2001-2002 SEASON OUTLOOK

            Since Butch Estes took over Guilford’s men’s basketball team in 1999, the Quakers doubled their win total in 2000 and last year reached the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament for the first time in six seasons.  Estes now has two recruiting classes and an experienced cast of veterans prepared to continue the progress made over the past two years.  He believes Guilford is on its way to the top of the ODAC standings, which in recent years has resulted in national playoff consideration.  At least two ODAC teams have advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs in each of the past eight seasons.

            Guilford returns 11 letter winners from last year’s 10-15 unit, which set a school record with nine ODAC wins.  The Quakers will miss its three graduated seniors (Todd Ashworth, Jaron Randall and David Zelickson) from last year’s club.  Ashworth, a center, led the Quakers in scoring and rebounding while Randall started four years at point guard.  How Guilford replaces the seniors’ leadership and presence on the court, especially on defense, could determine its success in 2001-02.

            Estes expects new, yet familiar faces to fill the seniors’ void, especially in the post and at point guard.  Aron McMillian, a 6-9 senior center who transferred to Guilford in January from Division I Old Dominion, should benefit from the 15 games in which he played last season plus a full preseason.  Freshmen Brian Dermott (6-8) and Will O’Neil (6-10) add size in the paint, but will likely need some seasoning before making a sizable impact.  Freshman Clarence Martin could find himself starting at point guard pending preseason workouts.

McMillian, O’Neil and Martin are three of the many “home-grown” Quakers on this season’s team as Estes continues to build with local student-athletes.  Twelve of the 19 players on Guilford’s preseason roster live within 75 miles of Greensboro, including four from Guilford County.  All but three players hail from North Carolina.

            Seniors Bryson McKinney, Paul Kindem and Brad Woolley inherit leadership responsibilities in their final seasons.  Kindem, a shooting guard, enjoyed his finest offensive season a year ago and averaged a career-high 11.0 points per game, second on the team only to Ashworth.  He also ranked among the league leaders with 35 three-point field goals.  Woolley led Guilford in steals and averaged 7.0 points per game in his third year as the Quakers’ starting small forward.  He and sophomore forward Thomas Swindell both underwent knee surgery this spring, which limited their off-season conditioning.

            Here’s a preview of Guilford’s team by position:

Forward:  Woolley has started 50 of his last 51 games at small forward and begins his final season as Guilford’s most experienced player.  His response to last April’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery looms as a question entering his senior year.  Guilford’s coaches look forward to Jevon Clarke’s second season.  One of the Quakers’ top athletes, Clarke backed up Woolley as a rookie and should provide good competition and depth at small forward.  Freshman David Carver, a 6-4 swingman out of Charlotte’s Independence H.S., could also find time at small forward.

            At 6-2, 185-pounds, sophomore Josh Connor is probably best suited for a small forward position, but Guilford uses him in a variety of spots.  Estes calls the Greensboro native the “Pete Rose of basketball” for his great hustle and winning attitude.  Connor often defends the opponents’ top scorer and will be asked to assert himself more on offense in his second season.

            Swindell is a true power forward who is looking forward to his first pain-free season in quite a while.  After averaging 5.2 points in 12.5 minutes per game as a rookie, the High Point, NC, native had knee surgery to repair an injury that nagged him since high school.  Like Woolley, he did not return to the basketball court until August. 

Center:  McMillian should once again be one of the ODAC’s biggest players and has the opportunity to establish himself as a dominant post presence.  The former Greensboro Day School standout has soft hands, good passing skills and a nice shooting touch around the basket.  Few opponents will be able to match up well with an assertive McMillian on offense.  Dermott and O’Neil should both contribute in their first season, but likely need a season’s worth of experience before approaching their potential. 

Guard:  The Quakers have good depth in the backcourt, especially among off guards.  The integral point guard position, however, is a bit of a question mark entering the preseason.  Martin, the 2001 North State 2-A Conference Player of the Year for nearby Reidsville (NC) H.S., has a point guard mentality but also needs some seasoning.  Sophomore Robert Spence, who filled in admirably in late-season contests as a rookie, should see the court at either the one- or two-guard spots.  Freshman Andy Bean, a sharpshooter from Charlotte’s Vance H.S., has displayed a nice feel for the game and could also find minutes at point guard.

            Kindem leads the cast of off guards, which seeks to improve Guilford’s poor outside shooting percentages of recent years.  He will be pushed by sophomore Ron Bradford, a gifted shooter who made significant improvements to other areas over the summer.  McKinney has filled in sporadically throughout his career at guard and forward and demonstrated an outside shooting touch. 

Freshman Devon Clyburn transferred to Guilford this year from Division II Catawba.  He was originally recruited by the Quakers out of high school and did not play at Catawba.  He gives Guilford great athleticism off the bench at shooting guard/small forward along with fellow freshman Greg McDowell, who could find minutes at the point.

Inconsistency plagued the Quakers a year ago.  Estes hopes his team’s increased talent and more widespread experience will accelerate Guilford’s climb through the league standings.  The Quakers will remain a relatively young team, but if they can steadily improve each game and avoid the peaks and valleys of inexperience, Guilford will join the ODAC’s upper echelon and contend for the league title and an NCAA playoff berth.

Guilford’s conference slate again features some of the top Division III teams in the country.  Hampden-Sydney and defending league champion Roanoke are ranked prominently in national preseason publications.  Outside of the league the Quakers will play two Division I opponents for the third time in as many years.  Guilford opens the season at East Tennessee State and visits Western Carolina December 11.  The Quakers play crosstown rival Greensboro in their annual meeting in the Greensboro Coliseum December 4.