University of Miami Men's Basketball Clips 2015-16
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University of Miami Men’s Basketball Clips 2015-16 2011-15 highlights on last 35 pages Looking ahead: Miami won’t stop the party in 2016-17 ESPN.com poll now that Grayson Allen will return Myron Medcalf to join Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum, That’s the major concern with this Miami April 14, 2016 the top two recruits in the 2016 class team. per RecruitingNation. North Carolina, It’s never too early to look at what’s to Louisville and Virginia could all compete “He can score and he can pass, but come. Over the next few weeks, we will for the national title, too. his assist-to-turnover ratio is 1-to-1,” give you a peek at what is ahead for teams Larrañaga told the Miami Herald last week. in the Power 5 conferences and some Miami shouldn’t end -- or enter -- the year “If he’s really going to be the kind of point other teams expected to be players on the as an afterthought, though. guard that can lead our team, he needs to national scene. Next up: Miami. improve to 2-to-1 or 3-to-1.” Incoming shooting guard Bruce Brown, When Jim Larrañaga left George Mason ranked 31st in the 2016 class by In 2015-16, both Newton (20.6) and for Miami in 2011, his new hub featured RecruitingNation, and power forward Rodriguez (20.5) ended the year with one of the most appealing backdrops for Dewan Huell, ranked 23rd nationally, equally subpar turnover rates. But any young man, athlete or not, in America: should crack the starting rotation for a Rodriguez was the only player on the South Beach. Miami team that might compete for a spot roster with a top-100 assist rate. in the ACC’s top tier. Rodney Miller, a 6-11 The sun sells, man. And if Larrañaga could center who played at Oak Hill Academy, So Larrañaga is right. Newton (2.5 APG, use it to fire up a program that reached the could develop into a reliable reserve during 2.1 TPG) finished the NCAA tournament NCAA tournament just six times prior to his his first season, too. with five assists and seven turnovers. If arrival, perhaps he could build something. he assumes primary ballhandling duties That was the idea. And after last season’s Larrañaga had recruited two ESPN 100 for Miami next season, limiting turnovers Sweet 16 run -- the second of his tenure recruits prior to this year’s class, which will be pivotal. Still, Rodriguez committed -- it seemed more tangible. features two. Brown and Huell will launch turnovers on nearly one-fifth of his their collegiate careers with the buffer of possessions, too, and Miami still reached But the test comes in 2016-17. Is Miami a strong returning group. the Sweet 16. That’s likely the high mark just another squad riding the ACC’s wave for next year’s team. or a team that’s positioned to do more Davon Reed (11.1 PPG), the top returning than make a Sweet 16 run every three scorer from last season, will snatch a The young talent and returning players years? The latter seems feasible based on greater share of the team’s shots in 2016- comprise a solid crew with the potential the top-15 recruiting class that will reduce 17. The 6-6 wing who made 40 percent to get back to the NCAA tournament and the deficit created by the departure of of his 3-pointers last season could blossom build for the future. Larrañaga gained Larrañaga’s most important contributors next season. Kamari Murphy steps into enough to thrive in 2016-17. and leaders. the starting center role vacated by Jekiri after averaging 5.6 PPG and 6.0 RPG last Most teams would tumble in the standings Miami lost Angel Rodriguez (12.6 PPG, 4.5 season. Plus, Rashad Muhammad, the after the losses of Rodriguez and APG), Sheldon McClellan (16.3 PPG) and brother of NBA wing Shabazz Muhammad, McClellan. Miami could slip, too. Tonye Jekiri (7.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.0 BPG). will regain his eligibility after sitting out That’s the collection of upperclassmen last season following his transfer from But the crew that’s coming to Coral Gables who anchored last season’s success. San Jose State. He averaged 13.9 PPG in and the talent coming back probably won’t 2014-15. let that happen. The great Miami rapper and philosopher Pitbull once said, however, “Don’t stop the Yet, the final returnee demands both praise party.” And the party won’t stop in Miami and scrutiny. This is Ja’Quan Newton’s in 2016-17, although the Hurricanes will squad now. The guard averaged 10.5 PPG reassemble their roster in bullish times for and 2.5 APG last season. With Rodriguez the ACC. Duke should enter the preseason gone, he’ll probably play point guard for a as the No. 1 team in every reputable team that lost one of the nation’s best. McClellan gets last-minute invite to NBA Draft combine Miami Herald out there. He’s strong, fast, can jump, and Michelle Kaufman what will separate him is his shot-making May 11, 2016 ability. He can hit threes, layups and free throws. He’s good off the catch and the Sheldon McClellan got the phone call he dribble.” was hoping for while napping in Houston on Tuesday afternoon. Nineteen players have been drafted in UM history. The highest pick was NBA Hall of The former University of Miami guard Famer Rick Barry, who was chosen No. 2 received a last-minute invitation to the NBA overall in 1966. Shane Larkin was next at Draft combine in Chicago, which began No. 18 in 2014. Tim James went No. 25 Wednesday and runs through Sunday. He in 2000 and John Salmons was No. 26 in is one of 70 players auditioning for the 2003. June 23 draft. McClellan had been listed as an alternate and replaced injured Wayne The other three 2016 seniors — Angel Selden of Kansas. Rodriguez, Tonye Jekiri, and Ivan Cruz Uceda — are not included in most “My agent called me at 1:30, and I was on mock drafts. But Rodriguez and Jekiri a 6 o’clock flight to Chicago,” McClellan were among 64 players invited to the said by phone Wednesday. “I’m excited and Portsmouth Invitational senior showcase thankful for the opportunity to showcase in Virginia last month; and Rodriguez stood my talent in front of all the scouts. I’m not out. He was named to the All-Tournament nervous at all because I’ve been playing team after averaging 12.7 points and a basketball all my life, and this is what I’ve tournament-high 7.7 assists over three been playing for.” games. Jekiri averaged 5.7 points and eight rebounds. McClellan already had workouts with the Boston Celtics and New Orleans, and said Rodriguez hired agent Pedro Power, a “my life’s about to get crazy” with nine former soccer player with Miami FC and more team tryouts scheduled — Indiana on Bolivian team Bolivar, and was invited by May 17, Brooklyn on May 19, Milwaukee Minnesota for a workout. Jekiri has four on May 20, Los Angeles on Lakers May 23, workouts scheduled. Chicago on June 2, San Antonio on June 6, Dallas on June 14, Houston on June 15 and L.A. Clippers on June 20. He is projected as a second-round pick (No. 53 overall) by Draft Express. As a senior, the 6-5 shooting guard averaged 16.3 points on 50.4 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent shooting from three-point range and 83 percent shooting from the free-throw line. “Sheldon is an NBA-caliber player, and I think he will show that in these tryouts,” UM coach Jim Larrañaga said. “He has the size and ability of all the two guards Canes Rodriguez, Jekiri begin chasing NBA dreams Sun Sentinel not that type of player,” said Rodriguez, “Having your coaches around you and Christy Cabrera Chirinos who was among Miami’s leaders during its trying to teach you more after the season April 13, 2016 tournament run and averaged 12.6 points is over, working with you and telling you and 4.5 assists this past season. “It’s an how it is, how you make this a job and the Angel Rodriguez took just 48 hours to honor to get invited to Portsmouth. … kind of hours you put in, has been different. decompress. That was it. Just knowing there’s going to be every It’s mental, but you have to find the right scout in the NBA and a lot of scouts from attitude and commitment. Coming from And then, two days after his college career overseas watching you play one more a good program like [Miami], where we ended when the Hurricanes lost to eventual time, it’s definitely a great opportunity for preach about attitude and commitment, national champion Villanova in the Sweet my career. I’m very, very excited. I’m very that’s really helped us. We’re handling 16 of the NCAA Tournament, Rodriguez focused.” things the best way we can. We’re learning got back to work. from experienced guys.” Added Diaz, “I want to be able to show This time, the focus wasn’t on bettering that I’m able to shoot the ball, that I have Rodriguez, Diaz and Jekiri acknowledge his game for another season at Miami.