Roster primed to excel in Ballard ‘s up-tempo system

By Brett Shweky/Sports Director

 

 

Intensity, energy and enthusiasm are just a few words being said by the newly guided FIU Panthers as first-year head basketball coach Jeremy Ballard has begun setting the foundation for his new program.  

“High intensity is a non-negotiable for us when it comes to practice and games,” said Ballard. “We want to have high energy, we want to have a lot of enthusiasm, and we want to try to attack every drill that we do.”

The team is expected to institute a fast-paced offense under the newly appointed coach which will be complemented by an in your face styled defense.

Entering his inaugural season with the Panthers, Ballard is fortunate to take over a roster with a few proven playmakers that could fit this style of play.  

Point guard Brian Beard, Jr. thrived in his first season and established himself as one of the top players in Conference USA.

Before coming to FIU, he played his first two seasons at Chaffey College in Cali.

As a junior, he averaged a team-high 16.4 point-per-game which placed him ninth in scoring throughout the conference.  

His defense, however, is what caught the attention of team’s throughout the country as he averaged 2.9 steals-per-game which ranked him first in C-USA and fifth in the nation.

“You can tell right away, it’s the energy,” said Beard, Jr. on the differences between Ballard and former coach Anthony Evans. “The energy of the coaching staff, the players. We all feed off what they do. Every morning at 8 a.m. they have the energy skyrocketed. If we don’t have it, it’s a problem.”

The now senior, concluded the team’s season by setting new single-season records in steals (90) and also assists (176).

Alongside the Panthers’ star-studded point guard, junior shooting guard Trejon Jacob is primed to build off his breakout season with the team.

Jacob finished his sophomore year with a team-high 37.5 three-point percentage along with being second on the team in points-per-game with 14.5.

“From a personal standpoint, definitely defense and ball handling,” said Jacob on his offseason training. “You know, they all know me as a three-point shooter, but showing more to my game is all I can do.”

The six-foot-five guard from Raleigh, N.C. recorded 451 points on the season which ranks him second in most points scored by a sophomore in program history.  

During the Panthers’ game against the FGCU Eagles last season, Jacob set a new men’s Ocean Bank Convocation Center scoring record by putting up 38 points.

He transferred to FIU after spending one year with Seminole State College where he led the team in scoring and rebounding.

With Ballard acknowledging his gratefulness of inheriting a solid group of guys, he also expressed his confidence in the incoming players

Outside of sophomore guard Cameron Corcoran, who must sit out the 2018-2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Ballard expects his incoming recruiting class to have an immediate effect.

Transfers Devon Andrews and Marcus Burwell will likely see impactful roles from the start as they can provide the high-energy required and also additional scoring options.

Andrews sat out his junior season, but with a fresh start and a new environment, the redshirt junior looks to be headed in the direction he left off on at Pratt Community College.

During his tenure, the six-foot-six forward averaged 22.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists-per-game. He started in 26 out of the 31 games that season and ended his year by scoring 20-or-more points 17 times.

Burwell is entering his junior season and is fresh off an impressive year at Northeastern Junior College

The efficient shooter averaged a team-high 19.7 points for the Plainsmen and ended the season with the 36th best scoring average in the nation among all Junior College Division one schools.

Freshmen Antonio Daye, Jr. and Phillip Smith will be slowly worked into the rotation as the duo is still transitioning to the pace of division one college basketball.

“It’s definitely been tough, but it’s been a good tough though,” said Daye, Jr. “You know attacking it every morning. Playing against great guards as such as my senior point guard Brian Beard, Jr. It’s different because I’m used to being the best player on the team, and here I have to adjust to being around other good players.”  

Daye, Jr. is a promising point guard from Ft. Lauderdale High School with him having averaged 25.4 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebound-per-game.

During all for years of his scholastic career, he was named as the team’s Defensive Player of the Year.

The Panthers will open up the 2018-2019 season at home against the Webber International Warriors. Tip-off from the Ocean Bank Convocation Center is set for 7 p.m.