Re: "Eye of the Tiger" - The Coaching Legacy of Jason Whitt (CH2k8)
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
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 |
I started a legacy a few days ago using those and simmed 3 seasons ahead. I'm currently in season 4 using Texas Southern. I remember putting a lot of work into those rosters. Glad you liked them.
Radford (0-1)
St. Louis (1-0)
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