PirateCrew: Seton Hall Pirates Football & Basketball Recruiting
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By Jason Guerette
The Seton Hall Pirates were picked to finish fifth in the Big East Preseason Coaches' Poll at Big East Media Day on Tuesday morning at Madison Square Garden. Under coach Kevin Willard, the Pirates have a long history of out-performing their initial projections in the coaches' poll.
And in no way do the current Pirates plan on changing that.
"It breaks my heart, actually," senior forward Jared Rhoden said of the ranking. "I think we're way better than that. I think we'll finish within the top two in the Big East. We're absolutely one of the best teams- probably the deepest team in the Big East right now, and I say that with utmost confidence. The way we're practicing, the way the chemistry is flowing, I think not only (will we be) one of the best teams in the Big East, but we'll be one of the best teams in the country when all is said and done."
After averaging nearly 15 points and seven rebounds per contest, then upping those averages to 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in the Big East Tournament last season, Rhoden was selected Preseason All-Big East First Team this year, the culmination of years of hard work, as well as a prediction his head coach made years ago.
"I remember Coach Willard telling me when I was a freshman that I was going to be in this position," Rhoden added. "That it's finally here is surreal- I remember specifically when we were at Creighton that he told me I was going to be a First Team All-Conference player, and to wake up today and see that on my phone was a dream come true."
With great accolades come great responsibility, and Rhoden is now going to be looked upon as a leader for the Pirates. Myles Cale, attending his third Media Day for the Pirates, is now a graduate student, and having been through so much in his career, is another natural choice to lead.
"We take that leadership role upon ourselves," Cale said, gesturing to Rhoden. "We try to be the best version of ourselves so that the team can see how it is to be a Seton Hall Pirate. We try to set an example for the younger guys around us."
But they are not alone. Rhoden and Cale have the most experience in the Blue and White underneath their belts, but four other graduate students fill out the roster in Bryce Aiken, Ike Obiagu, and transfers Alexis Yetna (USF) and Jamir Harris (American), not to mention juniors Tyrese Samuel and Tray Jackson, giving Kevin Willard a very deep well of talent.
"I don't think this team's going to have 'a guy,'" Willard said when talking about Rhoden's potential to be a true go-to player. "I think we're deep enough that we're going to have two or three guys. I think the biggest difference between this year and the year before is that (Jared) doesn't have the pressure where he has to be 'the guy.' We're too old and too deep- there's not going to be one 'guy' on this team.
"There's not a huge need for someone to be that leader- we have multiple leaders," Willard added. "Myles Cale's a fifth-year guy, he's been in three NCAA Tournaments, started all three of them. Ikey's been a huge part of what we've done, Bryce is a fifth-year guy... so the leadership is kind of by committee."
Strictly speaking in X's and O's, the Pirates' head coach is understandably bullish about his depth. Harris and Syracuse transfer Kadary Richmond along with Yetna have reportedly turned some heads in practice, making Willard's job admittedly a little more difficult.
"It makes it much easier when you know who your top two (guys) are," Willard said. "Posh (Alexander) and Julian (Champagnie) - you know who's going to shoot the basketball. In practice the other day, I had five guys where with any one of them, I could get a shot for where I would feel comfortable with getting them a shot. And I probably need to get them shots, so it's a feeling-out process. Guys are getting a feel for what they can and what they can't do."
It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out, because while the Pirates have a lot of leaders, they have different kinds of leaders, and are beginning to work out that on- and off-court dynamic.
"We're still trying to figure it out, to be honest," Willard said. "Myles is not a talker- Myles is a worker. You know every day he's going to show up, and you know what you're going to get. Jared's a vocal guy, and he's still learning when to be vocal and when not to be vocal. It's a matter of guys trying to figure out when to say it, who to say it to... this time of year, it's always a work in progress."
The Pirates open their season at home on Wednesday, November 10th, against in-state rival Fairleigh Dickinson, with tipoff at Prudential Center set for 7:00 pm.
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Jason Guerette
Sports Broadcaster / Public Address Announcer
(201) 616-9117
