25-26 Roster

[Otis 83]

On 6/2/2025 at 3:51 PM, Old Titan said:

I would just be happy to see more* of the following:

• Rebounding
• Defense
• Rebounding
• Joy
• Rebounding

* in the wake of the past two seasons, "more" means "any"

That's a nice list but, personally, I'm hoping to see more rebounding. 

[Old Titan]

3 hours ago, Otis 83 said:

That's a nice list but, personally, I'm hoping to see more rebounding. 

Good point - wish I’d thought of that.

 

[ORUTerry]

Freshman	Sophomore	Junior	Senior
		Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams
	Luke Gray
			Landen Jordan
			Aaron Jacob
Baron Smith
	Connor Dow
		Ofri Naveh
		Chase Martin
Martins Kilups
Laymen McGrady
			Ty Harper
			Lane Sparks
	Jack Turner
Alex Cuoto
Cal Furnish

 

[ORUTerry]

Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams -- 6'10" power forward   (Junior)

Luke Gray -- 6'6" power forward   (Sophomore)

Landen Jordan -- 6'9" forward   (Senior)

Aaron Jacob -- 6'8" forward    (Senior)

Baron Smith, Jr. -- 6'9" power forward   (Freshman)

Connor Dow -- 6'6" wing    (Junior)

Ofri Naveh -- 6'7" forward    (Junior)

Chase Martin -- 6'4" guard    (Junior)

Martins Kilups -- 6'4" shooting guard   (Freshman)

Laymen McGrady -- 6'4" guard    (Freshman)

Ty Harper -- 6'3" guard    (Senior)

Lane Sparks -- 6'3" guard    (Senior)

Jack Turner -- 6'3" shooting guard    (Sophomore)

Alex Cuoto -- 6'0" point guard    (Freshman)

Cal Furnish -- 5'11" guard   (Freshman)

[Bogus Smith]

16 minutes ago, ORUTerry said:

Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams -- 6'10" power forward   (Junior)

Luke Gray -- 6'6" power forward   (Sophomore)

Landen Jordan -- 6'9" forward   (Senior)

Aaron Jacob -- 6'8" forward    (Senior)

Baron Smith, Jr. -- 6'9" power forward   (Freshman)

Connor Dow -- 6'6" wing    (Junior)

Ofri Naveh -- 6'7" forward    (Junior)

Chase Martin -- 6'4" guard    (Junior)

Martins Kilups -- 6'4" shooting guard   (Freshman)

Laymen McGrady -- 6'4" guard    (Freshman)

Ty Harper -- 6'3" guard    (Senior)

Lane Sparks -- 6'3" guard    (Senior)

Jack Turner -- 6'3" shooting guard    (Sophomore)

Alex Cuoto -- 6'0" point guard    (Freshman)

Cal Furnish -- 5'11" guard   (Freshman)

At first glace, here's a thought on who's where this season.

Starters/Rotation

Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams -- 6'10" power forward   (Junior) Luke Gray -- 6'6" power forward (Sophomore)

Baron Smith, Jr. -- 6'9" power forward   (Freshman) Connor Dow -- 6'6" wing    (Junior)   Ofri Naveh -- 6'7" forward    (Junior) Chase Martin -- 6'4" guard    (Junior) Ty Harper -- 6'3" guard    (Senior) Bench Minutes Landen Jordan -- 6'9" forward   (Senior) Aaron Jacob -- 6'8" forward    (Senior) Lane Sparks -- 6'3" guard    (Senior) Fighting for Minutes / Redshirt Candidates Martins Kilups -- 6'4" shooting guard   (Freshman)  Laymen McGrady -- 6'4" guard    (Freshman) Jack Turner -- 6'3" shooting guard    (Sophomore) Alex Cuoto -- 6'0" point guard    (Freshman) Cal Furnish -- 5'11" guard   (Freshman) I can't control the spacing on this list, and there is no rhyme or reason to the order of these groups - some will be starters, some will come off the bench.  This is just my conjecture as I have not seen any of these guys play except in videos from this board's postings.

[eagle88]

If I had to  pick  between having last year's team back this coming year or our current roster i  like the odds of our current roster. If our coaching proves to be good then I really like our odds!

[Keenan Henderson]

3 hours ago, Bogus Smith said:

At first glace, here's a thought on who's where this season.

Starters/Rotation

Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams -- 6'10" power forward   (Junior) Luke Gray -- 6'6" power forward (Sophomore)

Baron Smith, Jr. -- 6'9" power forward   (Freshman) Connor Dow -- 6'6" wing    (Junior)   Ofri Naveh -- 6'7" forward    (Junior) Chase Martin -- 6'4" guard    (Junior) Ty Harper -- 6'3" guard    (Senior) Bench Minutes Landen Jordan -- 6'9" forward   (Senior) Aaron Jacob -- 6'8" forward    (Senior) Lane Sparks -- 6'3" guard    (Senior) Fighting for Minutes / Redshirt Candidates Martins Kilups -- 6'4" shooting guard   (Freshman)  Laymen McGrady -- 6'4" guard    (Freshman) Jack Turner -- 6'3" shooting guard    (Sophomore) Alex Cuoto -- 6'0" point guard    (Freshman) Cal Furnish -- 5'11" guard   (Freshman) I can't control the spacing on this list, and there is no rhyme or reason to the order of these groups - some will be starters, some will come off the bench.  This is just my conjecture as I have not seen any of these guys play except in videos from this board's postings.

I like your breakdown of the starters/bench, Bogus Smith.  I tend to agree and am not really sure about the freshman.  Is there a JoJo Moore type who can help out right away? Time will tell

We never know with injuries or other issues but this group of 10 guys you selected are all 6'3 or taller.  I cannot remember ORU having that kind of size in 25 years.  Of course, they may be listed at a certain height and then we see them on the court, and it is another story.

On a side note, Duke often does not play guys unless they are 6'5 or bigger, and Duke has had some success with that! 

[Old Titan]

3 hours ago, Bogus Smith said:

At first glace, here's a thought on who's where this season.

Starters/Rotation

Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams -- 6'10" power forward   (Junior) Luke Gray -- 6'6" power forward (Sophomore)

Baron Smith, Jr. -- 6'9" power forward   (Freshman) Connor Dow -- 6'6" wing    (Junior)   Ofri Naveh -- 6'7" forward    (Junior) Chase Martin -- 6'4" guard    (Junior) Ty Harper -- 6'3" guard    (Senior) Bench Minutes Landen Jordan -- 6'9" forward   (Senior) Aaron Jacob -- 6'8" forward    (Senior) Lane Sparks -- 6'3" guard    (Senior) Fighting for Minutes / Redshirt Candidates Martins Kilups -- 6'4" shooting guard   (Freshman)  Laymen McGrady -- 6'4" guard    (Freshman) Jack Turner -- 6'3" shooting guard    (Sophomore) Alex Cuoto -- 6'0" point guard    (Freshman) Cal Furnish -- 5'11" guard   (Freshman) I can't control the spacing on this list, and there is no rhyme or reason to the order of these groups - some will be starters, some will come off the bench.  This is just my conjecture as I have not seen any of these guys play except in videos from this board's postings.

 

"Uh, yes - I'll take the 'over' on minutes & points for Lane Sparks, please."

I simply doubt a small school All-American followed his former coach 500 miles away from home just to ride the bench.

Plus, I doubt his former coach convinced this small school All-American to move 500 miles away from home just to ride the bench.

[Bogus Smith]

3 minutes ago, Old Titan said:

 

"Uh, yes - I'll take the 'over' on minutes & points for Lane Sparks, please."

I simply doubt a small school All-American followed his former coach 500 miles away from home just to ride the bench.

Plus, I doubt his former coach convinced this small school All-American to move 500 miles away from home just to ride the bench.

It will be interesting (and competitive) as the practices play out, for sure.

I don't see Ty Harper with bench minutes.  I also feel that Chase Martin (who started at Wofford and was a player that could have helped us last season) is ready to take his place on the floor. 

No doubt a small school All-American will get his share of minutes, but he won't have to fight for his coach's attention as he has already been in battle with him at a different level of play.  Playing Indiana Wesleyan and Taylor University is quite a bit different than being up against SDSU, NDSU, or even P4 competition in the early going.  However, I am glad we have a Lane Sparks around to sharpen the blade and being in the mix whether off the bench or in the starting lineup.

[Old Titan]

11 minutes ago, Bogus Smith said:

It will be interesting (and competitive) as the practices play out, for sure.

I don't see Ty Harper with bench minutes.  I also feel that Chase Martin (who started at Wofford and was a player that could have helped us last season) is ready to take his place on the floor. 

No doubt a small school All-American will get his share of minutes, but he won't have to fight for his coach's attention as he has already been in battle with him at a different level of play.  Playing Indiana Wesleyan and Taylor University is quite a bit different than being up against SDSU, NDSU, or even P4 competition in the early going.  However, I am glad we have a Lane Sparks around to sharpen the blade and being in the mix whether off the bench or in the starting lineup.

NOBODY on this new roster is going to feel very comfortable going against P4 competition, or else they would still be playing significant minutes at OSU, WVU, Nevada, etc.  Let's "crawl before we can walk" for now and focus on Summit League competition.

I would think that an All-American guard at a non-D1 school would be plenty good to hold his own in Summit League play; particularly one with the experince and physical make-up of Sparks. 

Unlike a lot of small school guards - and frankly, recent guards at ORU - Sparks has a D1 physique.  He looks a lot like the burly Dakota guards that have tormented ORU for years...

[Eaglefan 21]

I think Lane Sparks will get a pretty good shot to be the starting two guard. He and Ty Harper are seniors and, presumably, would be strongest ball handlers under pressure. Also, both are very athletic. It's been a while since ORU's 1 and 2 Guards could put someone on a poster. My best very early guess on Starters is below.

PG  Ty Harper- Has point guard experience and a lot of playing time over his career.

SG Lane Sparks- all the reasons mentioned above. He's seasoned, coaches trust him, he can score and hopefully be a secondary ball handler.

SF Connor Dow or Chase Martin- both have experience and can shoot the ball.

PF Luke Gray is my pick but the coaching staff may trust Landen Jordan. I don't think Jordan offers much outside of the paint and Luke was starting to show some range on his jumpers toward the end of the year.

C Yuto- most experienced big on the team, can shoot the three and rebound. No clue if he offers much for shot blocking. 

Excited to see the team take shape!

[Keenan Henderson]

There are a lot of different types of lineups that Coach could throw on the court at various times.  He has good depth to work with and guys who can switch on defense and play various positions.  At this point, we have not seen anyone on the court besides Luke, so it is all based on potential. 

There are also guys who may split time on the court, say each gets around 20 minutes a game.  Example: Sparks and Martin, Grey and Jordan and Dow and Naveh.

Just for fun on opening night I would like to see a bigger lineup: Harper, Dow, Naveh, Grey, and Y2.  That is about 10 inches more height then ORU started last year.  We need size on the court and let the small ball go!

 

[Old Titan]

All this conversation re: playing time highlights the single most fascinating element of this unprecedented "roster for our times":  ALL of these guys have suddenly come together in the hopes of ONE THING - more playing time at the D1 level, or at the very least, the opportunity to earn it.

Think of it:  more than a dozen castaways with previous college experience have washed ashore at the same time on Golden Eagle Island, figuratively and literally from all four corners of the Earth. 

Who is going to emerge as the alpha?

Will they all bond? 

Will they work together to devise a rescue plan? 

Or, will they eventually cannibalize each other? 

[2014Grad]

 

I'll throw my lineup guess in the ring, mainly because I want to come back in a year and see how wrong I was!

Harper/Martin

Sparks/Kilups/Turner

Navri/Dow

Gray/Baron Smith Jr/Jacob

Yamanouchi-Williams/Jordan

Green - Would bet Money on Starting  |  Purple - Would bet Money in being in rotation  |  Black - Who knows? Would love to be surprised!!

Redshirt : Furnish/Cuoto/McGrady

Three Random Hot Takes:

- Yamanouchi-Williams challenges for Summit 2nd team or honorable mention

-Kilups is ahead of schedule and gets decent minutes before EOY

-Fan favorite Gray either takes a BIG leap, or has his minutes really challenged by Smith Jr/Jordan - no in between

 

 

[Keenan Henderson]

McGrady is an X factor.  He has grown up around the NBA and been instructed by the best IMG Academy (who knows what other big names).  The scouting report says he has good size, can shoot the 3, and is a solid defender (based on internet research).  

The only question is that the internet does not post any of his stats.  Which seems odd.  He could be a 3 and D guy off the bench.

At the least, McGrady brings some mystery/interest to a team that is coming off one of its worst in school history.  How many times has ORU had a son of an NBA hall of famer on its squad? Zero

[2014Grad]

8 hours ago, Keenan Henderson said:

McGrady is an X factor.  He has grown up around the NBA and been instructed by the best IMG Academy (who knows what other big names).  The scouting report says he has good size, can shoot the 3, and is a solid defender (based on internet research).  

The only question is that the internet does not post any of his stats.  Which seems odd.  He could be a 3 and D guy off the bench.

At the least, McGrady brings some mystery/interest to a team that is coming off one of its worst in school history.  How many times has ORU had a son of an NBA hall of famer on its 

Edited June 6, 2025 by 2014Grad
Some thoughts are not that important. Go Eagles!

[Keenan Henderson]

On 6/3/2025 at 2:01 PM, ORUTerry said:

 

Anyone notice that Jordan picked number 23?  Where could he have come up with that idea? 

[Bogus Smith]