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HAMILTON — Brad Zellner is equipped with enough
basketball knowledge to run a program.
As he enters his first-year at the Miami University Hamilton
men’s helm — the first head-coaching job of his career —
Zellner said aggression is the utmost key to jumpstarting
the 2007-08 campaign.
“It’s kind of tough right now,” Zellner said. “I know what I
want to do both defensively and offensively. We’ve
conditioned really well. We’re looking to attack (our
opponents), be in their face.”
The Harriers will find out what they’re made of when they
attack the court in their season opener at home against Ohio
University Chillicothe on Saturday.
“I really don’t know much about our opponents and the
competitiveness in the league,” Zellner said of the Ohio
Regional Campus Conference. “I don’t know what we’re going
up against. We’ll see when we begin the season.”
Returning at point guard is sophomore Rodney Hiler, who
averaged 3 assists and 5 points last season.
“He knows how to run the offense pretty well,” Zellner said.
“Rodney is a hardnosed player. I’m going to like him leading
the team.”
Sharpshooter Darren Wyly, a freshman who scored over 1,200
career points at Clark Montessori High, will have a chance
to display his outside jumper at shooting guard.
Junior La’Tuan Williams, sophomore Dusty Carroll (a transfer
from Miami-Middletown) and freshman Tom Campbell will start
as forwards.
“All of them have a basketball mind, they’re smart players
and they have a high basketball IQ,” Zellner said of the
three forwards.
Doing a lot of work off the bench will be freshman guard
Derek Shirley and sophomore forward Bob Gurr.
“Derek is the best defender on the team. He’ll add a lot of
pressure when he’s in there,” Zellner said. “Bob plays so
hard, he works his butt off. He’s our best big man off the
bench.”
Freshmen guards DeAndre Riep, Antwann Walker, Silus Bubulo,
Geordann Stallworth and James Millen add some depth for the
Harriers.
“We’ve got a squad where we can keep our opponents on the
back of their heels,” said Zellner, a Hamilton native who
spent four seasons as assistant men’s basketball coach at
Indiana University Southeast from 2000-2004.
Miami-Hamilton meets ORCC rival Miami-Middletown at home on
Nov. 20 and away on Feb. 6. |
