Photo by: © Todd Drexler, BigSouthPhotos.com
Runnin' Bulldogs Tabbed Fifth In Big South Men's Preseason Hoops Poll
October 24, 2017 | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb was tabbed fifth in the 2017-2018 Big South Conference preseason men's basketball poll, released Monday as part of the league's annual media day.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return 10-of-12 letterwinners and three starters from a 19-14 team last season. Seven of the current Gardner-Webb student-athletes are in their third or fourth year of college hoops.
UNC Asheville was the preseason favorite, earning 23 of the 29 first-place votes. Winthrop, Liberty and Campbell rounded out the top four.
Gardner-Webb garnered 167 points in the preseason tabulation, which put them 21 votes in front of sixth-place High Point – and 10 behind Campbell.
Radford, Charleston Southern, Longwood and Presbyterian rounded out the poll.
In addition to preseason All-Conference guard David Efianayi (12.6 ppg), the Runnin' Bulldogs return veteran wing starters Liam O'Reilly (8.1 ppg) and Jamaal Robateau (9.5 ppg), along with two-year starter L'Hassane Niangane (6-10, 245) at center.
A great deal of anticipation surrounds forward D.J. Laster (6-6, 230, Jr.), who moves into the starting lineup after a tremendous second half of last season. The Pensacola, Fla., native averaged 11.4 points per game over the final 10 games of the season, and finished 7.9 points per game for the year.
Gardner-Webb also returns post players Brandon Miller (6-6, 240, R-Jr.) and Patrick Zeck (6-7, 225, So.) and guards Eric Jamison (6-5, 185, R-So.), Justin Jenkins (6-2, 200, R-So.) and Christian Turner (5-10, 180, So.).
The most heralded addition entering the program is Brooklyn, N.Y., point guard Jaheam Cornwall (6-0, 175, Fr.), who played his senior season and one postgraduate season at national prep school powerhouse Putnam Science (Conn.) Academy. Cornwall led his team to a 37-5 record last season by averaging 11.2 points and 4.6 assists per game on a loaded roster.
Cornwall, who will compete with Turner for the lead guard spot, was heavily recruited and fielded offers from St. Bonaventure, LaSalle and several other Division I programs in the northeast.
Another key addition redshirted last season, with guard Nate Johnson (6-4, 180, R-Fr.) earning rave reviews during practices and workouts last season. The explosive Miami, Fla., native averaged 22.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a senior for McArthur (Fla.) High, earning All-State honors.
Gardner-Webb also added All-State center Acton Shirley (7-0, 230, Fr.) from Pike County (Ga.) High. The big man averaged 13.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game as a senior last season, also blocking 1.4 shots per game.
The Runnin' Bulldogs open the season on November 10 at Miami (Fla.), part of a three-game road trip that also includes games at No. 7 Florida (Nov. 13) and UCF (Nov. 15). Gardner-Webb has four student-athletes on its current roster from the Sunshine State.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return 10-of-12 letterwinners and three starters from a 19-14 team last season. Seven of the current Gardner-Webb student-athletes are in their third or fourth year of college hoops.
UNC Asheville was the preseason favorite, earning 23 of the 29 first-place votes. Winthrop, Liberty and Campbell rounded out the top four.
Gardner-Webb garnered 167 points in the preseason tabulation, which put them 21 votes in front of sixth-place High Point – and 10 behind Campbell.
Radford, Charleston Southern, Longwood and Presbyterian rounded out the poll.
In addition to preseason All-Conference guard David Efianayi (12.6 ppg), the Runnin' Bulldogs return veteran wing starters Liam O'Reilly (8.1 ppg) and Jamaal Robateau (9.5 ppg), along with two-year starter L'Hassane Niangane (6-10, 245) at center.
A great deal of anticipation surrounds forward D.J. Laster (6-6, 230, Jr.), who moves into the starting lineup after a tremendous second half of last season. The Pensacola, Fla., native averaged 11.4 points per game over the final 10 games of the season, and finished 7.9 points per game for the year.
Gardner-Webb also returns post players Brandon Miller (6-6, 240, R-Jr.) and Patrick Zeck (6-7, 225, So.) and guards Eric Jamison (6-5, 185, R-So.), Justin Jenkins (6-2, 200, R-So.) and Christian Turner (5-10, 180, So.).
The most heralded addition entering the program is Brooklyn, N.Y., point guard Jaheam Cornwall (6-0, 175, Fr.), who played his senior season and one postgraduate season at national prep school powerhouse Putnam Science (Conn.) Academy. Cornwall led his team to a 37-5 record last season by averaging 11.2 points and 4.6 assists per game on a loaded roster.
Cornwall, who will compete with Turner for the lead guard spot, was heavily recruited and fielded offers from St. Bonaventure, LaSalle and several other Division I programs in the northeast.
Another key addition redshirted last season, with guard Nate Johnson (6-4, 180, R-Fr.) earning rave reviews during practices and workouts last season. The explosive Miami, Fla., native averaged 22.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a senior for McArthur (Fla.) High, earning All-State honors.
Gardner-Webb also added All-State center Acton Shirley (7-0, 230, Fr.) from Pike County (Ga.) High. The big man averaged 13.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game as a senior last season, also blocking 1.4 shots per game.
The Runnin' Bulldogs open the season on November 10 at Miami (Fla.), part of a three-game road trip that also includes games at No. 7 Florida (Nov. 13) and UCF (Nov. 15). Gardner-Webb has four student-athletes on its current roster from the Sunshine State.
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