YSU’s Calhoun isn’t looking back

October 30, 2018 at 12:05a.m.

Calhoun hoping his second team shows improvement

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

As far as YSU head basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun is concerned, the Penguins’ 2017-18 season is a fading “not so memorable” memory.

Addressing the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center, the second-year head coach said, “It’s really hard to believe that Nov. 6 is almost upon us.

“It’s an exciting time and our entire group is really excited to get going.”

Calhoun and his are pleased with the progress they’ve seen. Five players return from last season’s 8-24 squad return.

Four saw extended playing time a season ago. Devin Morgan, a junior guard who sat after transferring from Delaware State, will play.

Leading the group is forward Naz Bohannon (7.2 points, 8.1 rebounds), who started 31 games, led the team in rebounds and was named to the Horizon League’s all-freshman team. He’s a second-team pre-season pick this year.

Also returning are: sophomore Garrett Covington (8.3 points) who was third on the team with 34 steals; senior forward Noe Anabir (2.4 points, 1.9 rebounds), who played in 25 games; and Michael Akuchie (3.5 points, 2.2 rebounds), a sophomore forward who saw action in all but three contests.

Calhoun and his staff recruited four freshmen that they feel can be difference-makers.

“We have eight new players on our roster and I am really excited about this class,” Calhoun said. “It’s a very talented group that is very athletic, plus we feel like we have eight or nine players who can hit from three-point range.”

Newcomers include: guards Jelani Simmons (Columbus), Darius Quisenberry (Springfield) and Atiba Taylor (Hackensack, N.J.); and forward Olamide Pederson (Bronshoj, Denmark).

They will be joined by: junior college transfers Alex Holcombe, a 6-foot-9 forward from Houston (Panola Junior College); Kendale Hampton, a 6-3 guard from Columbia, S.C. (Garden City Community College); Donel Cathcart, a 6-5 guard from Buffalo, (Niagara County Community College); and Antwan Maxwell, a 6-7 forward from Savannah, Ga. (College of Central Florida).

“Alex was second in the nation in blocked shots last season in the NJCAA and Kendale can really fill it up,” Calhoun said. “He’s one of the better shooters that I have seen.

“Donel is also an excellent shooter, Antwan is tall, lanky and very athletic while Devin is the point guard who will run our offense.”

Calhoun said the YSU schedule is challenging, but has more of a regional flavor as opposed to last year when they traveled both near and far.

“We’ll be tested early, that’s for sure,” Calhoun said. “We open at Pitt, play Akron next on a neutral court in the NE Ohio Coaches vs. Cancer Doubleheader at Cleveland State and will play at the Fordham Exempt Tournament against Columbia, Fordham and Florida International.“Ohio State and West Virginia are two other majors that we will also face,” Barnes said. “The schedule is suited for the student-athlete when it comes to travel and their studies.”

YSU opens their home schedule against Heidelberg University on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.