Following a 21-8 season last year and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, Emporia State men’s basketball coach David Moe wasn’t just looking for talent with this year’s recruiting class.
He also was looking for players who could keep a good thing going.
“We need to continue what we started,” Moe said, “and build on what we did last year.”
The coach believes he has done that with his latest four signings.
Marvin Lee, Marc Lewis, Matt Boswell and Jordan Stout all will join the ESU roster next year with the hopes of helping fill the gaps left by three graduating seniors.
They’ll also enter with the expectation of meshing with the current players and keeping the team-first attitude that made the Hornets so successful a year ago.
“All four guys have the mentality to do what it takes and sacrifice for the team, and that’s how our guys overachieved last year,” Moe said. “A lot is based on keeping our chemistry, and I don’t see it being disrupted.”
Lee, a 6-foot-2 guard from Chicago, Ill., continues ESU’s connection with Division-I Binghamton University in New York. He played in 17 games and started four for the Bearcats last year, averaging 1.5 points in 6.7 minutes.
Current ESU players Jordan Fithian and Andrew Davison transferred from Binghamton last season but never played with Lee.
“It gave him some familiarity with our program,” Moe said. “The way he plays goes hand-in-hand with how we play. He’s physical, hard-nosed and attacks the basket — and that’s something you always need. He should complement our guys well.”
Lee was a first-team All-Region performer at Pratt Community College his sophomore year, posting 14.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Lewis, from Minneapolis, Minn., returns to the game after a six-year layoff from collegiate basketball.
His last action came for North Dakota State College of Science, where he was a third-team NJCAA Division-I All-American in 2001. That year, he averaged 19.5 points.
He later was added to Minnesota State-Moorhead’s roster in 2003, but he dropped off the team to help his mother after she began to experience health problems.
Lewis already is good friends with current ESU player DeAndre Townsend, who also was raised in Minneapolis.
“He’s been (Townsend’s) mentor for a handful of years,” Moe said. “He still been playing in some of the circuits in Minnesota. He’s a great addition to our team.”
Moe said that Lee, who will enter as a senior, and Lewis, a junior, should have the best chance of contributing right away.
“Both guys should be able to come in,” Moe said, “and be as effective as anyone in the league.”
Boswell, a 6-foot-6 wing player from Wichita, averaged 21.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season at Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
He led the Wichita City League in scoring his junior and senior seasons.
Boswell chose ESU after receiving some early interest from Division-I UMKC.
“He’s a very good player,” Moe said. “His body frame is thin, and a lot of people write off guys like that.”
Stout, a 6-foot-3 guard from Madison, was a two-time honorable mention All-Class 1A performer his senior season.
He was a unanimous first-team All-Lyon County League selection last year.
“We’ll see how he adjusts to the college game,” Moe said. “He has to pick up some things and work hard over the summer, but he’s as good of an athlete as anyone.”
ESU loses its top scorer in Donta Watson, All-MIAA defensive team selection Ed Desir and defensive stopper Scott Elliott from last season’s team.
Moe still believes the pieces are in place for ESU to build from its success.
“With the four guys we signed, we feel like we can at least maintain what we had,” Moe said. “Hopefully, they’ll blend well early, and we can be competitive again.”