Men's Basketball 2004-05 Outlook - Guilford College

  • 2004-05 Season Outlook

 

      Guilford's men's basketball team features several new faces looking to build on the record-setting success of the 2003-04 campaign. Many of the newcomers will contribute as the Quakers graduated seven seniors, including all five starters from last year's squad that posted the highest Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) finish (third) in school history. Guilford matched the school record with an 11-7 ODAC mark and its 15-11 overall record equaled the school's most wins as an NCAA Division III member. Forward Jevon Clarke '04 earned Second Team All-ODAC honors and became the program's first 1,000-point scorer in 10 years. Head coach Tom Palombo shared ODAC Coach of the Year honors with Emory & Henry's Bob Johnson to become the Quakers' second ODAC Coach of the Year in four years.

 

      Junior center Genaro Lawhorn saw the most extensive playing time last year among the Quakers' five returning letter winners. The Greensboro resident blossomed into an inside scoring threat as a sophomore and ranked second among the ODAC field-goal percentage leaders (.625). At 6-6, 320 pounds, his playing time was limited in Palombo's quick-paced scheme, but he made his minutes count, averaging 11.0 points in 14.6 minutes per game. Sophomore Truitt Miller and juniors Jamel Taylor and Robby Poteat return after playing sparingly in 2003-04. Center Brandon Clifford, who played well for the Quakers in 2002, returns after a year's absence.

 

      While this year's squad includes many new faces, Palombo will continue his high-energy and high-scoring style of play. He and his staff look forward to the many number student-athletes who come to Guilford from successful high school programs and other colleges. Two players from Wakefield High School's 4-A North Carolina state championship team highlight the freshman class. Forward Kerry Atkinson and guard Jordan Coston both started for the Raleigh squad. A pair of Chapel Hill High School teammates should also contribute to the Quakers after strong scholastic careers. Rookie Ben Strong, a 6-10 center, and point guard Caleb Kimbrough should play regularly in their first college campaigns.

 

      With such a large rookie class, Palombo reinstated the Quakers' junior varsity program, which will be coached by varsity assistant coaches William Fickes and Josh Connor. The Guilford JV will play 12 games, all at home, against other area junior varsity and top prep school teams. The varsity and junior varsity teams will practice together and Palombo intends to evaluate both rosters on a per-game basis. Every player has a chance to earn a spot on the varsity roster with every practice and every junior varsity contest. If a varsity player cannot play a game due to injury, expect another player to fill his uniform. The Quakers will dress 16 players for each varsity contest, but the players will likely change each game.

 

      A large influx of transfers should help balance the loss of seven graduating seniors from last year's squad. Freshman Andy Sharpe (UNC Asheville) and junior Patrick Stephenson (Campbell) give the Quakers interior presence and Division I experience. Junior forward Kevin Smith (Southwestern CC) and senior point guard Ashford Gray (Livingstone/St. Andrews) also figure prominently in Palombo's plans.

 

      The steep losses from last year's club, plus the influx of new players led the ODAC's head men's basketball coaches to pick Guilford ninth in the preseason coaches poll. The low rating will motivate the Quakers to come together early and prove the pollsters wrong, as they have in three of the past four seasons. After missing five straight ODAC Tournaments from 1996-2000, the Quakers have appeared in each of the last four tourneys and intend to continue that streak in 2005.