters available to us and we hope we can hit the ground running. This next class will be important to achieving our goals.

[jasontoddwhitt]

2008-09 Big South Preview

Forecast
1. High Point Panthers
2. VMI Keydets
3. UNC Asheville Bulldogs
4. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
5. Radford Highlanders
6. Liberty Flames
7. Winthrop Eagles
8. Charleston Southern Buccaneers

All-Conference Team
PG: Amir Johnson, JR, Radford
SG: Chavis Holmes, SR, VMI
SF: Travis Holmes, SR, VMI
PF: Joseph Harris, SR, Coastal Carolina
C: Kenny George, JR, UNC Asheville

Player of the Year: Kenny George, JR, UNC Asheville
Newcomer of the Year: Derrick Koffi, FR, High Point

[jasontoddwhitt]

Expectations Surround Radford Program

For the first time in several years, the conversation about the best program in the Big South Conference will include Radford. The winningest program in the conference in the early part of the decade had fallen on hard times of late, only registering one winning season in the past six seasons.

Now second-year coach Jason Whitt’s reclamation project is in full swing. After registering a 16-win season last year and making it to the Big South Championship game, Radford returns all five starters, most of their key reserves, and one talented recruit to put them back on the Big South basketball map.

“We have more firepower coming back than arguably anybody else in the conference,” said Whitt. “A lot of our players are now guys that are gaining respect from the other teams in the conference. We’re going to be that much more competitive this year.”

The Highlanders had all summer to swallow the nasty pill of that 80-49 beat down they received at the hands of the High Point Panthers in the Big South final. Despite overachieving last year, Whitt knows that they can’t just rest on their laurels.

“You have to keep working hard,” said Whitt. “This league is so wide-open that the difference between first and last is very small. We proved that last year. Everybody picked us to finish in the basement and we came a game away from the NCAA Tournament.”

This year’s version of the Highlanders is bigger, deeper, and more experienced. Junior Amir Johnson (5.2ppg, 5.1apg, 1.7rpg) is back at point guard along with seniors and fellow two-year starters Jamar Jenkins (13.1ppg, 3.2rpg) and Kenny Thomas (12.5ppg, 3.0rpg).

The 5-9 Johnson showed flashes of being one of the best point guards in the Big South Conference, and he will be counted on to continue his progression if Radford is to contend. Heading into the season, he is arguably the best point guard in the conference.

Jenkins, an athletic wing player, was not only the leading scorer on last year’s squad, but was also the team’s best perimeter defender, and he‘ll have to continue to be the same this year. Thomas is a streaky offensive player with the potential to put up huge numbers. After a fast start, Thomas wasn’t the same after a pulled hamstring midway through the season, but he still finished at .451 from the field and .380 from behind the arc.

Whitt is hoping for more production from his front court in sophomores Alex Gynes (5.4ppg, 4.3rpg) and Nick McFarlin (3.6ppg, 5.9rpg). However, with the arrival of Chad Crumbley (***, #84 PF), they can expect stiff competition from the freshman for playing time. Crumbley received an offer from Ohio State late in the process, but chose to sign with Radford, who had been recruiting him from day one.

“Crumbley is a kid who can step in and contribute right away,” said Whitt. “I’m excited about what he brings to the table. He needs to get a little bit stronger, but he had a good mid-range game and he’s a tremendous leaper.”

The Highlanders also have back their top two scoring options off the bench in senior Martell McDuffy (6.5ppg, 2.1apg) and sophomore Chris McEachin (6.8ppg, 1.9rpg). They proved to be instant offense off the bench, capable of going for double-digits at any time.

Senior Eric Hall (2.5ppg, 1.3rpg) is a hustle player off the bench who most likely led the team in most floor burns. Freshman Ije Stefanov (**, NR) provides the Highlanders some much needed size on their front line. Freshman Darek Carrington (**, #179 PG), junior college transfer Regis Cobb (** NR), and freshman Darrall Garza (**, NR) will all compete for the backup point guard position, something Radford sorely lacked last season. Juniors Joey Lynch-Flohr (1.0ppg, 1.2rpg) and Phillip Martin (1.0ppg, 1.0rpg) played limited minutes last season and will look to break into the rotation more regularly this season. Freshman Kasib Gill (**, NR) is another player who will be looking to breaking into the rotation in an already crowded backcourt.

2008-09 Schedule
11/07 at St. Louis
11/11 vs Colorado State (Preseason NIT)
11/12 Preseason NIT TBD
11/19 Preseason NIT (if necessary)
11/20 Preseason NIT (if necessary)
11/25 at East Tennessee State
11/29 at Utah Valley State
12/03 at Dayton
12/16 Savannah State
12/20 at Savannah State
12/31 at Mississippi State
01/10 Liberty
01/14 at UNC Asheville
01/17 VMI
01/19 Winthrop
01/22 Utah Valley State
01/24 at High Point
01/26 at Coastal Carolina
01/31 Charleston Southern
02/04 High Point
02/07 at Liberty
02/11 UNC Asheville
02/14 at Winthrop
02/16 at VMI
02/25 Coastal Carolina
02/28 at Charleston Southern

2008-09 Radford Highlanders
#	NAME	POS	HT	WT	CLASS	HOMETOWN
11	Amir Johnson (68)	PG	5-9	195	JR	Bethlehem, PA
45	Chad Crumbley (65)	PF	6-8	218	FR	Cincinnati, OH
23	Jamar Jenkins (65)	SF	6-6	217	SR(RS)	Memphis, TN
24	Kenny Thomas (62)	SG	6-3	187	SR	Virginia Beach, VA
3	Alex Gynes (62)	PF	6-7	224	SO	New Zealand
4	Martell McDuffy (61)	SG	6-4	196	SR	Baltimore, MD
1	Chris McEachin (61)	SG	6-5	186	SO	Virginia Beach, VA
12	Nick McFarlin (58)	PF	6-7	217	SO	Des Moines, IA
33	Eric Hall (56)	SF	6-8	203	SR	Chapel Hill, NC
43	Ije Stefanov (52)	PF	6-10	229	FR	Cincinnati, OH
30	Phillip Martin (51)	SG	6-6	190	JR	Norfolk, VA
40	Joey Lynch-Flohr (51)	C	6-8	225	JR	Virginia Beach, VA
13	Regis Cobb (51)	PG	5-8	162	JR	North Richland Hills, TX
10	Darek Carrington (51)	PG	6-2	172	FR	Columbus, OH
35	Kasib Gill (48)	SF	6-7	201	FR	Corpus Christi, TX
10	Darrall Garza (48)	PG	6-4	190	FR	Taylor, MI

[Knickerbocker91]

I feel like Stefanov could play a big role off the bench with his size. Looking forward to see Crumbley makes waves at Radford, good luck this season.

[jasontoddwhitt]

Quote: Originally Posted by Knickerbocker91

I feel like Stefanov could play a big role off the bench with his size. Looking forward to see Crumbley makes waves at Radford, good luck this season.

Size was something we sorely lacked last year, and it'll be nice to have some. And I'm already liking Crumbley's game as I've done the Midnight Madness game. He can step out and hit an 18-footer with ease. If we can develop his inside game...he'll be unstoppable.

[jasontoddwhitt]

Oct 20, 2008 - MIDNITE MADNESS
TEAM	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Radford Red ()	26	19	45
Radford White ()	29	32	61

Radford Red
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
C. McEachin	28	5-10	2-5	2-2	4	1	1	0	2	14
M. McDuffy	31	3-11	0-4	0-0	3	3	0	1	2	6
E. Hall	29	6-17	1-4	2-2	3	0	1	0	2	15
C. Crumbley	27	3-7	0-0	0-0	6	1	0	1	1	6
J. Lynch-Flohr	28	1-6	0-0	0-0	8	1	1	0	0	2
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Carrington	18	0-1	0-0	1-2	1	4	1	1	0	1
P. Martin	19	0-1	0-0	1-2	6	1	1	0	0	1
K. Gill	20	0-5	0-0	0-0	4	1	0	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS		18-58	3-13	6-8	35	12	5	3	7	45

Radford White
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
A. Johnson	31	0-5	0-3	0-0	3	6	0	0	4	0
K. Thomas	31	10-16	6-6	0-1	4	0	0	0	0	26
J. Jenkins	32	5-13	1-7	1-1	6	4	2	1	1	12
A. Gynes	30	3-10	0-0	2-2	4	1	1	0	0	8
N. McFarlin	31	5-10	0-0	1-3	16	2	3	0	0	11
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
I. Stefanov	17	1-3	0-0	0-0	4	1	1	1	2	2
R. Cobb	17	1-3	0-2	0-2	1	2	0	0	0	2
D. Garza	10	0-1	0-1	0-0	1	4	0	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS		25-61	7-19	4-9	39	20	7	2	7	61

"There was some things I liked tonight and some things I didn't like. If Kenny Thomas can keep doing that night in and night out...we'll be unstoppable. Was pleased with the performances of all the freshman tonight. We've got two and a half weeks of practice before our first game and we'll decide then about our starting lineup. But I know it's going to be hard to keep Crumbley out of the starting lineup.