Lipscomb returns only 3 players who logged more than 7.2 minutes per game: the 6’5” Smith twins, sophomores Malcolm and Martin, and guard Deonte Alexander, leaving them with less experience than any other ASun team. Losses include post player Justin Glenn, shooters Jordan Burgason and Jacob Arnett, guard Zavion Williams, swingman Damarius Smith, and Marvin Williams. The Smith brothers and Alexander were good, and should be better the second time around. A good round of recruits include 6’7” 230 JUCO Oscar Garcia (31 games, 7.1 ppg, 43%, no 3’s, 46% ft, 4.1 rpg, 0.2 blk, 0.6 stl, 1.3 ast, 1.5 t.o.), who will be counted on heavily for size and muscle inside, 6’4” JUCO Khion Sankey (32 games, 7.2 ppg, 32% 3’s, 62% ft, 5.4 rpg, 2.9 ast,, and 6 freshmen, led by 6’9” 190 Memphis freshman Charles Smith and John Ross Glover 6’4” sg, the Tennessee DII A ‘Mr. BasketBall’ as a Junior, and a Parade All-American (one of 40) as a senior, averaging 30 ppg and 7.2 rpg http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2012-13/7304/john-ross-glover-named-parade-all-american/
6’10” 285 Stephen Hurt was supposed to be on last year’s roster but was dropped early. He appears again on this year’s preseason roster, still listed as a freshman. This is the second year of heavy recruiting in a rebuilding campaign. Last year, in their second year of heavy recruiting, both Mercer and USCU made huge strides forward. But I don’t think that Lipscomb is as far along as those teams were. This will probably take some time.
