Post by TexasCat on Aug 28, 2008 13:24:56 GMT -5
Bayno acquires fresh faces
The optimistic men's basketball team welcomes seven new players
Julia Pine
Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Sports
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Media Credit: MCT Campus
Media Credit: MCT Campus
Head Coach Bill Bayno of the men's basketball team added seven names to his recruitment class this summer. Freshman Ashley Hamilton, junior transfer Larry Davis, sophomore transfers Vernon Teel and Drew Viney
It seems like hardly anyone can say no to Bayno.
This summer, as many of us took a break from thinking about our futures at LMU, first-year coach of the men's basketball team Bill Bayno set in stone a successful future for himself at LMU, putting together one of the most impressive recruiting classes in school history. Of the 13 men currently on the roster, only six of them were members of last year's team, which finished with a disappointing 5-26 record. The other eight players who now make up the LMU men's basketball team have been added by Bayno himself in his short time as head coach.
"I didn't want anyone to come back this year and be disappointed about playing time," said Bayno. "So I was honest with all the returning players and the ones that stayed are ones who I thought could survive my program. After that, we went right to work with the contacts that we had and I think we put together an unbelievable recruiting class."
This recruiting class includes freshmen LaRon Armstead, Jarred Dubois, Ashley Hamilton, and Kevin Young; sophomore transfers Drew Viney and Vernon Teel and junior transfer Larry Davis. All recruits have a common thread: they want to play for Bayno.
"Bayno is just a standup guy," said Davis, who due to NCAA rules must sit this year out as a transfer. "He's loyal, he wants to win and most importantly he sees a future here at LMU. I was happy to join that."
Teel felt the same way.
"I was really comfortable with Coach Bayno," Teel told the Loyolan after committing to LMU in May. The 6'4" sophomore,who attended Long Island University as well as two junior colleges, never suited up to play at LIU and averaged eight points per game at Chipola Community College in Florida this past year. He then met with Bayno three times, including a home visit in their last meeting, before deciding to become a Lion.
"One of the biggest reasons I chose LMU was I want to turn [the program] around. Larry Davis and I agreed if I liked [the school], I would join him in his quest to do so," said Teel. "My place on the team next year will be up to Coach Bayno, but some of the things I bring to the table are leadership abilities and a winning mentality. I am capable of doing a lot of things on the court."
Hamilton, the 6'7" forward who joins the Lions from the Gran Canaria team of Spain, has a strong personal connection with Bayno. Hamilton, who played on the English Under-Eighteen National Team in 2005 and 2006, as well as Great Britain's Under-Twenty National team in 2006 and 2007, met Bayno through mutual acquaintances and felt an instant connection to the coach.
"He's like my father when I'm over here," Hamilton said. "I love him to death. He just puts so much heart into this."
Bayno feels the same way about his team in return. With more than half the team suiting up in a LMU's jersey for the first time this season, Bayno already couldn't be more impressed with his team.
"I've coached a lot of years and a lot of different teams -college, pro, international- and I can honestly say that this group of guys, from a character standpoint, is as high on my list as any team I've ever coached," said Bayno. "We've got a group of guys who want to win, are talented, unselfish and work hard. I couldn't be more excited than I am right now because of the combo of talent and character. I 'm really looking forward to watching them grow and develop."
They will have to develop quickly, as the Lions face a challenging schedule this year, highlighted by a game at Pauley Pavilion with the UCLA Bruins on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Nonetheless, Bayno is staying optimistic, and encouraging Lions fans to get ready for a change.
"It's a new year; it's a new start," said Bayno yesterday. "We are developing a championship culture here that starts with hard work and unselfishness. We've upgraded our talent. It's just going to be a different team. We are going to be the hardest playing, hardest practicing team in the league. Get your seats now; we are going to sell out that arena."
