ESU adds D-1 transfers
By Jesse Newell
Originally published 02:17 p.m., July 15, 2008
Updated 02:17 p.m., July 15, 2008
Ben McCollum has learned that Emporia State’s fast-break, run-and-gun offense is most dependent on one thing.
“We definitely like guards,” the ESU assistant coach said. “We like to get a lot of guards and play them all together, and see what happens.”
The Hornets added more guard options for the upcoming season on Monday, picking up a pair of Division-I transfers.
Jarvis Nichols, a 6-foot-2 guard from Northern Illinois, and Robert Moores, a 6-2 guard from the University of Albany, will both join ESU’s men’s basketball program next year.
“You know when you bring in Division-I guys that they’ve been coached at the highest level, so they’ll be coachable and have a good feel of how the program is run,” McCollum said. “They have worked hard before and played against the best competition, too.”
Nichols brings an intriguing scoring option to ESU, as he was the second-leading scorer for the Huskies last season, averaging 9.9 points in 27 games.
He scored a career-high 21 points against Toledo and also shot 85 percent from the free-throw line (the seventh-best mark in school history).
McCollum said Nichols, at 215 pounds, had a unique blend of both athleticism and strength.
“He’s a good shooter, and he’s a driver,” McCollum said. “He can score in a variety of ways. He’s got all the tools and skills.”
Moores, meanwhile, comes to ESU after playing limited minutes at Albany last season.
Two years ago, Moores averaged 13.9 points and four assists as a freshman at Pratt Community College. He also made 57 three-point field goals and shot 41.9 percent from beyond the arc.
“Shooting’s more of his strength,” McCollum said. “He’ll spread the defense with his shooting.
“He can do it all. He can guard, he can shoot. If he’s known as something, though, it’d be more as a shooter first.”
Moores will have two years of eligibility left at ESU, while Nichols will have just one.
Both transfers started their college careers at Pratt.
ESU came into contact with Moores first though Pratt’s coach, Trevor Rolfs.
Moores later called his buddy, Nichols, and helped convince him to play for the Hornets.
ESU now has three Division-I transfers signed for next year. That includes Shang Ping, who announced in the spring that he would transfer from the University of Nebraska.
The Hornets also signed Lamar Wilbern, Jeremiah Box and Tim Niles during the spring signing period.
“If these guys can mesh, I think we’ve got enough talent to compete (this year),” McCollum said, “but it all depends on how hard they work.”
ESU lost six seniors from last year’s squad that finished 14-16.
cars (anonymous) says...
When will we hear about the womens team new players or is this a secret.. It looks good on paper the new players the men have signed . Lets hope that Coach Moe can coach this year and not spend the majority of his time arguring with the refs.
July 15, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KingmanChief (anonymous) says...
Moe landed some good ones here, hopefully they'll produce a great season for him, he deserves it.
And at least his arguing with the refs is entertaining. Coach Moe has definitely created some good memories for me!
July 16, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gramps_1954 (anonymous) says...
Lets face it. David Moe didn't do anything to get these players here. It is his Assistant Coach Ben McCollum that recruits and gets these player here. Moe doesn't deserve to be a head coach at the high school level let alone at a Division II College. If he spent as much time learning to be a better coach than he does playing poker on his computer in his office he might deserve to be called a head coach.
July 25, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )