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| John Krueger |
Excitement is back in the air surrounding Cedarville College basketball. The Yellow Jackets are looking forward to the 1997-98 season with renewed optimism as a solid nucleus of returning players welcomes an influx of talented newcomers. The coaching staff and the program's faithful fans are hoping it's a formula to produce winning basketball.
"I prefer to say we're cautiously optimistic," remarked third-year head coach Jeff Reep. "My only concern is that in a sense we have a whole new team with new people playing key roles. But the guys have come together well and are playing hard. This is a fine group of young men."
Brent Miller assumes the important role of team captain. The 6-foot-3 senior guard is a three-year letter winner who became the school's first men's basketball player to earn NAIA and NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors last season.
The team's top returning player is 6-4 junior John Krueger. He has already distinguished himself as one of the few Yellow Jackets to surpass 1,000 points in his first two years in the program.
Krueger played numerous positions last year while ranking second in the Mid- Ohio Conference with 21.2 points per game. Besides leading the team in scoring, he was tops in assists (124), steals (40), and free throw accuracy (.748). His effort earned him spots on the All-NAIA Division I Great Lakes Section and All- MOC First Teams.
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| Jeff Reep (right) with Clint Hayes |
Also back is All-MOC Freshmen Team guard Clint Hayes. The six-foot sophomore hobbled through an injury-played rookie season but still tallied 18.4 point per game mainly due to his team-high 70 three-point goals. Classmate Kyle Mraz played in all 33 games last year with 21 starts while hitting 60 treys.
Senior forward Linton Ellis returns for his fourth season as does 6-5 senior post Tim Ware. After sitting out the 1996-97 season, Ware comes back to provide some needed depth in the middle along with 6-8 sophomore Ted Forrest.
Four newcomers will be expected to provide immediate help this season. Junior guard Jackie Williams, a graduate of Jackson State Community College, will see action at the point. Shay Richardson, a junior transfer from Lee University, and Aaron Stumpf, a junior transfer from the University of Toledo, will aid the front line while rookie swingman Jesse Deister should see some time.
"I think our fans will see a drastic change in our style this season with a pressure offense and defense," Reep revealed. "We plan to push the ball down the floor as well as get back to playing aggressive, changing defenses. We want to bring a lot of excitement back into our game."
The 3,500-seat Athletic Center will be the site of no less than 19 games this winter including the 20th Annual Cedarville Invitational and the Second Annual Thanksgiving Classic. Findlay, preseason ranked No. 10 in NAIA Division I, will visit along with the usual demanding Mid-Ohio Conference schedule.