Langston Hall-ASUN All-Freshman Team; 1st-Team Atlantic Sun
They are clearly the team to beat next year after a stirring CIT tournament championship (winning 3 games on the road). The Bears lose their best outside shooter in 6’8” Justin Cecil, with his 82 treys, but bring back everybody else. And the average 3 point percentage of the remaining players is as good as Cecil’s, (.363), so they should still do fine from the arc. To bolster perimeter shooting they bring in skinny 6’2” JUCO Anthony White from Lakeland College who knocks down 15 points on 40% from 3. They should improve as their young, senior free roster matures. 6’10” rising junior Daniel Coursey, completely unheralded as a freshman, is easily the most improved big man in the ASun. They are a little short on athleticism and physicality inside, but have good size, shooting, passing and basketball smarts from the big guys, Coursey, Bud Thomas and Jake Gollon, and from 6’4” guard Langston Hall, a top candidate for ASun POY. Travis Smith became a fine 2nd guard to go with him. Mercer is by far the best balanced team in the league. They had the best scoring defense in the ASun – holding opponents to 62.8, and to by far the lowest field goal percentage, .386. They were 2nd to Belmont in scoring margin, +5.3, and were 4th in 3 point percentage. They had the second highest rebounding margin after USCU. They led in blocked shots with 4.8. They can beat you inside or out. Bit players Paul Larsen, R.J. Miskimon, Shaquille Harris and Kymon Woods transfer. Mercer got here by bringing in bushels of recruits for 2 years (about 14 in all), discarding most of them, but finding key players like Coursey, Bud Thomas and Travis Smith among the remainder. Additions include shooter White, and 6’5” freshman guard Lawrence Brown of Kansas City, MO, 6’4” FR guard Dylan Poston of Myrtle Beach, SC, and 6’5” sophomore Ike Nwamu from Greensboro, NC.
Correction – the Bears are not entirely “senior-free”: guards Chris Smith and Travis Smith are seniors. But the heart of the roster, including Langston Hall, Bud Thomas, Jake Gollon and Daniel Coursey, are underclassmen.
Correction – the Bears are not entirely “senior-free”: guards Chris Smith and Travis Smith are seniors. But the heart of the roster, including Langston Hall, Bud Thomas, Jake Gollon and Daniel Coursey, are underclassmen.