ORU Basketball Notebook: Reinforcements- (TW 8/26/07)

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ORU Basketball Notebook: Reinforcements

by: MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

8/26/2007

Coach Scott Sutton may have big shoes to fill, but he liked what he saw as the Golden Eagles started preparing for Friday's trip to Canada.

The Eagles will play four exhibition games in three days in the Toronto area. NCAA rules allow 10 extra practice days to prepare for such a trip.

The team is working for the first time in four years without Caleb Green and Ken Tutt, who led ORU to three straight Summit League titles and back-to-back NCAA berths. Their college careers ended in March.

"It's different not having Caleb and Ken, but I've been pleased with (the new group). From top to bottom, it's the most athletic and talented group we've had," Sutton said.

Six lettermen return from a 23-11 squad and Sutton sees potential among seven new players.

"We're a lot deeper than we've been. In the past, with 13 scholarship players, you could say one or two guys aren't ready to help us and probably need to redshirt. But I think all 13 guys could contribute this season. Not that we'll play 13 guys, but it's a good (situation) to have," Sutton said.

Out of action: ORU didn't play with its full contingent for much of the first week. Freshman Kyron Stokes and senior point guard Adam Liberty sat out with injuries. Meanwhile, the Eagles are awaiting an eligibility ruling from the NCAA Clearinghouse on freshman Tim Morton.

The 6-foot-4 Stokes fractured a small bone in his lower left leg and is expected to miss three to four weeks. He won't play in Canada, but will make the trip, Sutton said.

Liberty missed three or four practices with a twisted ankle, but was expected back in action soon.

Promising: Sutton said junior college transfer Robert Jarvis "is more of a point guard than I realized" and could help the Eagles at the position. That's in addition to his primary role as a shooter.

Jarvis made 128 3-pointers and averaged 23.3 points per game last season, leading Seminole (Okla.) State to a fifth-place finish in the juco national tournament.

"He's a very smart player. He's so good with the ball in his hands, so either way he's going to be very good for us," Sutton said.

Athletic legacy: Sutton said 6-6 freshman Andre Hardy has been impressive the first week. He is the son of Andre Hardy Sr., a former NFL fullback who played for the Eagles, Seahawks and 49ers.

"I love his toughness. He's a kid that does the little things it takes to win games," Sutton said.

Hardy averaged 19.4 points while leading San Diego's St. Augustine High to a 33-1 record and state runner-up finish in 2005. He graduated high school from New Hampton (N.H.) Prep in 2006 and spent a second year at New Hampton in 2006-07, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Hardy signed with the University of San Francisco, but failed to gain admittance. He was NCAA eligible, but USF's admissions department questioned his prep school grades, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

He was also recruited by Kansas State, St. John's, St. Mary's and Southern California.