Trio of Utah State newcomers compete to be offensive leader
Last season, senior Brockeith Pane ran the Utah State offense from the point guard position. Both Pane and backup E.J. Farris are now gone from the program and the Aggies are looking to three newcomers to find their floor general.
Junior college transfer TeNale Roland and freshmen Marcel Davis and Riley Bradshaw are battling for the starting point guard position this season. Each is new to the program, but all three offer skills and experience that could help the Aggies claim a championship in their final season in the Western Athletic Conference.
For the first time in several years, Utah State should be very deep at point guard, allowing for injuries and fatigue to have minimal impact on the season.
“Right now, the competition is wide open for who will start for us,” assistant coach Chris Jones said. “They all are learning our system very quickly. Being able to work out this summer and learn from the players that have been here has definitely helped them learn the game we play.”
Roland averaged 20.7 points per game and 4.5 assists per game while playing two years at Rend Lake College in Illinois.
“I came to USU because they graduate a high percentage of their students,” Roland said. “Academics are important to me. They win a lot of games, and it’s a good program with a good history.”
The Louisville, Ky., native brings a scoring threat to go along with his ball-handling and passing skills.
“TeNale has a great feel for the game,” Jones said. “He stays level headed really well. He doesn’t get too up or too down, and that is what we need in a point guard.”
Roland is the fifth junior college All-American to sign with USU under head coach Stew Morrill. Junior college All-American Jared Quayle also played point guard for the Aggies for two seasons from 2008 to 2010.
“The game is a lot faster at this level,” Roland said. “I’m really working hard to make quicker decisions with the ball. There is a better competition. People are bigger and faster here at this level.”
Jones said Roland is coming along well.
“Any juco needs to get to the next level in the game, but TeNale is doing a great job of making the transition,” Jones said.
Davis helped the American Fork High School Cavemen to a 19-3 record and received first-team all-state honors from both the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News as a senior in high school. Davis may be the most pure point guard of the group.
“I wanted to come to Utah State because they win,” Davis said. “I like to win and they do a lot of that here. The student section is unbelievable. I wanted to play in front of the HURD.”
Davis averaged 10.5 points per game and 5.7 assists per game in his final season at American Fork. Davis was ranked as the 27th-best overall West Coast prospect after his junior year, according to ESPN.com.
“I like to push the ball and get everyone involved,” Davis said. “I feel like I see the floor well and can distribute the ball well.”
Jones said Davis has been great.
“Marcel has a great basketball IQ,” Jones said. “He has excellent instincts and is doing all we want him to do.”
Bradshaw will also likely see time at the point guard position. Bradshaw plays shooting guard in addition to point guard and may split his minutes backing up junior Preston Medlin.
“Riley is learning two positions for us,” Jones said. “That is really hard to do in our system. He’s working hard and is a quick learner, but I’m sure his head is spinning trying to keep up.”
During his high school career at Corvallis High School in Montana, Bradshaw led his conference in scoring and assists all four years. He also averaged 24.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game as a senior.
“The game is more intense, more complex compared to what I’ve played before,” Bradshaw said.
A true scoring threat, Bradshaw boasted a 38.0 percentage from three-point range during his final season in high school.
“I bring a lot of energy,” Bradshaw said. “I try to do the little things that win games.”
With the first exhibition game of the year this Friday, the battle for the starting point guard position will be a storyline for fans to watch.
“We may start three different guys for our first three games,” Jones said. “They are all playing hard.”
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