Basketball falls in tournament but expect new look next year

Justin Hite / Sports Editor

After falling to the Davidson Wildcats, the men's and women's basketball teams had no choice but to look towards next season.

The men's team graduates four seniors, three of which are major contributors. Jackson Atoyebi, Colin Wyatt and Rasmi Gamble depart leaving a major hole in the front court. Scottie Rice leaves as a defensive and emotional leader as well as a major contributor on the scoreboard.

"We lost some key players, but that happens in college," head coach Ernie Nestor said. "It happens every four years, but our senior class will be a strong one."

With the gaps in front court fans around Elon can expect to see the overall dynamic of the men's team change. Juniors Chris Chalko, Montell Watson and LeVonn Jordan will have to fill the leadership void with the exit of the seniors.

Key contributors Simon Harris and Brian Waters, as well as freshman Brett James will have to be that much stronger in order for the Phoenix to excel.

"We increase mobility and we lose overall standing size," Nestor said.

"The most obvious look for the team next year will be the players who return."

Filling the possible void inside will be Chris Porn and Ola Atoyebi. A strong recruiting class will also help the Phoenix fill the void left by the seniors.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the women's team graduates only two seniors who were hampered by injury for the majority of the year.

"We have our eight top players coming back," head coach Brenda Paul said. "Now it's not a youthful group–it's a group that has weathered the storms and battled the battles and will be very aware of what it takes to move to the next level."

The top three scorers for the Phoenix, all sophomores will hope to improve on an offense that lagged slightly behind a defense that ranked at the top of the nation in points allowed per game and field goal percentage.

The team returns eight juniors and two sophomores to go along with a recruiting class that already has a lot of experience. One recruit already won a state championship and another is competeing in one, according to Paul.

Contact Justin Hite at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.