Added size, numbers help men’s basketball team
The Utah State men’s basketball team has three players above 6-foot-10 inches tall and plenty of others with a ton of talent to help the Aggies win games this season.
The return of senior Kyisean Reed, sophomore Jordan Stone and sophomore Danny Berger combined with the additions of centers Matt Lopez and Jarred Shaw means good things for Utah State basketball this winter.
Standing at 6-foot-6, Reed had some monster dunks that electrified the Spectrum last season and will be looked upon by many to provide leadership on the court this year.
“Kyisean Reed has really stepped up and done a good job,” said USU associate coach Tim Duryea. “He’s our most vocal guy.”
As the only senior on the team this year, Reed has the most to gain from the increase of size down low this season. Reed was almost nonexistent in some games last season, while other times dominating in the post.
Reed has had a year already behind him to get head coach Stew Morrill’s system down. With the confidence to perform extremely well, expect Reed to be more active around the rim and making big plays.
“Bigger guys at the rim sucks the defense in, so it allows me to move around, space more, drive kick and get more open shots,” Reed said.
Along with Reed, Ben Clifford is another Aggie who will benefit from the added size in the post positions. The 6-foot-7 forward will be more able to create space and make shots.
“Ben Clifford gives you a solid effort every day, physical play, understands what he’s doing and he’s more of a leader by example,” Duryea said.
Clifford should continue to mold into an important cog in Morrill’s system, and with a couple more years left, could become a team leader.
A late transfer from LaSalle, the 6-foot-11 Lopez poses a threat to create a lot of scoring opportunities for teammates. He will be an asset to the low post in being able to rebound, a weakness for the team last year.
Due to NCAA transfer rules, the sophomore is ineligible to play until after the fall 2012 semester ends but will help Utah State in the WAC portion of the schedule.
A transfer from Oklahoma State, Shaw is one of the most exciting additions to USU. After sitting all of the 2011 season, the 6-foot-10 junior knows Morrill’s system and should bring an immediate i
mpact to the low post.
Shaw’s rebounding and ability to create second-chance points on offense will give the Aggies an edge.
“It’s a matter of me taking over, doing what I got to do,” Shaw said of his expectations to run the offense through the post. “Morrill is handing it to me, so I got to do what I’m supposed to do.”
Shaw’s size and scoring ability will likely draw double-teams from undersized opponents.
“Coach Stew’s system is for big guys, so we will be getting the ball a lot,” Shaw said.
Stone is another big man with a year of Aggie basketball under his belt. In his first year on the team, the 6-foot-10 center had time to learn the system while picking up playing time.
On the court, Stone’s play produced varied results.
“Jordan Stone is still young in the game, even though he has been around for a year,” Duryea said.
Stone should see a lot of time before the end of the semester when Matt Lopez gets into the rotation as part of an offensive core with the ability to score in the paint and allow the perimeter players to take more three point shots.
“In my twelve years here, this is the biggest set of big guys,” Duryea said. “Looking at our team on the front end, we’re bigger and we shoot the ball better.”
– justin.w.ha@aggiemail.usu.edu