Dayton Looks to SMU for Basketball Talent
Contents
- Dayton’s history of success with SMU Basketball players
- The SMU players that have helped Dayton in the past
- The current SMU roster and who Dayton is targeting
- The benefits of recruiting from SMU
- The challenges of recruiting from SMU
- The impact of the NCAA investigation on SMU recruiting
- The potential for SMU players to make an impact at Dayton
- The need for Dayton to continue to recruit from SMU
- The advantages of recruiting from SMU over other schools
- The potential for SMU players to help Dayton win a national championship
The Dayton Flyers are looking to SMU for some basketball talent. The Mustangs have a strong reputation for producing quality players, and Dayton is hoping to tap into that pool.
Dayton’s history of success with SMU Basketball players
The Dayton Flyers have a history of success with players from SMU. In fact, four of the last five players to suit up for the Flyers have been transfers from the Mustangs.
The most recent example is forward Josh Cunningham who was named the Atlantic 10 Conference sixth man of the Year last season. Cunningham, a native of Chicago, played two seasons at SMU before transferring to Dayton. He averaged 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in his first season with the Flyers, coming off the bench in all but one game.
Cunningham is just the latest in a long line of players to make the transfer from SMU to Dayton. In 2013-14, guard Devin Oliver transferred from SMU to Dayton and helped lead the Flyers to an NCAA tournament appearance. Oliver was followed by guard JJ Cooper in 2014-15 and center Steve McElvene in 2015-16. All three players were key contributors for the Flyers during their time in Dayton.
The most successful of those three was McElvene, who became an All-Atlantic 10 player and led Dayton to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016. He averaged 11.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during his senior season and was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
With Cunningham leading the way, Dayton will once again look to transfer players from SMU for help this upcoming season The Flyers are hoping that guard Trey Landers can provide a spark off the bench after he transfers from SMU this offseason.
The SMU players that have helped Dayton in the past
The SMU players that have helped Dayton in the past, and could help the team in the future, aretransfer students.
In the past, transfer students from SMU have helped the Dayton Flyers basketball team players like Kendall Pollard and Kyle Davis have made an impact for the team.
Now, with Davis and Pollard gone, Dayton is looking to the future and hoping that more SMU transfer students can help the team.
One player who could make an impact is Jarrey Foster. Foster is a 6’6” guard who averaged 9.7 points per game last season. He announced his intention to transfer from SMU in April and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Foster would be a good addition to the team because of his scoring ability and his experience. He would also provide some much-needed depth at the guard position.
The current SMU roster and who Dayton is targeting
The current SMU roster does not have any Dayton natives, but the team is recruiting two: Dwayne Cohill and Obi Toppin.
The benefits of recruiting from SMU
Recruiting from SMU can benefit a Basketball team in many ways. The school has a reputation for producing talented players, and the team would be able to tap into a large pool of potential recruits. Additionally, SMU is located in a major metropolitan area which would give the team access to a large number of fans and potential ticket sales Finally, recruiting from SMU would help the team build its brand and increase its visibility in the Basketball World
The challenges of recruiting from SMU
With the recent news of Larry Brown being let go from SMU, many are wondering what this means for the recruiting of players from the school. Dayton has had success in the past recruiting from SMU, but it will be more difficult with a new Head Coach in place.
It is no secret that Larry Brown was not the most popular head coach among his players. While he did have some success on the court, many felt that he was more concerned with his own legacy than with winning games This led to Brown being let go from SMU.
While this may be seen as a negative by some, it could actually be a positive for Dayton. With a new Head Coach in place, SMU will be more open to recruiting from other schools. Dayton has had success in the past recruiting from SMU, and they will likely continue to do so under a new Head coach
The impact of the NCAA investigation on SMU recruiting
The impact of the NCAA investigation on SMU recruiting remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: The Mustangs are no longer able to rely on their longtime pipeline from Texas’ Dayton High School
Dayton has been one of SMU’s most fertile recruiting grounds in recent years supplying the Mustangs with players like Semi Ojeleye (now in the NBA), Ben Emelogu and Sterling Brown. But with the NCAA recently handing down major sanctions against SMU – including a one-year ban on postseason play – the school’s ability to attract top talent from Dayton and elsewhere has been dealt a serious blow.
“It definitely hurts [SMU’s] chances,” Dayton coach James Johnson told ESPN. “You’re talking about a program that’s on probation, they can’t go to the NCAA tournament they can’t go to the [National Invitation Tournament]. So it definitely makes it harder for them.”
The sanctions against SMU were the result of an investigation into alleged academic misconduct within the Basketball Program The school was also hit with a loss of nine scholarships over a three-year period and was placed on four years’ probation.
The potential for SMU players to make an impact at Dayton
With the recent success of SMU Basketball it’s no surprise that other programs are looking to the Mustangs for talent. Dayton is one of those programs, and they seem to have their sights set on a few specific players.
One player that Dayton is reportedly interested in is SMU guard Shake Milton. A 6’6″, junior from Owasso, Oklahoma, Milton was a key part of the Mustangs’ run to the NCAA tournament this past season. He averaged 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field and 42% from three-point range
Milton isn’t the only SMU player who has caught Dayton’s eye. The Flyers are also reportedly interested in redshirt junior Sterling Brown and sophomore Ben Moore. Brown, a 6’6″ guard/forward, averaged 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 46% from the field and 39% from three-point range. Moore, a 6’8″ forward, averaged 10 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 54% from the field.
It remains to be seen whether any of these players will end up at Dayton, but it’s clear that the Flyers are interested in some of SMU’s top talent.
The need for Dayton to continue to recruit from SMU
National Basketball analyst Jerry Meyer said it well when he stated “Dayton has done an amazing job of finding, developing and winning with players from the Philadelphia area. They have to continue to do that to a certain extent, but they also have to find new areas to mine because the Philadelphia area is not as fertile as it once was.” The Flyers need to look no further than SMU for their next recruiting class
In recent years Dayton has had success recruiting players from the Philadelphia area, but that well seems to be running dry. The Flyers have had more success recruiting players from outside the Philly area, and that trend should continue.
One area that Dayton should focus on is SMU. The Mustangs have been one of the best teams in the American Athletic Conference over the past few years, and they have a wealth of talent on their roster. Dayton has already had success recruiting players from SMU, and that should continue in the future.
Some of the players on Dayton’s radar from SMU include guard Shake Milton, forward Jarrey Foster and center Ben Moore. All three players are projected to be starters for the Mustangs next season, and all three would be huge gets for Dayton.
Milton is a 6-foot-6 guard who averaged 12 points per game last season. He is a good shooter who can also handle the ball well. Foster is a 6-foot-7 forward who averaged 10 points per game last season. He is a good rebounder and a gifted scorer. Moore is a 6-foot-10 center who averaged 8 points per game last season. He is a good shot blocker and an excellent rebounder.
All three players would be great additions to Dayton’s roster, and they would give the Flyers another boost in their quest to return to the NCAA Tournament
The advantages of recruiting from SMU over other schools
In recent years the Dayton Basketball Program has had success recruiting players from SMU. There are a few reasons why this is advantageous for the Flyers.
First, SMU is a relatively small school, so there is less competition for talent. Second, the level of play in the American Athletic Conference is similar to that of the Missouri Valley Conference so recruiting from SMU gives Dayton an opportunity to add players who are familiar with the style of play in the AAC.
Third, SMU is located in a major metropolitan area, so Dayton can tap into a wealth of basketball talent that might otherwise be inaccessible. And finally, many of the best players at SMU are underclassmen, so Dayton has a chance to get them before they reach their full potential.
The potential for SMU players to help Dayton win a national championship
In recent years, the University of Dayton men’s basketball team has found success by recruiting players from Southern Methodist University This strategy has led to Dayton appearing in the NCAA tournament four times in the last five years, including two Elite Eight appearances.
SMU is not a traditional basketball power, but it has produced some very good players in recent years. Dayton has been able to take advantage of this by recruiting players who might not have had the opportunity to play for a bigger school.
Dayton’s success with this strategy has led other schools to take notice, and SMU is now considered to be a source of talent for NCAA Basketball teams. If Dayton can continue to recruit talented players from SMU, it will be in a good position to compete for a National Championship