It was another disappointing season for the Youngstown State Penguins last year. The Pens struggled through a seven win season and dropped their final nine games of the season en route to finishing last in the Horizon League. Second year head coach Jerry Slocum lost two major contributors from last season’s squad in Dominique Crawford and Derrick Harris but remains optimistic about the Penguins chances to finish in the top half of the league in 2006-07. With a player of Quin Humphrey’s caliber, that optimism isn’t unwarranted.
Humphrey, a 6’4” senior guard, would’ve most likely been the pre-season player of the year had he not been starring for the league’s doormat. Humphrey almost single-handedly got the Penguins off to a 2-1 start in conference play last season dumping in 30+ points in three straight games as the Penguins defeated Loyola and Green Bay. An overtime loss to the UIC Flames was all that prevented the Penguins from sitting atop the standings with a 3-0 mark at the start of the conference slate. Humphrey led the Horizon League in scoring and rebounding a year ago and was named to the pre-season first team.
Joining Humphrey in the backcourt is the Pens second leading scorer, Keston Roberts. The 6’4” senior averaged 14 points a game last season and scored in double figures in 11 of YSU’s 16 conference games. The departure of Harris leaves a hole in the Pens lineup that they hope to be filled by New Mexico State transfer, Byron Davis. Harris led the league in assists last season and was seventh in the league in steals. Davis started 35 games in two seasons for the Aggies. Whether Davis can bring the same offensive spark and defense that Harris did remains to be seen but he will be given the opportunity.
Juco transfer George Cotal is a versatile player who can fill in at both guard spots and may also see some time at the wing. Sophomore Mikko Niemi was tabbed as the point guard of the future when he was recruited but played just over seven minutes a game last season. In back-to-back games against Loyola to end last season, Niemi saw considerable action, earning his first start of the year in the Pens opening round loss to the Ramblers in the Horizon League tournament.
Up front, the Penguins return three part-time starters and a couple of juco transfers expected to contribute as well. John Barber, a 6’6” junior, was second on the club in rebounding a year ago and averaged seven points a game. He also possesses a decent shooting touch, hitting better than 35% of his limited three-point attempts. With his athletic ability, Barber has the ability to put up the occasional double-double.
Colin LaForme, at 6’10”, appeared in 27 games for the Pens and saw about 15 minutes of action per game. Despite his height, LaForme struggles with stronger opponents. He averaged just three points and almost three rebounds a game. For the Pens to improve, LaForme will have to add some strength and toughness to go with his height. Sophomore Jack Liles has added ten pounds to his frame and is expected to improve on his averages of roughly three points and three rebounds per game.
Junior college transfer Greg Mayes was brought in for his knack to get rebounds. At 6’8” and 225 pounds, Mayes is much stronger after two years at junior college and has been described as a focused rebounder, though he won’t likely add much in the way of offensive presence.
Fellow junior college transfer, Chris Booth, at 6’8” and 235 pounds, possesses a bit more offensive awareness and has been described as having decent post moves and good hands for his size.
The Penguins will always have a chance to win games with the high scoring Humphrey on the floor but they will need a couple of players to step up to the next level if they are going to fulfill coach Slocum’s wish of finishing in the top half of the conference. Barber has the ability to perhaps be one of those players but he needs to become more consistent. Liles or LaForme will also have to have a breakout season as well if the Penguins expect to get out of the cellar.
--Joe Dlugosz is the editor of Ramblermania.com, a website dedicated to Loyola-Chicago sports information. For more of Joe's writing, visit: www.ramblermania.com --ed.
