South Florida Bulls Basketball

Dominique Jones said goodbye to Tampa on his way to Milwaukee for pre-draft workouts with the Bucks. He was one of six members invited to the Bucks scouting camp. Milwaukee’s scouting director Billy McKinney was on hand to give his impressions of the South Florida star.

“He’s very strong and a good defender. We’ve watched him for a while and he’s a real playmaker. He gets to the basket and I think that’s his strong suit right now, but he shot very well too,” McKinney said.

Jones was just as positive about his workout and seemed extremely positive about his performance during the Milwaukee camp. “I felt it went good. I like the environment and the facilities. I’d love to play for Coach Skiles,” Jones added.

He knows going into the draft these camps can drastically boost his draft grade and help solidify him as a first-round pick. Right now he is seen as a late first early second-round pick. Jones knows improvement now will benefit him later this month.

“People think I can’t shoot and go under screens, but I knocked down a couple of jumpers and showed I’m able to play a combo role,” Jones stated. “ I can play either the one or the two if needed,” he added.

Most people are not aware of the traveling that goes on for these players before the draft. Many players are invited to multiple camps and mini-combines by interested NBA team. Jones is no exception and will travel to at least 18 different sites before the draft.

“I wish the draft was tonight because it’s just traveling, traveling, traveling,” he groaned. “The fun part is getting on the court, everything else is OK, but being on the court is what I do best,” he added.

It will be a transition from college play, but do not expect this former Bull to struggle into his new role. He’s exceeded expectations while at USF and I would not expect anything less in the NBA.

Augustus Gilchrist had a trying season last year. He missed 15 games with an ankle injury in the middle of the season and never got back into the groove when he returned to action.

Gilchrist dominated the court during the first seven games of the season. He averaged 20.1 points and 8.4 rebounds, both put him in the top 10 nationally. He was a great compliment to Dominique Jones, and even shadowed the Bulls guard at times.

Dominique Jones went on to win the Big East scoring title, but it was Gilchrist who carried the team up to his injury. Gilchrist would have been the odds on favorite for the scoring title had his fate been different.

The ankle injury took its toll on Augustus, his lack of conditioning during his time off was very apparent on his return. He struggled getting back into the fast-paced Big East play, and his production suffered. He finished the season averaging 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, stats he was not very proud of.

The torch has been pasted from Dominique Jones to Gilchrist. Jones declared for the NBA draft and now “Big Gus” is looked at as the team’s leader. This is a responsibility he is more than ready for. The 6’10’’ forward makes his presence known on both sides of the court, and when needed in the locker room.

Gilchrist is an extremely dynamic player for USF. He has an expansive offensive arsenal that includes both a mid-range jump shot and a knack for knocking it down behind the arc. He finished the season shooting 49 percent from beyond the arc.

His offense is not the only thing teams need to be aware of, however, as Gilchrist is a monster on the boards and is a very capable shot blocker. He should easily average a double-double next season and should be a candidate for Big East Player of the Year next season.

The Bulls will need the very best from their star forward as they transition out of the Dominique Jones era. The influx of youth at the guard position will be something the Bulls struggle with early on this season. Augustus Gilchrist has the ability on both sides of the court to ease those growing pains for USF.

Stan Heath has been busy in Tampa these past few weeks. He has accepted a bid for his team to play in the Pan American Games this summer and has added another guard in Jawanza Poland.

Poland comes from Cowley College and is the third-ranked junior college guard in the country. His 6’4’’, 195-pound frame is big enough for the physical Big East play, but his shooting skills are what gets him the acclaim. He’s averaging 13.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game this season.

Poland will have three years of eligibility remaining on his tenure in Tampa. He will compete with LaVonte Dority, Shedrick Haynes, and Anthony Crater this season for playing time.

That playing time will come sooner than October for the Bulls this season. USF will represent the USA this August in Brazil for the Pan Am games.

“It is an honor for us to represent the United States in an international event,” said Heath.

The Bulls will suit up 12 players in USA uniforms and play using FIBA rules during a five-game stretch starting August 9. They will compete against seven other teams, including Chile and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In other news for the Bulls, Dominique Jones has officially said goodbye to the Sun Dome in pursuit of his NBA dreams.

“I feel like I did everything I could do at USF. It is time for me to move on,” Jones was quoted as saying during his final press conference at USF.

He finished his career by winning the Big East scoring title. He averaged 21.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists as a junior this season. During his career, he amassed enough stats to find his name all over the USF record books.

He leaves USF as one of the best to ever play in the Green and Gold, making his shoes even bigger to fill next season.

USF’s incoming freshman LaVonte Dority will be a welcome site this fall. The six foot, 180 pound point guard has been very impressive this month in several all-star games.

Dority had a double-double in the Jack Jones shootout with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He followed that up with an encore performance in the Luther Bedford All-Star Classic, pouring in 18 points on his way to winning the MVP.

The Chicago native led his team to a 19-7 record in his final season and turned down offers from teams such as Baylor, Wisconsin, and New Mexico. All three teams had been ranked in the top 25 last season, showing he is a talent and is though highly of around the country.

He finished his senior season averaging 20 points six assists and five rebounds a game. He should come into fall camp and make an impact quickly.  The Bulls will need him to, considering the big shoes he has to fill.

Dority is a proven scorer that is not afraid to mix it up for rebounds down in the post. This aggressive play will pay dividends as he attempts to replace Chris Howard and Dominique Jones.

LaVonte is not just a leader on the court; he has shown great maturity in the classroom as well. He carries a 3.0 gpa and wishes to pursue a business degree once he steps foot on campus in Tampa. This type of recruit has been missing from USF’s roster over the last couple seasons, and is a refreshing change.

Dority and Crater will battle for the point guard position next season, something Dority has an edge on considering Crater has already spent time in head coach Stan Heath’s doghouse. Crater was suspended earlier in the season with a failed drug test.

LaVonte’s success in high school gives him a swagger going into his first year of Big East play. This is a good thing, considering confidence and knowing what it takes to win will help Dority quickly become a key member to next season’s USF squad.

Jarrid Famous goes into next season as an experienced, well seasoned senior for USF. His physical style of play turned heads in more way than one last season and he looks to repeat his performance. He finished the season averaging 10.7 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.

Famous is a double-double waiting to happen; he capitalized on Dominique Jones drawing double teams last season. These double teams opened up the paint where Famous slammed home his 334 points. He finished with seven double-doubles on the season.

Augustus will draw those same double teams next season, once again easing the pressure off of Famous to perform on offense. This plays right into his loose style of play on offense, and will help build his confidence going into Big East play.

Famous’s defense is also a staple on the USF Bulls team. He finished ninth in rebounding with his per game average. He will easily eclipse this mark and work his way into one of the top rebounders in the Big East next season.

His defense does not stop at just rebounding though, he had 21 blocks and 16 steals last season on a stingy Bulls defense. Both defensive categories’ stats will rise next season, as more will be expected on defense for Famous especially in conference play.

Jarrid Famous led the Bulls in field goal percentage last season with an impressive 52.7 percent. He stays close to home in the paint, and is an opportunistic offensive rebounder leading to this high field goal percentage. I fully expect Famous to once again pace the Bulls in field goal percentage next season.

It is not all golden with Famous’s game however; he needs to improve his free throw shooting in the off-season. This was a weak point last season as he struggled from the charity stripe for most of the season. With some steady improvement at the line he will develop into one of the premier players in the Big East next season.

The USF Bulls added some much needed depth today with the signing of both Shedrick Haynes and Hugh Robertson. The newest Bulls come from the junior College ranks and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Haynes is no stranger to the USF program being a Bradenton, Fl native. He has however, been away from home in his past few seasons. He was a star for Lackawanna Junior College in Scranton Pennsylvania.

Hayes averaged 18.5 points last season and was a member of the All-Regional team; all while being one of the top three point shooters in the junior college ranks. He finished the season averaging 42 percent from behind the arc. “We’re excited about Shedrick joining us,” Head coach Stan Heath was quoted during the press conference.

Haynes will be looked upon to help fill the hole left by Chris Howard, the do it all senior graduate. Anthony Crater and Haynes will team up in an effort to maintain the high level of play voided by Howard, and Dominique Jones.

Hugh Robertson is a small forward/ shooting guard and was ranked as the No. 2 junior college prospect in the country. He played for the Tallahassee Community College and averaged 11.6 points and 4.7 rebounds during his time there. He was named the FCCAA All-Tournament Team, all awhile shooting 48.3 percent from the field.

Robertson hails from Georgia where he averaged 18.3 points and 9.2 rebounds in high school.  “Hugh is very important for our wing positions,” Heath said. Robertson will attempt to take recent graduate Mike Mercer’s minutes. His experience should help limit the learning curve, getting him into the action much quick than the incoming freshman.

The Bulls need some experience to come in, something they probably wont get from true freshman. Losing Christ Howard, Mike Mercer, and Dominique Jones, leaves the Bulls looking for leadership. That leadership should be able to be found in both Haynes and Robertson. Both players have been productive at their prospective and come in with the confidence they need to help lead a team that’s young, but talented.

Augustus Gilchrist was the best player on USF’s team before his injury in mid-December.

Gilchrist severely sprained his ankle limited him to only 18 games this season. He was averaging 21 points and eight rebounds a game before his injury.

The road to recovery was a rocky one for Gilchrist.

He came back out of shape due to the fact he was limited on his conditioning. His season average dropped to 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. He never fully got back into full swing, limited the Bulls success in the NIT.

Gilchrist scored in double figures only four times in his last ten games. His rebounding suffered as well, he only had eight rebounds in two of those final 10 games.

USF will depend on the production of its star forward, much like it did with Dominique Jones last season. Gilchrist has proven he can step in Jones’ shoes without any problems. He will have to for the Bulls to have another chance at the NIT or possibly the NCAA tournament.

Gilchrist’s trying season was not only on the court this year for the Bulls.

He faced allegations of recruiting tampering during his transfer from Maryland to USF. The accusations were later dropped, but the questions still remain about his friendship with Terrelle Woody, a member of USF’s coaching staff.

Woody was accused of driving Gilchrist to several Orlando Magic games, along with having contact with players during quiet periods. He was also given a position on the USF staff after it was “guaranteed” that Gilchrist would sign with USF.

None of the accusations were proven completely true, but none were completely put to bed either. This leaves questions about Gilchrist off-court activities, some head coach Stan Heath doesn’t need. Gilchrist doesn’t need any distractions this year, he will be the go to guy and will need be fully concentrated on this new responsibility.

Gilchrist can easily become a 20 and 10 guy, even with the stiff Big East competition he will face every night. He was already well on his way to becoming just that before his injury. With a quiet offseason, Gilchrist will regain his true form and work his way into a leader for the Bulls on and off the court.

Anthony Crater has had a trying collegiate career. He transferred from Ohio State after failing a drug test, and then during his redshirt year with the Bulls failed another one.

This second failed drug test earned him a suspension by USF head coach Stan Heath, that when combined with his redshirt overlap led to Crater playing in only 19 of the Bulls' 33 games this season.

Crater was also arrested with former Bull Mike Mercer on drug charges earlier in 2009.This arrest earned him a temporary dismissal from the team. These type of incidents have many wondering if he will be ready to step up as a leader on this team.

He was a force on defense during those 19 games, but will need to step up his offensive prowess next season. Chris Howard has graduated leaving Crater as the team's best option at point guard. With this title comes responsibility, and that is something Crater has lacked thus far in his career.

Howard was a menace to Big East teams on both sides of the court. His 10 points and four assists a game had a huge impact on the Bulls success this season. His 23 steals also held up offenses at the perimeter.

Anthony Crater is going to have to mimic Howard in almost every way. Howard was a leader on and off the court. Howard has just finished a degree in communications and is starting towards a criminology degree.

Crater shows promise; in his limited action he has been able to become an effective sixth man for the Bulls. His up close and personal defense can be felt quickly by opposing point guards. He has great quickness and make-up speed if beaten on the perimeter.

Crater has the skills on the court to be a successful player for USF. What is in question is his off the court actions. Has his attitude changed in this last half of the season, or is head coach Stan Heath sweating out this offseason in hopes his future point guard stays clean? Time will tell, but for Crater and USF’s sake I hope this is a quiet offseason for the Bulls.

The USF Bulls had a remarkable season this year. The Bulls won 20 games this season for the first time since the 1989-90 season. A large part of that success was the senior leadership that USF had leading the stampede.

This team says goodbye to four of its seniors. Chris Howard, Alex Rivas, Ryan Kardok, and Mike Mercer all have played their last game in a USF uniform.  Howard and Mercer played significant time this season. Rivas and Kardok were reserves for the majority of their careers with USF.

The Bulls likely will also say goodbye to Big East Player of the Year, Dominique Jones, who declared for the NBA draft but has yet to sign an agent. Jones could do himself some good by retuning for his senior year, but the lure of the NBA appears too much for the Bulls star. Jones finished the season averaging 21 points, six rebounds and three assists a game.

Mike Mercer finishes his senior year averaging 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. He had a season high 19 points against providence this season and was a key factor in that 109-105 win over the Friars in overtime.

He spent a short stint with Georgia before transferring to USF. He blew out his knee last season and missed all but four games. This season Mercer played in all 33 games and started 30 of them.

Alex Rivas played in 17 games this season, and saw most of his action during Augustus Gilchrist’s absence throughout the middle of the season. He saw most of his playing time as a Bull in the 2008-2009 season where he played in 30 of the 31 games that season.

Ryan Kardok played in 20 games this season. His defense off the bench gave the Bulls a spark when he was in the game. He’s come a long way since walking onto the team in the 2008-2009 season.

Chris Howard started in all 33 games this season. He was a nightmare on defense for opposing teams and finished his career with 101 steals. He handed out 487 assists which ranks fourth all time at USF. Howard’s leadership will be sorely missed next season.

The Bulls have plenty of holes to fill, but still have enough talent on the roster to stay competitive in the Big East. Dominique Jones’s decision to enter the draft or come back for a senior season will be huge for this team next season.

Augustus Gilchrist will be a force to be reckoned with, but having his dynamic scoring guard by his side will make this team that much more dangerous.

Dominique Jones has a decision to make this postseason. He’s arguably one of the top five players ever to wear a Bulls uniform, but the NBA is calling. For the first time in his successful career at USF, Jones actually has some decent talent surrounding him, which adds to the difficulty of this decision.

The Bulls fell just short of making the NCAA tournament this season, but did secure an NIT bid. Jones was a huge part of the success that led to the best record USF has seen since the 1989-1990 season.

Dominique Jones is the Big East’s leading scorer this season. He’s also the only player in college basketball to average at least 21 points, six rebounds, and three assists this year. He was named first-team All Big East and also was on the Naismith list.

Accolades won't get you into the NBA, but they help garner some attention. Currently, Jones is seen as a second-round draft pick and is the rated the No. 8 scoring guard and No. 54 overall prospect. To put that in perspective, there are currently 29 teams in the NBA and two rounds of the draft, equaling 58 total picks.

Jones has some serious upside when compared to other potential scoring guards entering the draft. He already has an NBA body and plays tough physical defense.

His quick first step acceleration gives him an uncanny ability to get to the basket. Jones’ long arms give him the ability to be both a productive rebounder, and a pickpocket on defense.

It’s not all rosy with the Bulls' star player. He’s had to carry this team his entire career at USF, and because of that, he’s prone to have an itchy trigger finger. This is a huge problem, considering Jones is a very streaky shooter, often going cold for long periods of time during games.

His lack of perimeter jumpshot will hurt him in the draft as well. He’s shooting 31 percent on the season, but went 0-for-10 in the Big East tournament. He’s made some huge shots for the Bulls this season, but lacks consistency hitting from beyond the arc.

Jones' tendency to try and take over games leads to some erratic play and turnovers. Because he's a slasher, he spends the majority of the time he has the ball driving the lane and getting double-teamed. These double teams lead to potential three-point plays for Jones, but also have led to 96 turnovers on the season.

Jones could do himself some good by coming back for his senior year. Continuing to improve on mid-range and perimeter shooting could skyrocket his draft stock. Reducing his turnovers and maintaining his scoring numbers would also propel him into a mid-first-round pick.