Sports

Ohio Men’s Basketball: Forwards Preview

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In the 2013-14 campaign, Ohio men’s basketball leaned a lot on its forwards, and they played a significant role in Bobcats’ success. The Green and White may have lost Jon Smith, Ricardo Johnson and T.J. Hall, but with big men like Maurice Ndour and Antonio Campbell returning for the 2014-15 season, there is little reason to believe there will be a drop-off in production from the Bobcats’ front court.

Here’s a look at the forwards on Ohio’s roster:

 

Maurice Ndour

Simply put, there’s seemingly nothing that the senior forward can’t do on a basketball court. Last season Ndour averaged 13.8 points and seven rebounds per game en route to a Second Team All-MAC selection.

His unique combination of length, athleticism and versatility make him a terror for opposing teams. Offensively, the 6-foot-9 forward can attack from anywhere on the floor. A year ago he demonstrated that he can step out and knock down perimeter jump shots, but he’s most deadly from 15 feet and in. From there he can post up or shoot overtop smaller defenders, or he can face up and use his quickness to attack the rim and take advantage of slower opponents.

Ndour is a force at the defensive end too. He provides the Bobcats with a legitimate rim protector and shot blocker. Even if he doesn’t get his hands on a shot, Ndour often still affects it, using his seemingly endless wingspan to force the offensive player to change his release point.

 

Treg Setty

After sitting out the 2012-13 season due to NCAA transfer rules, the redshirt junior got back on the court in the 2013-14 season and had a significant impact on the team. The 6-foot-8 forward only put up three points and two rebounds a game, but much of what Setty does doesn’t show up in the stat sheet.

The Maysville, Ky., native is known for doing the dirty work. Setty can often be seen diving on the floor, chasing down loose balls and taking charges. It’s that type of effort that will be valuable to head coach Saul Phillips.  

In addition to his nonstop effort, Setty will bring an improved jumps shot to the floor this season.  While he won’t be a regular 3-point threat, his ability to hit an occasional three will help stretch the floor and open up lanes for Stevie Taylor, Bean Willis and Ndour to attack.

 

Antonio Campbell

The sophomore’s play last season is a large reason for optimism heading into this season. Campbell played sparingly towards the beginning of last season but saw his minutes increase when Ndour was slowed down with a back injury. The uptick in minutes meant an increase in production for the young forward.

He averaged 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game over the last eight games of the season. At 6-foot-8 260 lbs., Campbell is a force down on the block. His large frame allows him to establish good position on the block and to handle physical defenders.

Given Phillips’ up-tempo style, one of Campbell’s most valuable qualities is his ability to throw long outlet passes. He will be able to ignite the fast break quickly, leading to some easy points for the Bobcats.

 

Wadly Mompremier

As a freshman, Mompremier saw little action. At 6-foot-10, he possesses great length and above average athleticism.  Even with that length, Mompremier still struggled in the 2013-14 season. He had not yet adjusted to the physicality of the game at the collegiate level.

The Miami, Fla., native has worked his physicality and appears to be more aggressive and assertive on the court heading into the 2014-15 season. Mompremier has some offensive skill including an improved jump shot, but his best asset is still his length.

Even with the improvements he’s made to his game, Mompremier is still a work in progress.

 

Khari Harley

The freshman redshirted last year and will likely miss part of this season as well due to a nagging back injury that affected him for most of the offseason. Harley’s back is improving, and both he and Phillips believe that he is close to returning, which is good news for Ohio. At 6-foot-8, Harley has the potential to be a matchup problem on offense because of his shooting stroke and ball handling skills. Harley also has the potential to be an asset on defense for Ohio because of his athleticism.

 

Chandler Thomas

The graduate-student transfer from Grambling State will likely play a similar role to Setty. Ohio will look for Thomas to scrap for rebounds and bring energy off the bench. The 6-foot-6 forward should provide the Bobcats with another tough defender thanks to his physicality and strength. At Grambling last season, Thomas averaged eight points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range. He can provide the team with some scoring even though he won’t be the first or even second option.

 

Kenny Kaminski

A redshirt sophomore, Kaminski is another new face for the Bobcats, as he transferred to Ohio after leaving Michigan State earlier this year. The former top-100 recruit, likely will not see any action this year due to NCAA transfer rules, which is unfortunate for the Bobcats given Kaminski’s ability to stretch the floor. Last season Kaminski made 49 percent of his 3-point attempts – an exceptional percentage for any player, but even more impressive for a college baller that stands at 6-foot-8.

 

Sam Frayer

Bobcat fans likely won’t see much of Frayer this season. The freshman is a walk-on from Cincinnati. He played high school basketball at Madeira High School, leading his team to three Cincinnati Hill League championships. Frayer has below average athleticism but possesses a fairly consistent jump shot.

 

Ndour, Setty and Thomas are the only upperclassmen forwards on Ohio’s roster. With an abundance of youth at the forward spot, Saul Phillp’s squad has plenty of room to grow and be a strength not only this year, but seasons to come.