UMass Minutemen
Meet the Starters
Meet the Starters
#1 Rashaun Freeman-C/F 6'9 255
FORD ON FREEMAN: "Rashaun is an All-American Candidate after being on the A-10 First Team last year. He is an extremely talented post player, a great one-on-one player, he's very tough to stop. He will get double teamed a lot this year so it will be very important how he handles that but I think Rashaun is coming into this year in the best shape he has ever been in his life which I think will just add to his game. Hopefully we can continue the progress that Rashaun's built up his first two years playing here at UMass."
#2 Brandon Thomas-G/F 6'6 200
FORD ON THOMAS: "Brandon is probably the most versatile player on our basketball team. Brandon can literally play four positions from the point guard spot to the number four spot. He sat out all of last year and didn't even get to practice so it will take some time to get the rust off but he is somebody who can shoot the ball from the perimeter, he's long, he can defend, he can put the ball on the floor and score. So he's a guy who will see a lot of minutes on the court in a lot of different positions."
#3 Maurice Maxwell-G 6'5 185
FORD ON MAXWELL: "Maurice is a leader of this basketball team. Maurice is an under rated offensive player but I think his strength is defense. I think that is what he really has to concentrate on to become one of the best defenders in the Atlantic 10. He plays with a lot of maturity which I like. He'll play a lot on the weak positions, but he could also find himself playing a little bit at the point guard spot because he can handle the ball and he makes good decisions. One thing I like about Maurice is that when you watch him as a player he doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he usually tries to play within himself. I think Maurice could be one of the better players in the Atlantic 10."
#13 Stephane Lasme- F/C 6'8 190
FORD ON LASME: "Stephane, I'd say, is one of the best defenders in the Atlantic 10, bar none. He can really change a game with his defense, he is a difference maker. He is one of the best shot blockers I have ever coached. He's somebody who has to develop more confidence in his offensive game, I think I believe in it more than he probably does. He is getting better every day. I love his attitude on the court. Stephane comes to the gym everyday ready to work, listen and learn and his best days are ahead of him. I think once he realizes how good he could be, the sky is the limit for him."
#14 Chris Lowe- G 6'0 160
FORD ON LOWE: "Chris is going to be put in a tough situation, he is going to come in and be the only true point guard on our basketball team and he is going to be expected to play. He's coming through one of the best high school programs in America so I think that is going to prepare him. He's got to continue to work on his jump shot but his number one role on our basketball team is to make everyone else better around him and be a leader out on the basketball court."
Bench
G-Art Bowers
G-James life
F-Jeff Viggiano
F-Lawrence Carrier
Transfers
Unavailable this yearGary Forbes
Matt Bonner
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