Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
New Rochelle, NY (Future150) -- The Big Dance is finally here and while everyone would like to cut down the nets, there can only be one champion. That being said, there is always the chance that the next season could be better than the last. With that in mind, Future150 would like to introduce "The Next Step", a segment dedicated to breaking down each program's recruitng class as they bow out of the tournament; because there's always next season.
Iona was a trendy pick to upset Iowa State, but it wasn't meant to be. The MAAC conference champions fought with Siena and Monmouth all season and it seems like it will be a battle that will resume next season.
The Gaels may be in a bit of a transition period next season, as A.J. English, Isaiah Williams, and Ibn Muhammad all graduate at the end of the year. English scored his 2,000th point in his final game, and will be missed a ton.
Tim Cluess has done a good job of addressing the needs on his roster. Three JuCo players will hit campus next year in the form of wings DeAndre Turner and Jan Svandrlik, as well as forward Jalen McGaughy. Those three will be ready to contribute right away, as Cluess has gotten a lot out of JuCo players in the past.
Out of the high school ranks, E.J. Crawford, Kai Mitchell, and Jamel Allen are set to join the Gaels next year as well. Crawford has a similar skill set to English coming out of the same prep school. His shooting will allow him to see the floor early and it will be interesting to see how he develops. Prep school teammate Mitchell is an undersized four man who has good footwork in the post and great upper body strength. Conditioning is a bit of concern, but Iona has done a good job of getting guys like him into their playing shape in the past. Finally, Allen is a tough combo forward with a burgeoning perimeter skill set. His athleticism makes him an ideal fit for the Gaels.
In the end, Iona looks like it could be in the mix for another MAAC title, but it will be interesting to see who takes over English's role. Until that question is answered, it should be safe to slot Siena and Monmouth over them going into next season.
Comments:
Be the first to post. Just use the form below.