Post by dex on Aug 12, 2014 9:14:27 GMT -5
PC BASKETBALL
Finally, he’s the center of attention
7-footer Carson Desrosiers, a fifth-year senior, is aiming to assume role of leader, starting with team trip to Italy
By KEVIN McNAMARA JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER
PROVIDENCE — When the college basketball season rolls around this October, Carson Desrosiers will be the old man at Providence College. It’s a status he’s not complaining about.
Desrosiers, a 7-foot center, will be a fifth-year senior for a Friar team overflowing with youngsters. He’ll turn 23 by the time PC tips off the 2014-15 season, and in a college basketball world where the best players are often teenagers, Desrosiers says his experience is a bonus.
“This will be my fifth year and that should help me,” said Desrosiers, a native of Windham, N.H. “I’m telling the young guys certain things, on and off the court. I know I can be more of a leader this year.”
The next step on that path comes this week when Desrosiers will be the only legitimate big man available for the Friars on a three-game tour of Italy. The team wrapped up its preparations for the trip with a practice on Monday morning. Perhaps the most impressive player in the workout was Paschal Chukwu, a 7-1 center who’ll team with Desrosiers in what’s believed to be the first pair of 7-footers in the history of the program.
But Chukwu and fellow freshman Ben Bentil are not eligible to make the trip to Italy. They’ve yet to be cleared by the NCAA’s Clearinghouse, so that means that Desrosiers will see as many minutes as he can handle in Italy. Desrosiers averaged 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 points and 2.5 blocks in over 20 minutes a game in his first season at Providence.
“It’s going to be fun for me, just to see where I am at,” he said. “I think right now I’m in good shape but I’m going to find out for sure on this trip.”
Providence coach Ed Cooley said Desrosiers is ready to lead the five other scholarship players eligible to play in the three games. They include forwards LaDontae Henton, Tyler Harris and Rodney Bullock, plus guards Junior Lomomba and incoming freshman Kyron Cartwright.
“I think Carson has gotten a lot stronger and he’s way more focused on his role,” Cooley said. “He knows he’ll have to play a bigger role for us as a fifth-year senior and I’m proud of how hard he’s worked.”
Desrosiers backed up starter Kadeem Batts and was a defensive anchor for the Big East Tournament champions a year ago. But now the Friars need and expect more. Desrosiers scored more points three seasons ago (2011-12) at Wake Forest than he did in 2014 with the Friars but with Batts, Henton, Harris and Bryce Cotton all averaging in double figures, he rarely had the chance to show what he could do.
“In Italy we’re going to give him the ball more and really build on his confidence,” Cooley said. “I always think once big guys play with confidence and the light goes on, they get it. He’s starting to get it. He can show a lot more. He’s in position to have a good year.”
Desrosiers says he weighs 247 pounds. That’s at least 20 pounds more than Chukwu, the freshman big man who has opened eyes with his ability to catch and score around the rim, as well as block or alter shots with his extreme length. Cooley says he hopes to press more than he ever has at PC because he owns two defensive anchors to protect the rim in Desrosiers and Chukwu.
“Already Paschal has improved so much. He’s better than I thought he would be. He’s more skilled than I thought he was,” Desrosiers said. “He’s going to help us out right away and he’s going to be a real problem in the years to come.”
Cooley clearly would love to get Chukwu and Bentil some valuable playing time on the trip, but that won’t happen. The NCAA always does extensive background checks on recruits born in foreign countries, and PC is providing the information requested on Chukwu (Nigeria) and Bentil (Ghana) and hoping the green light comes soon. A third freshman recruit, Jalen Lindsey, is back home in Tennessee with a case of mononucleosis.
“I think it’s a procedural, paperwork thing and I trust and believe in the NCAA,” Cooley said of Chukwu’s and Bentil’s status. “I think we’ll be fine.”
If everyone is on board, the Friars will have a very different look than last season’s team, which was dominated by the dynamic scoring skill of Cotton. Counting the injured Kris Dunn, Cooley will have seven new players at his disposal, but Desrosiers is happy with what he’s seen thus far.
“We’re a very different team. We obviously lost some pieces, but we’ve gained some good new ones,” he said. “It’s a matter of finding new roles for everyone. The freshmen are still figuring out where they fit out on the court but everyone’s role, either a lot or a little, is going to change.” kmcnamar@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @kevinmcnamara33
...gotta love friartown...
...i have no idea...
Finally, he’s the center of attention
7-footer Carson Desrosiers, a fifth-year senior, is aiming to assume role of leader, starting with team trip to Italy
By KEVIN McNAMARA JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER
PROVIDENCE — When the college basketball season rolls around this October, Carson Desrosiers will be the old man at Providence College. It’s a status he’s not complaining about.
Desrosiers, a 7-foot center, will be a fifth-year senior for a Friar team overflowing with youngsters. He’ll turn 23 by the time PC tips off the 2014-15 season, and in a college basketball world where the best players are often teenagers, Desrosiers says his experience is a bonus.
“This will be my fifth year and that should help me,” said Desrosiers, a native of Windham, N.H. “I’m telling the young guys certain things, on and off the court. I know I can be more of a leader this year.”
The next step on that path comes this week when Desrosiers will be the only legitimate big man available for the Friars on a three-game tour of Italy. The team wrapped up its preparations for the trip with a practice on Monday morning. Perhaps the most impressive player in the workout was Paschal Chukwu, a 7-1 center who’ll team with Desrosiers in what’s believed to be the first pair of 7-footers in the history of the program.
But Chukwu and fellow freshman Ben Bentil are not eligible to make the trip to Italy. They’ve yet to be cleared by the NCAA’s Clearinghouse, so that means that Desrosiers will see as many minutes as he can handle in Italy. Desrosiers averaged 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 points and 2.5 blocks in over 20 minutes a game in his first season at Providence.
“It’s going to be fun for me, just to see where I am at,” he said. “I think right now I’m in good shape but I’m going to find out for sure on this trip.”
Providence coach Ed Cooley said Desrosiers is ready to lead the five other scholarship players eligible to play in the three games. They include forwards LaDontae Henton, Tyler Harris and Rodney Bullock, plus guards Junior Lomomba and incoming freshman Kyron Cartwright.
“I think Carson has gotten a lot stronger and he’s way more focused on his role,” Cooley said. “He knows he’ll have to play a bigger role for us as a fifth-year senior and I’m proud of how hard he’s worked.”
Desrosiers backed up starter Kadeem Batts and was a defensive anchor for the Big East Tournament champions a year ago. But now the Friars need and expect more. Desrosiers scored more points three seasons ago (2011-12) at Wake Forest than he did in 2014 with the Friars but with Batts, Henton, Harris and Bryce Cotton all averaging in double figures, he rarely had the chance to show what he could do.
“In Italy we’re going to give him the ball more and really build on his confidence,” Cooley said. “I always think once big guys play with confidence and the light goes on, they get it. He’s starting to get it. He can show a lot more. He’s in position to have a good year.”
Desrosiers says he weighs 247 pounds. That’s at least 20 pounds more than Chukwu, the freshman big man who has opened eyes with his ability to catch and score around the rim, as well as block or alter shots with his extreme length. Cooley says he hopes to press more than he ever has at PC because he owns two defensive anchors to protect the rim in Desrosiers and Chukwu.
“Already Paschal has improved so much. He’s better than I thought he would be. He’s more skilled than I thought he was,” Desrosiers said. “He’s going to help us out right away and he’s going to be a real problem in the years to come.”
Cooley clearly would love to get Chukwu and Bentil some valuable playing time on the trip, but that won’t happen. The NCAA always does extensive background checks on recruits born in foreign countries, and PC is providing the information requested on Chukwu (Nigeria) and Bentil (Ghana) and hoping the green light comes soon. A third freshman recruit, Jalen Lindsey, is back home in Tennessee with a case of mononucleosis.
“I think it’s a procedural, paperwork thing and I trust and believe in the NCAA,” Cooley said of Chukwu’s and Bentil’s status. “I think we’ll be fine.”
If everyone is on board, the Friars will have a very different look than last season’s team, which was dominated by the dynamic scoring skill of Cotton. Counting the injured Kris Dunn, Cooley will have seven new players at his disposal, but Desrosiers is happy with what he’s seen thus far.
“We’re a very different team. We obviously lost some pieces, but we’ve gained some good new ones,” he said. “It’s a matter of finding new roles for everyone. The freshmen are still figuring out where they fit out on the court but everyone’s role, either a lot or a little, is going to change.” kmcnamar@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @kevinmcnamara33
...gotta love friartown...
...i have no idea...