Felician Athletics - 11/15/07 MEN'S BASKETBALL - 2007-08 Outlook: Rebounding A Concern For Young Golden Falcons

With the three seniors that graduated off of the 2006-07 Felician College men’s basketball team, Felician lost 54 percent of its scoring output. Two departed players, center Michael Pierrot (20.7 ppg) and forward Sydir Mitchell (18.6), eclipsed the school record for single-season scoring average. Therefore, it may surprise the casual fan that this year’s offense is not of primary concern to Felician head coach Del Harrison.

“We have guys who will put the ball in the basket,” said Harrison, entering his third season. “There will likely be a lot more balance in our scoring, and we might need to score in transition more than in the past. But our interior rebounding will be a bigger issue than our offense.”

Harrison’s worry stems from the fact that on his 15-player active roster, only two are 6 feet, 6 inches, or taller. Additionally, the Golden Falcons will dress a squad that includes seven freshmen and only one player who has spent more than one year in the program.

To compensate, Harrison will demand an athletic brand of basketball and will not saddle his players with unrealistic expectations.

“Our only goal is to play as hard as we can and as smart as we can, game in and game out,” he said. “We’ll look to be aggressive on both ends of the floor, with good ball movement and good body movement on offense, and to stay in front of people on defense.”

GUARDS: The starting backcourt that helped last year’s team to a 12-16 record and the No. 6 seed in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament (10-10) returns -- senior tri-captains Derrell Thomas (28 GP, 5.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.8 apg in 2006-07) and Jason Romer (28 GP, 8.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 45 3FG). Junior Richard Fegins (27 GP, 3.5 ppg, 1.4 apg) will spell Thomas at the point, and sophomore Nijel Robinson (22 GP, 6.4 ppg, 34 3FG) looks for a larger role at shooting guard.

WINGS: Sophomore James Harper (28 GP, 10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .506 FG%) is Felician’s leading returning scorer. The coaching staff also has high hopes for freshman Devon Young, last year’s Middlesex County Player of the Year, who will play both forward spots. Freshman swingman Marshall Akins could also figure prominently in the playing rotation.

Harrison has some versatility off the bench with a trio of athletic swingmen in redshirt freshmen Ryan Moseley, Donovan Black and Mike Edghill.

POSTS: Freshman Kashiff Foster has worked out at all three frontcourt positions. Tri-captain Jason James (26 GP, 2.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg), can step out from the low block to make a jump shot, while sophomore Andre McFarline (16 GP, 0.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg) is the team’s only true center.

Transfer Robert Francis and local product Bobby Zalewski will look for opportunities to contribute.