Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks begin preseason practice
10/9/2014 1:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team officially opened preseason practice on Wednesday as the Mountain Hawks prepare for the 2014-15 season, which begins on Nov. 14 against Villanova. Lehigh loses the program's all-time leader in assists, but returns four starters who averaged at least 8.3 points per game last season, led by reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year Tim Kempton.
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"I'm really pleased to be underway with the start of practice," said Lehigh eighth-year head coach Brett Reed. "We have a highly-committed, highly-energetic group that I think will be a joy to coach. Thus far, our leadership has been terrific and we've had high amounts of buy-in from our younger players. Although we're still relatively young, we are far ahead of where we were last year based on maturity. We're hoping to see the dividends of the gained game experience."(10/9/2014) Men's Basketball Opens Practice
The first practice began with a significant focus on fundamentals and defense. Building a foundation in the early going is important.
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"The most important thing in the early part of these practices is to establish an identity and build systems of play that are fundamentally sound and that players can build from as we face different competition and different styles of play," said Reed.
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Kempton returns as one of the top big men - and players - in the Patriot League. Last season, he averaged 13.0 points and 7.1 rebounds, recording six double-doubles and winning the league's Rookie of the Week four times. There's a world of difference from freshman to sophomore year.
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"You know the ins and outs of the coaching staff and the ins and outs of the league," said Kempton. "Coming in and knowing everything about the school, the program and the league, you're able to lead more and instill what you think will help the freshmen grow."
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Kempton has made a commitment over the offseason to improve in the weight room.
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"Tim's percent body fat is down and his strength numbers are up," said Reed. "We hope his work will be demonstrated through added productivity and durability. He's also been very mindful and conscious of his skill improvement. We're going to be creative and continue to find ways to allow those talents to be utilized in our offensive system."
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Also returning are senior Corey Schaefer, junior Jesse Chuku and sophomore Austin Price, who all started the majority of last season. Schaefer, Stefan Cvrkalj and Conroy Baltimore make up the senior class. For the seniors, there is a natural sense of urgency.
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"It definitely feels different because you know this is the last go-around and you've got to give it your all," Cvrkalj admitted before Wednesday's first practice. "You're not going to get an opportunity like this ever again."
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Cvrkalj likes what he's seen from the freshman class through offseason workouts.
Â
"I think the freshmen are very competitive and they all have a strong willingness to work hard, which is the most important thing," he said. "They'll find their roles as time progresses, but the most important thing is they're willing to dial in and work hard."
Â
The freshmen of Brandon Alston, Tyler Jenkins and Kahron Ross will have an opportunity to make an impact.
Â
"I think our freshman class is going to be fairly strong," said Reed. "I'm very optimistic about the contributions of a few players in particular early in their careers. The early preseason portion of practice will be a very important time for them to adjust and learn. Provided the learning and adjustment curve goes well, I could see significant contributions for a few of them immediately on the floor."
Â
Ross could slide into the point guard position and potentially be the third straight Lehigh point guard to start from the get-go (following four-year starters Marquis Hall and Mackey McKnight).
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"Through his summer and early fall work, Kahron has demonstrated he's got an excellent feel for the game and might be able to solidify our point guard position," said Reed.
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Lehigh finished last season 14-18 overall and in sixth place in the Patriot League standings. The Mountain Hawks are young, yet experienced after several players wrapped up their first years of collegiate basketball. Lehigh hopes to take the next step in 2014-15, but success can't be achieved without the proper work during preseason.
Â
"We know what we can do and we're just excited for the process that takes place during preseason in order to get where we need to be," said Kempton. "We have all the components in place and it's there for the taking. If we play hard enough and put in the right work, I think we'll be where we want to be come the season."
Â
Check back to Lehighsports.com along with the Lehigh men's basketball Facebook and Twitter page, for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks heading into the season.
Â
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"I'm really pleased to be underway with the start of practice," said Lehigh eighth-year head coach Brett Reed. "We have a highly-committed, highly-energetic group that I think will be a joy to coach. Thus far, our leadership has been terrific and we've had high amounts of buy-in from our younger players. Although we're still relatively young, we are far ahead of where we were last year based on maturity. We're hoping to see the dividends of the gained game experience."
The first practice began with a significant focus on fundamentals and defense. Building a foundation in the early going is important.
Â
"The most important thing in the early part of these practices is to establish an identity and build systems of play that are fundamentally sound and that players can build from as we face different competition and different styles of play," said Reed.
Â
Kempton returns as one of the top big men - and players - in the Patriot League. Last season, he averaged 13.0 points and 7.1 rebounds, recording six double-doubles and winning the league's Rookie of the Week four times. There's a world of difference from freshman to sophomore year.
Â
"You know the ins and outs of the coaching staff and the ins and outs of the league," said Kempton. "Coming in and knowing everything about the school, the program and the league, you're able to lead more and instill what you think will help the freshmen grow."
Â
Kempton has made a commitment over the offseason to improve in the weight room.
Â
"Tim's percent body fat is down and his strength numbers are up," said Reed. "We hope his work will be demonstrated through added productivity and durability. He's also been very mindful and conscious of his skill improvement. We're going to be creative and continue to find ways to allow those talents to be utilized in our offensive system."
Â
Also returning are senior Corey Schaefer, junior Jesse Chuku and sophomore Austin Price, who all started the majority of last season. Schaefer, Stefan Cvrkalj and Conroy Baltimore make up the senior class. For the seniors, there is a natural sense of urgency.
Â
"It definitely feels different because you know this is the last go-around and you've got to give it your all," Cvrkalj admitted before Wednesday's first practice. "You're not going to get an opportunity like this ever again."
Â
Cvrkalj likes what he's seen from the freshman class through offseason workouts.
Â
"I think the freshmen are very competitive and they all have a strong willingness to work hard, which is the most important thing," he said. "They'll find their roles as time progresses, but the most important thing is they're willing to dial in and work hard."
Â
The freshmen of Brandon Alston, Tyler Jenkins and Kahron Ross will have an opportunity to make an impact.
Â
"I think our freshman class is going to be fairly strong," said Reed. "I'm very optimistic about the contributions of a few players in particular early in their careers. The early preseason portion of practice will be a very important time for them to adjust and learn. Provided the learning and adjustment curve goes well, I could see significant contributions for a few of them immediately on the floor."
Â
Ross could slide into the point guard position and potentially be the third straight Lehigh point guard to start from the get-go (following four-year starters Marquis Hall and Mackey McKnight).
Â
"Through his summer and early fall work, Kahron has demonstrated he's got an excellent feel for the game and might be able to solidify our point guard position," said Reed.
Â
Lehigh finished last season 14-18 overall and in sixth place in the Patriot League standings. The Mountain Hawks are young, yet experienced after several players wrapped up their first years of collegiate basketball. Lehigh hopes to take the next step in 2014-15, but success can't be achieved without the proper work during preseason.
Â
"We know what we can do and we're just excited for the process that takes place during preseason in order to get where we need to be," said Kempton. "We have all the components in place and it's there for the taking. If we play hard enough and put in the right work, I think we'll be where we want to be come the season."
Â
Check back to Lehighsports.com along with the Lehigh men's basketball Facebook and Twitter page, for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks heading into the season.
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