Here is a quick rundown on the players who played on Saturday:
John Clemmons: Didn't get a chance to see him play but just
as well as he played limited minutes on a pretty bad team according to those
in attendance (0 points). We've heard good things about the junior walk-on from El Camino
so TitanCentral.com looks forward to seeing how good this kid can play. If
we can get 5-10 minutes of point guard play we are set at this position.
Bobby Brown: LB made the hour and a half fight through traffic
well worth the drive. He had many supporters including his mom and Trevor Ariza,
the 43rd pick in the NBA draft. LB played with Trevor while attending Westchester
HS in Los Angeles.
Bobby nailed threes (NBA threes mind you), outside shots and drove to the
basket while scoring a game-high 25 points. Those in attendance felt he might
have put on a few pounds of muscle but he also appears to be quicker and jumps
a little higher. Easily the best player on either team which included many
players from around the Big West and Pac-10.
Frank Robinson: The latest transfer to the Titans by the
way of East Carolina. First impression is he will definitely be worth the wait
while he sits out a year. He's left-handed and he's a leaper. He reminds you
of David Warsaw only a lot better and a lot bigger. Reports on his height
ranged from 6-2 to 6-5. Put him down as a definite 6-4.
The knock on Robinson is that he is a "tweener" who lacks an outside shot.
He loves to shoot so when -- not if -- he improves, he will be a force
in the Big West. Look forward to seeing him match up against Ralphy Holmes
during practice.
Lloyd Walls: Walls was matched up against Jeff McMillan of
USC the whole game and he did very well. Let's just say if we had Walls last
season
versus USC we win going away. Not too much of an offensive game but he
will make the easy shots and he does not have "ping-pong
paddles for hands".
Based on his performance he is our leading candidate
to start at the center position. With four others on the floor who are looking
to score we really do not need another scorer, just someone who can cover
a big, box out and know how to play defense. Walls fits this bill nicely.
Justin Burns: Burns didn't play until there were about four minutes
left in the game as he couldn't find a ride to LA. I was looking forward to see him play again after the first viewing when
he performed so poorly at Fullerton JC. Burns, a really nice, personable kid, actually looked taller
and stronger this time
around (He's listed as 6-6). Four minutes won't tell you a whole lot but he
can play defense and he can't shoot free throws.
Jermaine Harper: There are some pretty high expectations
for Jermaine this coming season and Titan fans are going to have some frustrating
times watching him play as he seems like a streaky type of player. Jermaine has a
very good looking shot but but he may have trouble playing against stronger and
taller guards.
Make no mistake, he did not play well in this game. He had 15 points and his team (Mark One) did win but something
was missing. His shot was off and his decision making was not on. Of course,
we watched this game right after seeing the new UCLA Bruin recruits energize
a 20 point deficit into a win in front of a packed gym. It also needs to be
mentioned that Harper arrived just as the game started so there was no time
to warm up.
Hardy Asprilla: What fans saw last season -- effort, intensity,
passion, hustle, no hops -- is exactly what they will get next season and is what
fans saw at the Say No. Hardy doesn't know how to play any other way. He will
not put up great stats in the boxscore but he will do everything he can to
win games. No surprises here.
After watching the Titans play it became quite obvious we will have a totally
different look next season, both with the new players and with a new game
plan. Unlike last year, our guard play will be what wins and loses games. If
we are to win, shooting and atking it to the basket will have to be our
strength because rebounding will
be our weakness.
Originally I was concerned about our depth but after looking at the current
roster we actually have plenty of guys who can play. Lack of height, which
will like equate to lack of rebounding,
appears to be the real culprit. Here is a first stab at what our depth chart
will look like for 2004-05.
Predicted Depth Chart (Start of Season)
Point Guard: Bobby
Brown, John
Clemmons, Jermaine Harper
Shooting Guard: Jermaine
Harper, Bobby Brown, Danny Lambert
Small Forward: Yaphett King, Danny
Lambert, Justin
Burns
Power Forward: Hardy
Asprilla, Mike Harrington, Yaphett King, Justin
Burns
Center: Lloyd
Walls, Derek
Quinet
Top 8 Players (based on projected playing time): Bobby Brown, Jermaine
Harper, Yaphett King, Hardy Asprilla, Lloyd Walls, Derek Quinet, Danny Lambert,
Justin Burns
Predicted Depth Chart (Beginning December 21st, 2004)
Point Guard: Bobby Brown, John Clemmons, Jermaine Harper
Shooting Guard: Jermaine Harper, Ralphy Holmes, Bobby Brown, Danny
Lambert
Small Forward: Ralphy
Holmes, Yaphett King, Danny Lambert, Justin
Burns
Power Forward: Jamaal Brown, Hardy Asprilla, Mike Harrington,
Justin Burns
Center: Lloyd Walls, Derek Quinet
Top 8 Players (based on projected playing time) : Ralphy Holmes,
Bobby Brown, Jamaal Brown, Jermaine Harper, Yaphett King, Hardy Asprilla,
Lloyd Walls, Derek Quinet
Again, be sure to check out the 2004-05
Roster.