2008-09 Men's Basketball Season Outlook

The 2008-09 Quakers are determined to remain one of the elite teams in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. After capturing the first regular season and tournament championships in school history, the Quakers return 10 letter winners and two starters from the team that went 24-5 and made its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Guilford will certainly miss the services of Ben Strong '08, one of the best players ever to put on a uniform for the Quakers. The 6-11 center earned first team All American honors twice and was named ODAC Player of the Year two times. The 2007 National Player of the Year scored 2,241 points in his career. While the Quakers will miss Strong and the seniors who totaled 76 wins and two national tournament appearances, sixth-year coach Tom Palombo believes his team is capable of making another run at the title. The two-time ODAC Coach of the Year knows that the graduation of Strong means the Quakers will need contribution from the veterans as well as the newcomers. “Ben was a special player, and we will miss him,” Palombo said. “But there are guys on this team who are very capable of doing more and will get a chance to do that this season.”

In addition to great talent and experience, team defense and rebounding have been keys to the Quakers’ recent success and will be emphasized again in 2008-09. Guilford finished first in NCAA Division III in rebounding margin (+11.3) and ranked fourth in field-goal percentage defense (.384) last season. “We place a tremendous emphasis on our ability to defend and get rebounds,” Palombo said. “It has been a key reason for our success over the last few years.” Palombo said. Strong’s 10.8 boards and 2.2 blocks per game made Guilford tough to score on last year, but juniors Tyler Sanborn (6.9 rpg., 2.4 bpg.) and Clay Henson (1.13 spg.) also play solid defense.

Henson is the Quakers’ top returning scorer who saw the most action besides Strong, starting every contest. He placed among the ODAC’s top scorers and assist-to-turnover ratio leaders in 2007-08. Henson was one of the top shooters in the league last season and will assume a larger role in the Quakers plans in 2008-09. He will receive help in the backcourt from some solid veterans who return as well as some talented newcomers.

In addition to Strong, Guilford will miss the post services of three-year starter Eric Belkoski ’08, who earned honorable mention All-ODAC honors as a senior. The Quakers will look to Sanborn, senior George Neville and freshman Justin Stafford to contribute in the post. Sanborn, at 6-10, 260 pounds, ranked among the ODAC leaders in rebounds and blocks last year and continues to improve. After attending his second Pete Newell’s Big Man Camp in the summer, he will look to become a greater offensive threat for the Quakers. As a key forward off the bench in each of his first three years, Neville figures to see more minutes as a senior. The 6-3 power forward showed an improved scoring touch in 2007-08, averaging a career-best 6.9 points per game. Stafford, a 6-9, 235-pound center from nearby Winston-Salem, N.C., will provide additional defense and rebounding.

Junior Rhett Bonner and sophomore T.C. Anderson will compete for the point guard position, a spot previously occupied by Caleb Kimbrough ‘08, a four-year starter now playing for the Washington Generals. Bonner and Anderson saw action in 23 and 26 games, respectively, and provided significant minutes off the bench in their first Guilford season. Senior Mat Stanley and sophomore Martin Stephenson will add depth to the wing position. Stanley, a hard-working shooting specialist, could provide meaningful minutes as a senior. Stephenson saw action in 28 games as a freshman and showed flashes of brilliance throughout the year. A seven-game starter, the swingman averaged 2.7 points and 1.6 boards per game.

Palombo sees promise in his young squad and is excited about the upcoming season. “As a coach, it's fun to see players develop and get better,” he said. “There are always challenges, especially when you graduate the quality people and players we did last year. However, we are excited about the possibilities with this year’s team.