2007-2008 Newcomers and Team Outlook
The Walsh University Men’s Basketball team has a bit of a different look this year with the new additions to the team. The team has 5 new players (two transfers and three freshman) to add to it’s strong core of returning players. New to the mix are Kyelce Cescato, Joe Shardo, Jeremy Shardo, Lamar Skeeter, and Ryan Butler. Kyelce is a 6’10” sophmore post player from Sao Paulo, Brazil that adds some size and strength inside for the Cavaliers. Joe Shardo is a 6’5” junior forward transfer from Missouri Rolla that adds more size inside with the ability to shoot from the outside. His brother Jeremy is a 6’4” freshman wing player from Versailles, OH who can play multiple positions and brings versatility to the Cavalier program. Lamar Skeeter is a 5’10” freshman guard from Kettering, OH who is very athletic and has a knack for scoring the basketball. Finally, Ryan Butler is another freshman wing/post player and comes to Walsh from Hamilton, OH. He is a 6’6” left-handed shooter who can also post up. Adding all this new talent to the core returning group of seniors Brandon Weems, Corey Jones, Eder Araujo and Kevin Stingel; juniors Josh Johnson and Eric Love; sophmores Brandon Speck and Nate Dallas, the Cavaliers are primed to make another run at the National Tournament.
Above Photo:
Front Row (L to R) - Brandon Speck, Eric Love, Brandon Weems, Corey Jones, Eder Araujo, Kevin Stingel, Josh Johnson, Nate Dallas, Lamar Skeeter
Back Row (L to R) - Head Coach Jeff Young, Assistant Coach Kyle Getter, Assistant Coach John Hippley, Jeremy Shardo, Joe Shardo, Kyelce Cescato, Will Richardson, Ryan Butler, Graduate Assistant Drew Hannan, Graduate Assistant Adam Lesch
Christmas Trip to HawaiiIn spite of all the distractions, the Cavs were able to stay focused for the first half of the trip in order to win two games there. In the first game, the Cavs built a huge halftime lead at 50-23 and led by as many as 34 before winning by a final score of 83-52 against Westminster College (Mo.). Brandon Weems and Lamar Skeeter led the Cavs with 16 points apiece. Josh Johnson added 14 points and Eder Araujo pulled down a game-high 8 rebounds. In the second game, the Cavs trailed by 9 points late in the first half before pulling ahead and winning 98-89 against Eastern University (Pa.). Eder Araujo led the Cavs with 22 points and 15 rebounds while Brandon Weems scored 16 points while dishing out 10 assists. Joe Shardo chipped in 18 points and 8 rebounds, and Josh Johnson and Brandon Speck each added 13 points.
After winning both games, the Cavs enjoyed all the offerings of Hawaii. Some took trips to Pearl Harbor to see history first hand. A few enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime and went skydiving from 14,000 feet. Others went the other direction and viewed sea life while going snorkeling. There was plenty of time spent on the beach swimming in the ocean and getting a winter tan. So much to do, so little time, but the trip was a worthwhile experience for the entire team.
Senior Brandon Weems has been named the AMC South Player of the Year. Weems led the AMC in assists (6.1) for the second straight season and finished second all-time at Walsh with 649 career assists. He led the NAIA in assists (7.4) as a junior, when he also set Walsh's single season assist mark (237). Weems started every game (31) for the second straight season, and posted a career best 11.2 point per game average and 4.3 rebound average. He led the Cavs with 32 steals, while shooting .766 from the foul line and .406 from three-point range. He also scored his 1,000th career point and totaled 1,160 career points. His 3.45 assists to turnover ratio led all AMC starting point guard. Weems stands sixth in career three-point field goals made (185) and ninth in career three-point percentage (.423). In his four years at Walsh, the Cavs finished 108-26, for an .806 winning percentage.
