By
Chris Vogt
Lindenwald Ledger
Senior Writer
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
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.
Contact this reporter at chris.vogt@lindenwaldledger.com or by phone at (513) 258-3263.