Kent State Head Coach Rob Senderoff typically doesn’t play a ton of freshmen for substantial minutes in the Golden Flashes’ rotation historically.
With 27 straight non-losing seasons, the program is always in reload mode, never in a rebuild.
College basketball programs all over the MAC and country are in “win now” mode. And with so many players entering the transfer portal, it seems easier to go pluck a player with college experience and try to win with older, more mature players.
Perhaps Kent State and other mid-majors are getting higher quality freshmen recruits these days, due to power schools passing on freshmen to get older guys.
Nevertheless, Senderoff will be relying on at least a couple of freshmen this year to play large roles early in the season. Due to injury, and the promise of these youngsters.
Quinn Woidke is a freshmen guard from Saint Ignatius in Cleveland that figures to get a lot of run. A former quarterback, Woidke is a tough guard, and Kent State won a recruiting battle against other MAC and Atlantic 10 programs to land him.
Fearless and strong, Woidke may remind some fans of Sincere Carry. When Woidke went on his recruiting visit, him and Senderoff broke down film of Carry and how Woidke could be used similarily.
Dezmon Briscoe de-committed from Iowa after a coaching change and chose the Flashes. At 6-9, 205, Briscoe helped Crispus Attucks to an Indiana state title game last season.
He has been rapidly developing in camp with his defense and motor, earning him minutes.
We asked Senderoff on if he expects his freshmen to contribute during our KSU Basketball Preview Show October 28.
“I hope so. Those guys are going to be counted on, certainly early in the year, to be big contributors for our team. Since I’ve been here we’ve played freshman, but not nearly to the extent that these freshmen are going to play, Landon as well. Those three guys, through their practice, through how they’ve competed, through how they’ve worked, have earned the right certainly at the beginning of the year to be in the rotation.”
“Dez is really, really active and athletic, and is very impactful on both ends of the floor with his motor. He sort of reminds me a lot of a younger version of Rico, maybe even more skilled as a freshman than Rico was as a freshman, his fluidity of movement.”
“And Quinn can really score. He can handle the ball. He’s got a good basketball IQ as well, and he has the ability to score baskets. He’s a fearless offensive player. Like all freshman, has a lot to learn and has to get better as the year moves on. They’ve both played very well, and Landon Vandenwarker has as well.”
Vandenwarker comes to Kent by way of Delaware Hayes High School where he was All-Ohio. At 6-7, he came to Kent as a frontcourt player but due to other needs, may play on the perimeter at times.
“Due to all of the injuries we moved him more to a wing spot as opposed to just a forward spot and I think it helped him. It’s helped him maybe because he’s practiced more. He’s had more reps than he was earlier in the year, and his physicality at that position, he doesn’t look like a freshman physically when he’s out there at the wing. So he has the ability to help us also. And again, where we start here next Monday and where we end in mid-march, there’s a long time in between but I’m excited about all of those guys.”
Jaymen Towsend is a 6-6, 215 pound wing from Marion, Indiana. He broke the program record for vertical leap with 47 inches in the summer. Another big wing, he may need some more polishing before he can play.
A non-traditional freshman, Omer Hamama came to Kent in September from Israel. At 22 years old and with professional experience, Hamama is still adjusting to the American game, and all the other new things he’s dealing with. He can pressure the ball defensively and is a good passer. He may get his turn soon on a team with only three point guards.
“When we came back to campus this fall, we saw a real need for help in the backcourt and were fortunate that through our contacts to find that Omer was available and wanted to come to the United States for college.”, said Senderoff. “While he is new to college basketball, Omer has experience as a player and is older. He competes daily and is a natural point guard. He is a welcome addition to our roster.”
Senderoff and the rest of the Flashes are hoping that these talented freshmen can produce early and often to help Team 110 achieve their goals.