In a league filled with star power at the guard position, good forwards can be the difference makers in a game where both teams have equal guard play. The Aggies have not one but two impact players at the position. Unforutnately the position is in limbo to start the season. The Aggies' one-two punch of Wendell McKines and Troy Gillenwater are sitting out the fall semester due to academics. Much of the Aggies' success and WAC title hopes this season will hinge upon their return for conference play.
FORWARDS
Wendell McKines finished the 2008-2009 season as the only player in the WAC to average a double-double at 12.1 points and 10 rebounds per game. McKines' prowess on the boards is in large part a byproduct of his high energy play. McKines was a lone bright spot for an Aggie team that was rebounding-challenged. The Aggies averaged 34.6 rebounds per game last season and McKines' 10 rebound per game average was nearly one-third of that production while his average rebound total was over twice that of any of his teammates.
"Wendell has really grown since his freshman year. He has really worked on his skill set and is a much better player than when he first got here," said Coach Menzies. "He's still got room for growth and we're excited to see how much has taken place since last season. We're obviously going to get a lot of energy, rebounding and athleticism. We're hoping he can bring in a little extra in the way of leadership on the floor with the guys having been through it for a couple of years."
McKines posted a season high 15 rebounds in a home game against Nevada playing head-to-head against WAC Freshman of the Year Luke Babbitt but it was the return game against Nevada in Reno in which he had his highlight play of the season. With the Aggies down 60-59, McKines buried a three pointer from the top of the key to give the Aggies a 62-60 lead and the Aggies' first victory over Nevada in Reno since joining the WAC in 2005. McKines posted a season high 22 points at home against San Jose State. Despite playing the power forward position and often times drawing defensive assignments against players much bigger than his 6'6" frame, McKines fouled out just twice last season.
One area of improvement McKines will be looking for is at the free throw line. McKines is a tremendous finisher around the basket and got to the free throw line 104 times last season, fifth most on the team. He converted on almost 61 percent of his free throws but could pose an even greater threat late to opponents in games if he is able to convert at a higher clip. All-in-all McKines is one of the best all-around talents on the team and his presence will certainly be missed in the early part of the season.
The second half of the Aggies' frontcourt one-two punch is sophomore Troy Gillenwater. Gillenwater played in 30 games last season starting nine of them. There is no denying Gillenwater's physical talent. However, off the court issues were a problem for the young freshman last season and he missed the Aggies' 62-60 victory over Nevada in Reno late in the season. The 6'8" forward averaged 12.1 points per game last season and was second on the team with 12.3 points per game in conference play.
He made his presence felt immediately scoring in double figures each of his first 10 games of his young career. Gillenwater is also a good rebounder as he averaged 4.3 rebounds per game in his sophomore campaign. He recorded his only double-double of the season in the Aggies' 87-84 loss at Boise State when he finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds. He finished the season as the team's best free throw shooter in conference games converting 88 percent of this attempts and was a perfect 9 of 9 from the charity stripe in a 74-71 victory over Idaho and 10 of 12 in a 70-59 victory over Hawai'i.
One big area of improvement for Gillenwater will be on the defensive end. He was whistled for 97 fouls last season and fouled out six times and finished with four fouls 10 in 10 other games. The absence of both Gillenwater and McKines will force the younger Aggie front court players to mature quickly.
One of those young players the coaching staff will look to early is 6'8" freshman wing Bandja Sy. Sy, a native of Cergy France, was a late signing for head coach Marvin Menzies. "Bandja is a long athletic wing that can also play the four position. He's very versatile in his game and he's very athletic," said Coach Menzies. "He's a kid who has a very high potential to excel if he continues to play and approaches every day like some of our upperclassmen JY (Jahmar Young)and Gib (Jonathan Gibson) in terms of their discipline for wanting to get better. If he has that down deep and he has that innate instinct then I'm sure he'll develop into being one of the better players not just his team but in the conference as well."
Aggie fans got their first glimpse of the freshman forward in an exhibition game against Western New Mexico as he finished with eight rebounds and four points in 13 minutes of playing time.
Another highly touted incoming freshman that the Aggies are eager to get on the court is 6'11" forward B.J. West from Cheneyville, LA. "Brandon, is another player who I feel is a diamond in the rough. We got a steal in getting him," said Coach Menzies. "I think he was a little under recruited." West was rated at the 64th best power forward in the country by ESPN Scouts Inc. and can hit a consistent jump shot from 16 to 18 feet out as well as finish strong inside. "Physically he's ready and very mature for a freshman with a very high level of discipline for wanting to get better and excel. I'm very optimistic about his future as an Aggie."
Menzies is also high on West's versatility and can potentially see him playing the three as well. "B.J. has the versatility which I like in the players I recruit and he's able to slide over between the five and four spot and potentially even the three as he develops. But right now the team's immediate need for him is between the four and five spot."
When looking for a potential sleeper out of the group of Aggie forwards head coach Marvin Menzies says look no further than 6'7" junior Robert Lumpkins. "Robert Lumpkins is poised for a breakout year based on his patience and waiting for his opportunity. He's worked hard in the offseason and he's the guy that could possibly be the sleeper especially with the opportunity to get minutes early in the year." Lumpkins appeared in 20 games last season for the Aggies and averaged 8.2 minutes per game and just 2.6 points per game. He scored a season high 11 pionts in an 87-77 loss to Long Beach State where he hit a season high three three pointers. Coach Menzies hopes he can create some mismatches on both ends of the floor. "He's a guy that can step out and do some things for you from the perimeter because he shoots it so well but he's also long and rangy and able to hopefully cause some mismatches on defense as well." Defensively Lumpkins recorded nine steals last season and on the boards he grabbed 26, 10 on the offensive end and 16 on the defensive end.
Every coach loves to have a player like walk-on Kelly Merker on the squad. Merker, a former practice squad player for Aggie women's head coach Darin Spence's team, earned a spot with the men's team last season and limited time on the court. However, it's his work ethic that Coach Menzies loves and that could translate into more minutes for the graduate senior early this season as McKines and Gillenwater sit out the first half of the season. "Kelly is another kid who could see minutes early in the year based on attrition in the four spot for us early on. He's just s a solid go-to guy every day in practice. He's been really great with the consistency and leadership by example. It's a perfect opportunity for him to reap the benefits of everything he's been doing in the way of discipline."
Also vying for early playing time will be redshirt freshman Tyrone Watson. Watson, a 6'5" forward from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, redshirted last season and Coach Menzies believes that being able to take in last season from the bench will benefit Watson this season. "He's a kid that had an opportunity to sit out but be on campus and be here for a year as a redshirt. I think he's grown from that opportunity and has a comfort level of watching and knowing what Aggie basketball is all about," said Coach Menzies. In his senior season in high school he averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. "We're anticipating that he will be one of the new players that will be able to compete for minutes early in his career based on that as well as his physical maturity that he brings to the table. He's a strong, tough wing player that is also another player that has potential to slide between two to three positions." Aggie fans also got a glimpse of Watson's potential as he debuted with 21 points and three rebounds in an exhibition against Western New Mexico. He was 9 of 10 from the floor and 2 of 2 from behind the three point arc in 18 minutes of play.
Rounding out the forward position is freshman Lamine Diame. Diame is a native of Senegal, one of three recruits Coach Menzies has brought in form Senegal. "He's a 6'7" wing that is very quick off the bounce. He can defend and he is also very offensively skilled for a big wing and does a very good job on his anticipation off the ball," said Coach Menzies. Diame was a part of the Basketball Without Borders All-Star Team that toured the state of Texas last year. Coach Menzies added, "I look for him to be one of the guys that makes a lot of plays based off his basketball IQ."
