In case you missed it, The Quad, the New York Times college sports blog, had a great read yesterday about Ater Majok, UConn's Sudanese-by-way-of-Australia big man that will be suiting up in a UConn uniform for the first time today.
UConn has really been missing one thing this season: depth. The Huskies have some talented youngsters in their back court - Darius Smith, Jamaal Trice, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Donnell Beverly - that are still learning what Jim Calhoun requires if you want to get playing time. But UConn has no front court depth. Yes, Gavin Edwards comes off the bench, but he has been playing over 30 minutes a game as Charles Okwandu is simply not ready for this level of competition.
Majok will finally be eligible on Sunday, but how much impact will he have.
(photo credit: Jamati)
While Edwards, Alex Oriakhi, and Stanley Robinson have been pretty good in the early going, UConn needs more bodies up front if they expect to compete in the Big East. Which is why the addition of Majok is so important. He provides the rebounding, shot blocking, and a mean streak off the bench that UConn doesn't have right now.
I warn Husky fans not to be too excited about Majok just yet. He may end up being the next Ajou Deng. But he could also end up being the next Josh Boone or Charlie Villanueva.
But Majok is far from the only mid-season addition.
What other mid-season additions will make a difference this year?
Derrick Caracter, UTEP: We all know the story on Caracter, but after a year and a half away from the court, Caracter was cleared to play last weekend. He has played three games with the Miners, notching two double-doubles. UTEP was sorely missing a big-bodied banger on the block, and Caracter provides that, assuming his stays in shape and keeps his attitude in check. With Caracter, UTEP is a real threat to win C-USA.
Derrick Caracter has two double-doubles in three games since becoming eligible.
(photo credit: UTEP athletics)
Brady Morningstar and Jeff Withey, Kansas: In the days following the fight between the Kansas football and basketball teams, Morningstar was arrested for suspicion of DWI, which resulted in him being suspended by Bill Self for the first semester's games. While Kansas is a very deep team this year, the return of Morningstar is important. He is their best perimeter defender, an excellent shooter, and the guy of glue guy that does enough little things that it forces a coach to keep you on the court. There is a reason he went from walk-on to starter last season. Morningstar isn't going to post huge numbers, but his addition will be important for the Jayhawks goes of winning a national title. Morningstar had 2 points, 3 assists, 2 boards, and 0 turnovers in 22 minutes against Michigan.
Kansas also got news that Arizona transfer Jeff Withey was academically cleared to play. While he likely won't see too much playing time, Withey was a top 100 recruit and provides Self with even more depth on an already loaded roster. He didn't play against Michigan.
Keon Lawrence and Jeff Robison, Seton Hall: Lawrence, a transfer from Missouri who came back from suspension against Temple on Saturday, and Robinson, a transfer from Memphis who finally became eligible, both played significant minutes for the Pirates. Lawrence may be the better player, especially for Bobby Gonzalez's system, as he is a 6'2" scorer. But Robinson may be more important for the Pirates right now. Seton Hall has no problem scoring the ball, but they don't defend all that well. Robinson is an athletic, 6'5" guard that is strong enough to guard three or four positions on the floor.
Ibrahima Thomas, Cincinnati: Thomas, a transfer from Oklahoma State, is a talented 6'11" center, but I'm not sure how much he is actually going to help the Bearcats. Thomas is not an overly physical center, instead preferring to play on the perimeter and shoot some threes. He can hit that shot, and it definitely gives the Bearcats a different dimension along their front line, but can you see Mick Cronin using a center that doesn't rebound? Thomas played limited minutes in losses to Xavier and UAB, but had 10 points and 6 boards against Lipscomb on Saturday.
Jai Lucas, Texas: Lucas transferred in from Florida early last season, and just is getting eligible now. Texas is deep, and with Avery Bradley, J'Covan Brown, and Dogus Balbay, they now have four guys capable of playing the point. Lucas might be the best pure point guard of the guard - the most capable of running a team - but that may not be exactly what Texas needs. He will play some minutes, but expect Bradley, Brown, and Balbay to carry the load as they are more dynamic offensively.
Jai Lucas didn't score in six minutes against UNC.
(photo credit: Globe and Mail)
Gilbert Brown, Pitt: Pitt, who just got Jermaine Dixon back from injury, will have Gilbert Brown back in uniform on the 22nd. The Panthers, who are really struggling to score this season, sorely need Brown back. In addition to lacking offensive firepower, the Panther do not have a ton of athleticism this season. Brown oozes athleticism.
Mike Gerrity, USC: So did anyone know this kid, who has bounced from Pepperdine, to Charlotte, to USC, would make this big of an impact? In his first game with the Trojans on Saturday, Gerrity went for 12 points and 10 assists in leading USC to a 22 point win over Tennessee.
John Riek, Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are an excellent three point shooting team that likes to use four players around Jarvis Varnado offensively. Varnado is going to be an all-SEC pick, and is one of the premier posts in the conference. Riek, who was thought to be a top draft pick early in his career, hasn't played seriously in quite a while, and definitely looks like he has a ways to go before he is ready to contribute here. That said, Riek is a 7'1" shot blocker, and playing him alongside Varnado would mean that opponent's won't be able to shoot within ten feet of the rim. He's played just 1 minute in two games since he has been eligible.
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