Freshmen Success

The Fairfield University men's basketball team finds themselves at 7-3 throughout the first 10 games. If you think about the season they might consider themselves lucky for that, with the recent arising of Yorel Hawkins, the off-and-on performance of Derek Needham, the illness of Greg Nero, and the injury of Warren Edney, the performances of their three freshmen have really helped the team to their recent winning ways.

Throughout the streak the first year players are averaging nearly 11 more minutes than the first 4 games. In the year the rookies are averaging 20% of the team's scoring and 26 assists.

Jamel Fields: When Fields is in the game, he adds a dynamic presence that this team needs. He seems to take the pressure off of Derek Needham and is very aggressive to the hoop. He beats defenders with his speed and his outside shooting has quickly improved. I am impressed mostly with the way he can control the offense. The team seems to trust him when he is in the game and he does not make as many dumb passes as Needham.

He does have to improve on his free throws especially as a guard.

Maurice Barrow: He has really shown his promise in the last few games. He has shown that he can get to the hoop with his strength and can collect the rebounds.

I still don't think he is a very good finisher. Multiple times this year, he has garnered numerous offense rebounds and has failed to get the tip back.

Keith Matthews: This guy has everything. He is great around the basket and can really jump over anybody to get rebounds and has a nice touch inside the paint.

The First Step to Greatness

The Fairfield University men's basketball team will welcome three new freshmen for the 2010-2011 season. At the end of the last school year, Coach Cooley thought there would be five new recruits, but with the departure of Adam Jones and Majok Majok, the team will try to pick up the pieces. Without these two players, the Stags still have a respectable incoming class. Fairfield was recently featured on the front page of ESPN.com recruiting page. Last year, we were one basket away from heading to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997. But it was all about the impact player. Derek Needham flew under everyone's radar. The MAAC Rookie of the Year, was the best rookie that the program has every seen and arguably the best the conference has ever seen. Will this class have an impact player? A Needham impact player?

#23 Jamel Fields (Albany NY) Every place you look there is one word that you see over and over again. Intangible. According to scout.com, a 2 star recruit who is a strong finisher at the rim. This will blend well with Needham and Colin Nickerson who I feel are great finishers at the rim. Cooley and the scouts have also commented on his speed and quickness. This is going to be a strength for this team. They are going to have to try and combat for the lack of height through their speed. This is basically a guard team who can keep up with anyone on the floor.

Field's downsides include his decision making. This is one aspect that I am not worried about when it comes learning under Coach Cooley. Derek Needham grew so much last year if you look at the start and end of the season. Needham made some awful decisions on the court the first part of the year making some crucial turnovers. By the end of the year he became on of the best passers in school history. I do expect any freshman to struggle with decisions when arriving on the college scene. It is only human nature. So many differences exist between the college and high school games. What really shows your skill and talent is your ability to fight through it.

ESPN Grade: 82

#41 Keith Matthews (Sebastian FL) He was his high-schools all-time winningest player with 86 victories through his four years. Also racking up a program record 1,867 points which led him to a McDonalds All-American nominee.

ESPN calls this guy a great playmaker who plays like an oversixed power forward because of his lack of offensive skills. I have talked to people who have said that Cooley feels like Matthews could be "the best player [I] have ever coached." They say that he is athletic and can finish above the rim. I have never seen this guy play but they say he can be explosive.

What worries me is that he is not going to be able to use his size aganist the people in the college game. At only 6'5'' the same moves that he used in high school simply wont work now.

ESPN Grade: 78

#15 Maurice Barrow (Middle Village NY) This is the guy that many sources have as our new impact player. His scouting report, however, does not lead up to a Derek Needham impact player. "He is a jack of all trades and a master of none," ESPN says. "He possesses the versatility and willingness to be a valuable role player at the mid-major level," the report continues. He averaged 12.4 PPG and 6.5 rebounds per game as a senior and led his team to the CHSAA Class AA intersectional championship by recording a double-double.

His skills include his strength and being able to score with both hands around the basket. The Stags are going to NEED a replacement for Anthony Johnson who was able to do that same thing. They need an offensive presence who can change the momentum of the game. Peanut was able to get the fans behind the team with his monstrous dunks and that is something that the Stags might have to rely on Barrow to do.

ESPN Rank 84

Who will be the next Derek Needham impact player? Will there be one? With the lingering injuries the Stags are going to experience this year they are need to going to have depth. Needham and Nickerson added that bench depth and both were dangerous when they were on the floor. Can this class be the same thing? Or will it be like the 2008 class in which Brandon Davis, Jamal Turner, and Shimeek Johnson all have transferred and only Ryan Olander and Sean Crawford is left? We will find out. And the journey should be fun.