From LBPOSTSports.com: You sat through last season’s 6-24 campaign, and I feel for you. It was never easy, from the 40-point home opener shellacking to the first round exit in the Big West Tournament. And yet, we knew that better things were coming. We believed in coach Dan Monson, that he would bring us talent and that this was where he wanted to be. He proved it, and brought in perhaps the most talented group of freshmen that this school has seen in a decade. With Monson’s tireless commitment to excellence and renewed interest from the university, this could be a landmark year for the 49ers.
P.S. Wait, we get another year from Donovan Morris? Ohhhh, shnap!
Click here for the full team preview and photos of every player.
Guards
Greg Plater (Sophomore, #3) – Keep in mind that Plater is just a sophomore, but expect a lot out of him at the same time. The state of Oregon’s top high school point guard in 2007 had a lot on his shoulders last season, expected to come in and contribute immediately as a true frosh. After an inconsistent half-season that was full of brilliance as well as mistakes, coach Monson moved Maurice Clady to the point and Plater to the wing to take advantage of his shooting. His numbers dropped slightly, but his decision making improved and he was allowed to develop more naturally playing off the ball. It culminated with an impressive three 3-pointers and 17 points and in the first round of the Big West Tournament. This year, it looks as though every good thing about Plater’s game (athleticism, ball handling, shooting) has improved a notch or two, and with two other options at point guard, rumblings around the Sports Department are that Monson plans to keep Plater exclusively on the wing. His deep shooting ability will stretch the court and open things up for the explosive wings, and if Monson embraces the drive-and-kick plan as much as he did last season, Plater will benefit more than anyone else. It’s not yet clear how he’ll fit into this team with a logjam at point and bigger, athletic wings to compete with, but he’s got the potential to be one of Long Beach State’s feature players for the next few years with his dynamic play and versatility.
Maurice Clady (Senior, #20) – Clady ended last season and began this offseason as the team’s undisputed starting point guard. It was no easy road for him to get there. Before he settled into his role as Floor General, Clady’s erratic play and eagerness to make something happen brought back terrible memories of the short-lived Jazz Henderson Era. Shudder. But he calmed down, made better decisions and took care of the ball down the stretch, solidifying his role at the One. Enter freshman Casper Ware. Both at 5’9”, the two will likely be rotating in and out for each other constantly as Ware adjusts to the game. Worst-case scenario for Clady is coming off the bench to spell Ware and provide reliability when the freshman is off. Without a consistent jump shot, the best thing that Clady can do is provide energy, leadership and defense when he has the chance. If he concentrates on those things, he’ll be given more freedom to take playmaking risks.
Casper Ware (Freshman, #22) – When Coach Monson made the rounds around town last month to local bars, giving speeches and answering questions, he raved about the incoming freshmen class. When asked which one looked the most impressive, Ware was the name that came up time and time again. And that was before Monson had even put a ball in his hands. Ware comes in as a highly-touted recruit from Gahr High School that ran one of the state’s fastest offenses. Up close, you can see why. Standing only 5’9”, Ware is incredibly athletic and deceptively long. He plays excellent on-ball pressure defense, starts the fast break and is able to get to the rim in a way that Clady can’t. In high school, Ware did not shy away from attacking the bucket or playing in the paint, despite being at least six inches shorter than any post player. He also rebounded extremely well. Ware has really improved his jumper since his senior year but it still needs a lot of work, making him much more dangerous as an attacker or playmaker. As Clady does, Ware gets a little ambitious sometimes and needs to be calmed down. If he watches his turnovers and takes smart chances, we’re probably looking at this year’s starting point guard and Long Beach State’s floor leader of the future.
Stephan Gilling (Junior, #33) – Gilling is a 6’2” off-guard that brings as much mystery as anything else to the table. He transferred over from Colorado State last season and had to sit out due to NCAA rules. In his two years at CSU, Gilling shot a .435 three-point percentage in a tough conference, fueling speculation about what Gilling would be capable of in the Big West. This year, we’ll finally find out. Optimists point to the fact that we knew nothing about Donovan Morris last year and ended up with a gem. There have been a lot of rumors about Gilling’s ability, fueled by whispers of him swishing infinity consecutive three-pointers in practice. From what I’ve seen, he’s a very good shooter that makes good decisions and plays defense. Taking a year off is hard on any player, but Gilling is the kind of player Monson loves even if he’s not going to breakout for 20. All the better if he does, though.
Jesse Woodard (Sophomore, #31) – There is homework needed to be done on Woodard. He played at Colorado State last season, which makes me wonder what his relationship with Stephan Gilling is since Gilling sat out last season after an identical move. I’m not even sure if Woodard will be available to play this year or if he’s relegate to practice time while he sits out his one year. What I do know is that the lefty is just 6’2″ and has a sweet stroke, though he pushes from his shoulder and relies on a lot of lift. He shot 29% from three-point range last year, isn’t particularly quick and 6’2″ is small for a two-guard. A year off will probably do Woodard some good.
Brandon Nevens (Junior, #5) – Brandon was not on the floor when I visited practice and his online player bio lists no information besides height, weight and position. So that’s really all I’ve got for you.
On The Wing
Eugene Phelps (Freshman, #2) – Phelps is one of those intriguing freshman who will define his own role on the team this season. He could very well propel himself into a key role if he can contribute consistently, but this position is so deep that he could also find himself waiting for his turn. A 6’6” wing/forward, Phelps is a very muscular player who looks much older than his 18 years, though his skills are far from juvenile. A quick YouTube search will reveal a slew of dunking highlights from his senior year at Taft High, and 49er fans will be excited to see someone not named “Donovan Morris” who can finish around the basket. The jury is still out on his ball handling or outside shot, but Coach Monson made a big deal out of Phelps’ work ethic in early interviews, revealing that the frosh made a beeline for the gym when he arrived on campus and has had to be physically removed more than once. Phelps provides some much-needed muscle on the wing, but is another player that we just don’t know much about yet.
Donovan Morris (Senior, #4) – My roommate Russell said it best: “It’s like Long Beach State was building this huge puzzle, but they only had one piece, and this year we’ve got a whole bunch of pieces that look real good, but it won’t mean anything if they don’t match the one piece we’ve already got.” There’s really nothing that I can say about Donovan Morris that last year’s numbers won’t tell you: 21.2 ppg, 46.1 FG%, 41.7 3PT%, ranked in the Top 10 in eight different Big West categories. What’s changed this year? He’s spent more time in the gym than any human being ever should. And he grew a beard. That is all.
T.J. Robinson (Freshman, #15) – One of the three freshman swingmen that figure to play a big part in the Long Beach State offense this year, and perhaps the one that can make the most immediate impact. An extremely long but very pumped up 6’7” and 201 lbs., Robinson spent last season at the same Connecticut prep school that Larry Anderson played at. Anderson and the 49er staff convinced Robinson to pass up Temple and St. John’s to come to the Beach, and it may have been the best decision they made all offseason. Robinson can score, there’s no doubt about that. The southpaw has a smooth stroke and can get to the bucket in one dribble from anywhere on the floor. He can play the four, three, two, and here’s the kicker: if the 49ers want to go big (say, against a big opponent like Wisconsin) they plan to run Robinson at the point. I’ll leave you to chew on that the next time he pulls down 13 rebounds like he did in last weekend’s scrimmage.
Larry Anderson (Freshman, #21) – Yet another of the freshmen that Monson is so fond of, except that he once called Anderson “maybe the most athletic player in the conference.” Whoa. With Phelps, Morris and Robinson, it would take a fair amount of persuasion for me to believe that Anderson is the most athletic player in Long Beach. But such is Monson’s confidence. The one advantage Anderson has over the others is that we’re familiar with him. The 2007 Moore League Player of the Year led Jordan High to the championship in his senior season before spending last year in Connecticut with Robinson. Anderson is the one freshman that we absolutely know has a deadly stroke – we saw it in action at Jordan and he’s been lighting up practice with it, as well. As long as he can keep his head up after mistakes and keep working hard, Anderson is a viable second scoring option and perhaps a taller, more explosive Donovan Morris for the future. Scary.
Down Low
Arturas Lazdauskas (Junior, #10) – The smooth-shootin’ Lithuanian known as “Big A” around the student section seeks a bigger role on this season’s team. Can he get it? It will take a lot. It will take a consistent jumper, very tough defense, and solid rebounding. Big A was far from the toughest guy when he came to LB but has muscled up since then, and is pushing people around in practices. He earned decent minutes last season, especially in the clutch – mainly because he makes very few mistakes and can be counted on when needed. On this year’s explosive scoring team, Monson is looking for consistency and toughness from his big men. You know what you’re going to get from Big A, and I see him playing a big role on this team, even if it’s off the bench.
Brian Freeman (#24, Senior) – We had high hopes for “Free” last year after he put up outrageous numbers in junior college, but he was hampered by a lack of athleticism and never really developed into the force we thought he would. He seemed more comfortable shooting jumpers from the outside, which was not of much use. This year, he won’t be needed on the perimeter at all and should be relegated to the paint, where the extra weight he put on will do the team a world of good. A true post player can do wonders for Big West teams, and Freeman provides that for the 49ers as long as he’s content with banging, rebounding and blocking shots. If he can step out and hit a 15-18 footer, fine! But he’s not the athlete we thought we had, and using footwork and position down low will be his greatest asset on this team.
Mike Vantrimpont (#14, Freshman) – Ev-er-y-bod-y and their momma has been asking about the 7-foot-2-inch kid who spent two years in France before joining the 49ers this summer. Monson signed him. Then the kid changed his mind. Then those were just rumors. Then they were real. Well, let’s squash the rumors: Vantrimpont is real and not an elusive spirit who haunts the Gold Mine. He is on the roster and will be a part of the team. He is definitely 7-foot-2 and towers over the other big men. He is definitely too skinny, too passive and not an offensive threat. Sound familiar? Yes, sounds like Andrew Fleming. But Vantrimpont has an extreme advantage in that he is a natural basketball player and not just a tall man. Vantrimpont can run and move quickly, has a nose for the ball and impressive footwork for his size – Fleming never had any of these. The kid needs a lot of work, particularly on offense and with intensity. But he’s definitely here, and he’s definitely in the future plans.