Player Profiles in 2022-23 for those who are returning (possibly)

[mat1992 2,234]

We know Cam Holden, Sekou Sylla and Nygal Russell are gone. Jason Gibson and Chase Paar were injured all year and may not return. So it's not worth it to overanalyze each player. But for those coming back or possibly returning, let's overanalyze each player to look at what they did in 2022-23 and what they need to work on in 2023-24.

 

1)Nicolas Timberlake is not likely to return. Let's just assume he is. However, he averaged 17.7 points on 41.6% shooting from 3-point range with 3.9 rebounds. He shot 45.5% overall and 84.5% from the line. He had 70 assists to 78 turnovers with a career-high 33 steals and 12 blocks. In conference play, he averaged 19.1 points on a ridiculous 49.6% three-point shooting (48.5% overall) and had 45 turnovers to 40 assists. 

Strengths: One of the best 3-point shooters in Towson history and one of the best curling off a screen. Decent rebounder and passer.

Weaknesses: Defense. Even though he's a tremendous athlete and can block shots, not the greatest defensive instincts and gets beaten off the dribble too often for a very good athlete. Has to improve handle to limit the turnovers and improve his ability to drive. Not a great finisher in traffic though you can say that about most players on this team.

 

2)Charles Thompson. Could return for his grad season. Averaged 12.2 points and 8.0 rebounds with 56 blocks in 33 games. Shot 56.5% from the field and 63.1% from the line with 29 steals. In conference, he averaged 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds and 31 blocks in 18 games. Shot 53.1% from the field and 59.7% from the line.

Strengths: Few players work as hard as Charles and he's pretty much gotten the most out of his talent. Towson isn't allowing 42% from the field overall and in conference play without CT. Strong rebounder. Good screener.

Weaknesses: Trends to get in foul trouble too often. Free throw shooting. He regressed some offensively from last season where he shot 60.4% from the field. Struggles against taller centers and he can take advantage of bigger centers because he can't take them off the dribble and doesn't have a jump shot. His jump hook was nowhere as effective as last season. Needs to keep working on shooting.

 

3)Ryan Conway. Started 20 of 31 games. Averaged 6.4 points and 0.9 assists with 15 steals on 38.8% shooting (40.8% 3pt). Overall, he had 30 assists and 26 turnovers. In conference play, shot 43% from three-point range and 40.8% from the field. 

Strengths: Not a playmaker, but was forced into the roll with Gibson gone for the year and Hicks out mainly in non-conference play. Did a steady job though was fortunate to have Holden around to run the team. Good three-point shooter who should continue to improve.

Weaknesses: 
Started out as a bad defender and at least became serviceable. Still needs work in that area, especially if he's going to move to shooting guard. Lack of size (6-1, 190) means he'll need to need to work on getting stronger to get through screens. Needs work on mid-range game and getting to the basket. Excellent free throw shooter but he only took 18 and made 16 (89%).

 

4)Radhir Hicks. Had nine starts this season. Shot 35.3% from the field and 5-of-24 (20.8%) from long range. Averaged 2.6 points and 2.1 assists. Had 60 assists and 30 turnovers with 28 steals in 27 games.

Strengths: Strong defender who takes care of the ball. Good speed and quickness. Can push the ball in transition. 

Weaknesses: He averaged 21.2 minutes per game and got to the line just six times (6 for 6). Small so it's tough for him to finish at the basket. Needs to improve that floater and continue to get strong. Jumper has to get better. Needs to improve decision-making on break. Has to score more if he's going to start next season.

 

5)Christian May.  Started twice and averaged 15.5 minutes per game. He shot 44.6% from the field and 38.5% from long range. Also made 17 of 18 from the line and grabbed 2.5 rebounds per game with 11 blocks. Had six assists with 14 turnovers. In conference play, May shot 47.7% from the field and 41.5% from long range. 

Strengths: Good size for a wing at 6-5, 205. Great leaper. Good defender. Good shooter from the corner. Pretty steady and composed.

Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger like most freshmen. Doesn't handle the ball well enough to be more than just a 3-and-D guy. When the handle gets better, he'll be able to attack the rack. With FT form, he needs to get to the line more. 

 

6)Chris Biekeu. Backup center with Paar injured. He came off the bench and averaged 8.1 minutes per game. Shot 48.6% from the field and grabbed 1.4 boards with five blocks. Not a bad FT shooter (70%).

Strengths: Pretty good motor and very physical. Doesn't mind contact. Not a bad defender.

Weaknesses: Athleticism or lack thereof is not something he can help, but it hampers his game because most centers are taller than 6-7. Struggles offensively.

 

7)Tyler Coleman. Tyler did make some strides this season, but played just 5.0 minutes per game in 21 games. Shot 5 of 12 from the field. He's limited athletically, so he has to bang and get hustle plays when he's in. 

Obviously, that's not a lot returning though remember Dylan Williamson redshirted and the 6-1, 185-pound combo guard from Good Counsel will be in the mix next season at point guard, not to mention freshman Jaiden Cole.  Then you add 6-9 Tyler Tejada and 6-6 Mekhi Lowery. They'll need a minimum of three transfers next season and Timberlake returning is a reach.

[TSU88 1,073]

17 minutes ago, mat1992 said:

We know Cam Holden, Sekou Sylla and Nygal Russell are gone. Jason Gibson and Chase Paar were injured all year and may not return. So it's not worth it to overanalyze each player. But for those coming back or possibly returning, let's overanalyze each player to look at what they did in 2022-23 and what they need to work on in 2023-24.

 

1)Nicolas Timberlake is not likely to return. Let's just assume he is. However, he averaged 17.7 points on 41.6% shooting from 3-point range with 3.9 rebounds. He shot 45.5% overall and 84.5% from the line. He had 70 assists to 78 turnovers with a career-high 33 steals and 12 blocks. In conference play, he averaged 19.1 points on a ridiculous 49.6% three-point shooting (48.5% overall) and had 45 turnovers to 40 assists. 

Strengths: One of the best 3-point shooters in Towson history and one of the best curling off a screen. Decent rebounder and passer.

Weaknesses: Defense. Even though he's a tremendous athlete and can block shots, not the greatest defensive instincts and gets beaten off the dribble too often for a very good athlete. Has to improve handle to limit the turnovers and improve his ability to drive. Not a great finisher in traffic though you can say that about most players on this team.

 

2)Charles Thompson. Could return for his grad season. Averaged 12.2 points and 8.0 rebounds with 56 blocks in 33 games. Shot 56.5% from the field and 63.1% from the line with 29 steals. In conference, he averaged 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds and 31 blocks in 18 games. Shot 53.1% from the field and 59.7% from the line.

Strengths: Few players work as hard as Charles and he's pretty much gotten the most out of his talent. Towson isn't allowing 42% from the field overall and in conference play without CT. Strong rebounder. Good screener.

Weaknesses: Trends to get in foul trouble too often. Free throw shooting. He regressed some offensively from last season where he shot 60.4% from the field. Struggles against taller centers and he can take advantage of bigger centers because he can't take them off the dribble and doesn't have a jump shot. His jump hook was nowhere as effective as last season. Needs to keep working on shooting.

 

3)Ryan Conway. Started 20 of 31 games. Averaged 6.4 points and 0.9 assists with 15 steals on 38.8% shooting (40.8% 3pt). Overall, he had 30 assists and 26 turnovers. In conference play, shot 43% from three-point range and 40.8% from the field. 

Strengths: Not a playmaker, but was forced into the roll with Gibson gone for the year and Hicks out mainly in non-conference play. Did a steady job though was fortunate to have Holden around to run the team. Good three-point shooter who should continue to improve.

Weaknesses: 
Started out as a bad defender and at least became serviceable. Still needs work in that area, especially if he's going to move to shooting guard. Lack of size (6-1, 190) means he'll need to need to work on getting stronger to get through screens. Needs work on mid-range game and getting to the basket. Excellent free throw shooter but he only took 18 and made 16 (89%).

 

4)Radhir Hicks. Had nine starts this season. Shot 35.3% from the field and 5-of-24 (20.8%) from long range. Averaged 2.6 points and 2.1 assists. Had 60 assists and 30 turnovers with 28 steals in 27 games.

Strengths: Strong defender who takes care of the ball. Good speed and quickness. Can push the ball in transition. 

Weaknesses: He averaged 21.2 minutes per game and got to the line just six times (6 for 6). Small so it's tough for him to finish at the basket. Needs to improve that floater and continue to get strong. Jumper has to get better. Needs to improve decision-making on break. Has to score more if he's going to start next season.

 

5)Christian May.  Started twice and averaged 15.5 minutes per game. He shot 44.6% from the field and 38.5% from long range. Also made 17 of 18 from the line and grabbed 2.5 rebounds per game with 11 blocks. Had six assists with 14 turnovers. In conference play, May shot 47.7% from the field and 41.5% from long range. 

Strengths: Good size for a wing at 6-5, 205. Great leaper. Good defender. Good shooter from the corner. Pretty steady and composed.

Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger like most freshmen. Doesn't handle the ball well enough to be more than just a 3-and-D guy. When the handle gets better, he'll be able to attack the rack. With FT form, he needs to get to the line more. 

 

6)Chris Biekeu. Backup center with Paar injured. He came off the bench and averaged 8.1 minutes per game. Shot 48.6% from the field and grabbed 1.4 boards with five blocks. Not a bad FT shooter (70%).

Strengths: Pretty good motor and very physical. Doesn't mind contact. Not a bad defender.

Weaknesses: Athleticism or lack thereof is not something he can help, but it hampers his game because most centers are taller than 6-7. Struggles offensively.

 

7)Tyler Coleman. Tyler did make some strides this season, but played just 5.0 minutes per game in 21 games. Shot 5 of 12 from the field. He's limited athletically, so he has to bang and get hustle plays when he's in. 

Obviously, that's not a lot returning though remember Dylan Williamson redshirted and the 6-1, 185-pound combo guard from Good Counsel will be in the mix next season at point guard, not to mention freshman Jaiden Cole.  Then you add 6-9 Tyler Tejada and 6-6 Mekhi Lowery. They'll need a minimum of three transfers next season and Timberlake returning is a reach.

Hard to imagine NT returning, but maybe the idea of being the leading scorer in school history has some cache to him. Also, my sense is he & Skerry, 2 Boston guys, have a close bond, so maybe that’s important to him. With all that being said, I’m highly skeptical he’s coming back. If he doesn’t, we have over 40 ppg next year to replace. That number increases to over 50ppg if CT doesn’t return. Either way, that’s a lot of points (not to mention assists and rebounds) to backfill. Skerry better hit big on 2 portal guys