2004-05 Outlook

Graceland University men’s basketball is ready for a 2005 campaign that will put an exciting product on the floor and wins in the books. Both Head Coach Rich Harrop and Associate Head Coach Ted Quinn are excited and eager to get the season under way. “We are molding the experienced players with the new players and this will be an important part of our pre-season work-outs,” said Harrop. “Once they click this will be a fun team to watch.”

Leading the way on the floor will be a trio of senior guards that possess speed, solid fundamentals and experience. Matt Lynch and Keith Van Natta will handle the duties at point while Chad Holstrom will be a go-to guy from beyond the arc at the two spot. “All three were regular starters in 2003-04 so they have the on-floor experience that will definitely help this team succeed,” said Quinn. Also returning from last year’s group of starters is sophomore Jason Holt, a force inside, who has the strength and ability to dominate in the paint. Wendell Smith, Josh Dalsing and Chase Moore all logged key minutes last year and showed they can help the team at the point or shooting guard positions. Roman Connor and Dan Easter are two returners that have improved their game and look to figure into the mix.

In the group of new-comers for 2004-05 the Jackets have a great combination of big men and skill players. There are four new big men that are battling for key minutes; Red-shirt freshman, Tyson Meirotto, is a very athletic player who figures to be a key player in the lineup each night along with six-foot-seven-inch freshman Thomas Harp who Coach Quinn describes as “versatile, he can post you up or step outside and hit a big shot.” Along side Meirotto and Harp are two more freshmen in six-foot-eight-inch Tyler Dow and seven-footer Travis McPherson. Red-shirt freshmen Brian Cargill and Sean Moraldo are skilled players that can fill up the basket from the outside.

Kevin Potter is a big guard who possesses a great shot and Gregory Harry has shown that with his leaping ability and soft hands he can take over a game from the boards. Jared Mulheron and Robert Summers round out a crew of talented young Jackets that will have to learn the new system and compete for time in the line-up.

“Top to bottom we have our deepest and most talented team in years,” said Quinn. “Overall we are still pretty young so we need the three senior guards to not only lead but develop leaders in a couple of our young guys.”

Coach Harrop says that with “teamwork” this squad can, and will be, successful. Both coaches agree that the team will put an exciting product on the floor because they will rush the ball in an up-tempo game because the players like it, the fans like it and that’s what this team is built to do.