BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College Men's Basketball team enters the upcoming 2016-17 season featuring a strong group of experienced upperclassman and a freshman class that that will provide a spark to the lineup as the Tornados close out their final year at the Division II level and as a member of the South Atlantic Conference.
"We have had a good pre-season," said head men's basketball coach Lee Burgess. "We have had to integrate a large number of new players, but the leadership within the team has been very good, and the group has come together nicely."
Following a year in which the Tornados finished 6-22, 5-17 in league games, Brevard wrapped up the 2015-16 season with an 82-76 win over North Georgia, season sweep of Coker, followed by a road 86-81 win at Mars Hill, before picking up season defining wins against Anderson 78-70 and Newberry 84-82 to close out the season schedule.
The 2016-17 Tornados take to the floor this upcoming season without longtime starters in Miles Leathers and Alex Moe, while Demarcus Threatt who played one season for coach Burgess and crew will be heavily missed. Moe wrapped up this four-year blue and white career with solid 2015-16 season as the big averaged 8.8 points per game, six rebounds, while finishing second on the team with 35 three-pointers made. While Leathers, who exited the Tornados spotlight last spring will be a huge loss for the blue and white as the forward wrapped up this incredible career second all-time in scoring with 1265 points, first all-time with 252 assists and 170 steals, while also finishing tied for the career record in rebounds with 596. Threatt on the other hand leaves the Tornados after a remarkable 2015-16 season, one in which the guard finished with 586 points, second all-time in the Brevard College individual season records, while his 20.9 points per game and 208 field goals made also rank second all-time.
"Anytime you lose players that have had the impact of the guys we lost," said Burgess. "It is a challenge to replace them. We will need to fill the void, not only statistically, but from a leadership standpoint as well. I am looking forward to seeing who is up for the challenge."
With the departure of Brevard's three leading scores from a year ago, this year's squad will look for several upperclassmen to step up and take over the scoring roles, as junior Stevie Williams (High Point, N.C.) a 6-1 guard who averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds a year ago will be a player to watch. Williams is an all-conference caliber player who possesses both the athleticism to get to the rim and finish, while also being able to shot from outside and pass to open teammates. Additionally, senior big Omar El Diraoui (Beirut, Lebanon) who averaged 5.6 points and three rebounds in 2015-16 is along player to watch. El Diraoui in limited minutes a season ago knocked down 18 three-point field goals while blocking 20 shots, second best on the team behind Moe's 21 blocks.
In addition to Williams and El Diraoui, the Tornados return guards D.J. Bostick (Marietta, Ga.) and Evan Dunham (Marietta, Ga.), along with forwards Harry Singh (Hanover Park, Ill.) and Fred Rambert (Greenville, N.C.). Bostick and Dunham finished their sophomore seasons averaging four points per game, while Bostick pulled down 3.3 rebound per contest and contributed 23 steals for the year. Rambert, who just over 11 minutes a game as a true freshman, added 3.3 points, while Singh who played in 21 contests added four blocks and six steals in limited minutes.
While the veterans are sure to see a bulk of the team's minutes to begin the year, look for true freshman Levi Lamb (Atlanta, Ga.), and Jakob Bergen (Winston Salem, N.C.) to make their presence known within the coming weeks. As this freshman duo brings athleticism, height and scoring to the mix.
"We have 3 guys back that started double digit games last year in Stevie, Omar, and DJ," continued Burgess. "We will need those guys to have significant roles on this year's team in order for us to have a chance to be successful. We will also be counting on contributions from several newcomers like Shelby Parris, Levi Lamb, and Jakob Bergen. We have added a lot of new faces, so the competition for playing time is certainly there. It will be up to guys to determine where that shakes out.
The Tornados will tip-off the upcoming season November 11, as they travel to Greenwood, S.C. for back-to-back games with last season Peach Belt Champion Lander at 6:30 p.m. on the 11th, followed by a showdown with Southern Wesleyan the following afternoon at 5 p.m. Brevard is set to open Boshamer Gymnasium on November 16 as they host Pfeiffer University at 7 p.m.