AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 24
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hoopsters play the transition game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I know football looms large, but a break today toward basketball …
Obviously, now that Tech has landed yet another respected commitment (from Walton High guard Glen Rice Jr.), coach Paul Hewitt has — at least in verbal form — the foundation of a whale of a recruiting class for 2009. That is four players committed, and if the Jackets were to land South Atlanta High center Derrick Favors, it could end up the best recruiting class — or at least most-hyped — in Tech history, especially if a sixth player of significance is added down the road. Oh, and if they all stick to their commitments.
None of this addresses the upcoming season.
Say what you want about Ra’Sean Dickey’s on-and-off engine. When he was right, he was a valuable asset. Period.
With him, this was going to be a shorter roster than Hewitt typically works with. Without him, much shorter.
If the Jackets get a transfer (graduate student) like Hewitt hopes, and that person can play right away (coach said the kid is a frontcourt player), it may help quite a bit.
At a minimum, some fans who’ve longed to see Hewitt work a shorter player rotation on a game-in/game-out basis figure to get what they’ve been looking for.
What is it they say, be careful what you wish for?
As currently constituted, the Jackets’ three primary X-factors in terms of personnel for the upcoming season will be freshman guard Iman Shumpert, sophomore center Brad Sheehan and senior guard Lewis Clinch. Not necessarily in that order.
Can Shumpert play both guard spots, and play them well? Can Sheehan learn to apply his size, and the increased strength he’s acquired in the weight room, or will he leave it in the weight room? Will Clinch return to the form of his sophomore year, when he was a prolific scorer?
Then, you wonder if PG Moe Miller will continue growing at the pace he did the second half of last season? Who will rebound? Will the Jackets defend more consistently? Will Lance Storrs, Clinch, et al, be able to utilize the new 3-point line sufficiently?
A big-picture question: if not enough of these questions are answered satisfactorily, the Jackets have a poor season, and perhaps miss the NCAA tournament for the third time in four seasons, would Hewitt’s job to be in jeopardy?
Or, might the promise of a massive (in size, talent and hype) 2009 recruiting class change the thinking on that? Would that recruiting class be a job security safety net?
As for Dickey, he left largely for family reasons. Personal matters. It’s not for us to know what those issues are in specific, but I believe his mother back in S.C., weighed heavily in the decision.
In my mind, there is this, too: Dickey has a chronic knee problem, as you all probably know, that is the result of a very serious childhood football injury. It wasn’t treated properly. It likely will always be a problem. Given that, he may only have so much basketball left in him.
So maybe the thinking was to go get paid for it while he can? Dunno, just theorizing.
Later.
Matt
