By Nate West
News Editor
The Bonnies had some key rolesit needed to replace this offseason with the loss of players such as Eric Mosley and Demetrius Conger to graduation.
Five new players join the Brown and White for their 2013-14 campaign. The three freshmen players are Jalen Adams, Xavier Smith and Denzell Gregg. The two junior-college transfers are Andell Cumberbatch and Chris Dees.
The team’s new faces say they believe playing at the Division I level is going to take some getting used to.
“There are a lot of differences (between junior college and Division I),” Dees said. “It’s a much faster, much more physical rate than what I was used to at New Mexico.”
Cumberbatch played a major role while at Barton (Kansas) Community College. He was a top scorer, averaging 14.2 points per game and led the team with 8.2 rebounds per game.
Dees was also a major player at New Mexico, averaging 4.5 points and 5.1 rebounds a game. Dees said the quality of the program drew him to play here.
“We’ve been here about two months now; I’m still getting used to the transition and getting the feel for it,” Dees said. “
Dees said that he and Cumberbatch having been working together to adjust by studying the playbook and watching each other play during practice.
The freshmen recruits are all coming off successful senior seasons at their respective high schools.
Freshman Jalen Adams chose to redshirt his freshman year with the Brown and White to help get stronger for the rigors of college ball. Adams said he knew he made the right choice when he came here over the summer for offseason workouts.
“I loved it a lot. I think this is the best school for me,” Adams said. “This is the best opportunity for grads as well. Everyone is really cool.”
Adams said his teammates have become like a family.
“When I come here, it feels like home,” he said. “The coaches, like Coach Massey, they’re like a dad to me because I don’t really have a dad in my life. He pushes me.”
Xavier Smith is also looking to have a solid season as a member of the Brown and White. Smith, who at 6’8″ is the tallest freshman on the team, averaged 6.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during his senior season at Plano East High School in Texas.
“Bonaventure was one of my top schools when I visited here,” he said. “I love the coaches, I love the players and just everything about the program.”
Smith said seniors Charlon Kloof and Marquise Simmons have been instrumental in helping him adjust to the college game. He said Kloof has been helping him out since they first arrived during the summer.
“Charlon has helped me out, same with Marquise,” Smith said. “Marquise plays my position, so he’s helping me on the court to get better. They’re the seniors, so they help a lot.”
Smith says he and fellow freshmen are all close. They live in the same dorm together, and have developed a strong relationship since arriving.
Freshman guard and forward Denzell Gregg arrived at St. Bonaventure after spending time at St. Thomas More Prep School. Gregg said he’s adjusting to life as a college student and as a basketball player.
He believes the new players bring a lot of talent to the team and expects them to greatly contribute to the team this season.
“It’s just a team effort overall,” he said. “Someone could be hot one night and play differently the next day, so it’s all about just keeping steady.”
For Gregg, the unity of the team when he first visited campus was the key factor in choosing Bonaventure.
“When I came to visit, everybody was close on the team,” Gregg said. “On my visit, the coaching staff showed me a lot of love. The people were great. It really just felt like home here.”
Head Coach Mark Schmidt said being a freshman is difficult during the transition period, but he is impressed with what he’s seen from them so far.
“I think they’re terrific,” Schmidt said. “I think they have bright futures. They’re athletic and they’re smart. Just like every freshman, they’re a little up and down, but we’re excited for them. Wethink they’re going to be good players.”
Schmidt also said Dees and Cumberbatch have shown a lot of talent from junior college. He said they’re going to be better prepared for the season physically.
The hardest part for the new faces will be learning the system, according to Schmidt.
“A lot of kids don’t get it until halfway through the year,” he said. “Our hope is they can catch on more quickly. The quicker they can catch on, the more success they’re going to have.”
Schmidt’s expectations are the same for all new players, he said. He wants to find someone he can trust on the court.
“I said to the guys all the time, ‘I don’t care who plays. I’m going to play the best guys,’” Schmidt said. “The expectations are there to go and play and be productive and show me that I can put them on the court.”
