Marshall’s men’s basketball team’s big men last year were very thin. Due to injury and departures, the Herd’s tallest players on the floor its last games were 6-foot-6 and under.
The Herd knew coming into the year, the only way to add wins was to add height.
This year, the Herd will return some height and add some depth with some new recruits to help run head coach Donnie Jones up-tempo offense.
“In this style of play you have to play nine or ten guys if you want to play the right way,” Jones said. “Now we got some experience and some young guys who are learning the system, and hopefully we can continue to gel together.”
Returning is 6-9 senior Tyler Wilkerson, who missed the last 10 games of last season with a fractured jaw. Even with missing the last third of the season, Wilkerson still led the team in rebounding (6.2 per game) and blocks (1.6 per game).
Wilkerson said with the influx of new talent and the depth of the players on the court, he sees a big upgrade in play this year.
“They are real talented and they play real hard,” Wilkerson said. “Having those guys in the system is big, because it gives me a break, gives those guys a break takes the pressure off me and those guys. It gives teams a lot to defend against with three powerful post players.”
In his time at Marshall, Wilkerson has yet to taste postseason play, but he said his senior season could be the year.
“It’s always a goal for us to make it to the postseason, and that is what we work for,” He said.
Along with Wilkerson, Marshall returns 6-6 forward Tirrell Baines.
Baines, who averaged 10.6 points per game last season, is the only player to have played for coach Jones his entire three seasons at Marshall.
Baines knows that with the up-tempo offense Jones is trying to apply, he needs to work on his outside game as well as the inside.
“I love it,” Baines said. “It gives everybody a chance to show what they got. It gives everyone an opportunity. I’ve been working on my perimeter game, shooting the ball a little bit.”
The new talent Marshall brings in gives the Herd a BIG presence in the post.
The gem of the recruiting class is nationally ranked freshman center, the 7-foot Hassan Whiteside. The Gastonia N.C. native gives the Herd an inside, shot blocking presence that the Herd has been missing the past few years.
Whiteside, while being new to the college game, knows his place on the floor.
“I’m a big man, strong, and I like to finish on people and block shots,” Whaaiteside said. “I just want to bring a lot of energy to the Herd and make them a contender for the tournament.”
Joining Whiteside is 6-11 sophomore Nigel Spikes, who had to sit out last year due to academics, is eligible and gives the Herd two legitimate centers with length and athleticism.
Baines said it is good to get depth in the post and a shot blocking presence.
“It’s good that we got big players this year,” Baines said. “Hassan, no shot goes past him. Nigel is the same. It’s good to have size and depth.”
Sophomore Antonio Haymon, a 6-6 transfer from Cecil Community College, can play the three and four position and give the Herd a viable option off the bench.
Joining the new recruits is transfer from Western Carolina, 6-8 sophomore Camden Miller, who like Whiteside and Spikes, is long and athletic. But Miller can step outside the paint and hit the mid range jumper consistently.
With the influx of new talent, Jones said that the growth of his recruits is important to for the Herd gain ground in the Conference USA field.
“We got just about everybody in our program except three guys that we’ve recruited, Jones said. “Now we’ve just got to develop them and teach them this system.”
When looking toward the season Baines expresses how the rest of the team feels.
“A Conference USA championship, that’s what we’re aiming for.” Baines said, “Just win.”
The Herd big men start off the season Sunday against North Carolina A&T at the Cam Henderson Center.
Kyle Hobstetter can be contacted at Hobstetter@marshall.edu
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