Men's Basketball Preseason Report No. 6
11/8/2007 5:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. --- With the start of the 2007-08 season looming, Georgia Southern head men’s basketball coach Jeff Price still has yet to decide on a starting five.
Seniors Louis Graham (West Palm Beach, Fla.), who started all 31 games last year, and Dwayne Foreman (Apopka, Fla.), who started 29 times and missed two games due to injury, have cemented their place in the lineup. The other three positions are still up in the air.
“If you’re asking me now who we’re starting Monday, I don’t know,” said Price. “I know Dwayne and Louis will, Matt Fields will be in that mix, Ryan Hynes, Anthony Marshall has been playing well and Willie Powers is going to have a chance to be right there as a freshman. It’s just hard to tell right now.”
CENTERS OF ATTENTION
While Georgia Southern doesn’t employ a classic center, senior Ryan Hynes (Paso Robles, Calif.) and sophomore Krzysztof Janiszewski (Dzierzoniow, Poland) play a combination of the center and power forward positions.
Both players are in their second season in the program. Hynes transferred from Allen Hancock (Calif.) Community College in 2006.
Price acknowledges that Janiszewski is a raw talent and a work-in-progress.
“We knew Krzysztof was going to take some time and he’s still going to take some time. [But] I think he’s gotten better.”
The pair’s off-season workouts could play a role in their contributions to the team.
“The best thing about those two guys was that they had great off-seasons,” said Price. “Ryan lost 25 pounds and Krzysztof lost 30 pounds. And when guys lose that kind of weight in the off-season it shows that they want to play. So hopefully they’re going to be able to turn that into production on the court.”
INJURY NOTES
Foreman has been battling a hamstring injury all preseason. He was held out of practice Monday but returned Wednesday after an off day at 100 percent. Junior Kenith Ward (Warner Robins, Ga.) tore his right labrum but will not have surgery and will attempt to rehab. Redshirt freshman Jared Collins (Lyons, Ga.) has a stress fracture in his right fibula and will miss 2-6 weeks.
Georgia Southern’s home opener is Monday, Nov. 26 against Mercer. For season ticket information call 800-GSU-WINS.
