MU men's hoops advance vs. Lehigh for Friday Press
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
WEST LONG BRANCH - Monmouth University freshman guard Jhamar Youngblood, a dynamic
performer mainly off the bench this season, apparently is about to assume more of a
major role.
Coach coach Dave Calloway of Monmouth (3-8) said Youngblood will start in the back
court Friday vs. Lehigh University (5-9) replacing academically ineligible sophomore
point guard point guard Michael Shipman.
"""He (Shipman) said he thought one of his grades should have been different and he's
going to talk to the professor,'' said Calloway. ""But right now he's ineligible.''
"Basketball is basketball,'' said the 6-1, 180 pound Youngblood, who has played the
fifth most minutes his season.
He said his youth is not an issue. ""I don't care if I'm playing against guys who are
30 or my age,'' said the St. Patrick's of Elizabeth graduate, Monmouth's first recruit
from an NJSIAA Tournament of Champions winner.
""So that freshman thing to me doesn't matter,'' said Youngblood. ""I'm just out there
being a player.''
The energetic Youngblood, the Hawks' No. 3 scorer, is averaging 9.6 ppg. but has 10
assists and 29 turnovers.
Shipman, averaging 7.1 points and 4.9 assists per game, is the only Monmouth regular
with a substantial plus assist to turnover ratio and had posted 38 assists and 19
turnovers over the last seven games.
""I talked to him (Youngblood) a little bit about how he plays,'' said Calloway. ""When
he had Ship in there he could just concentrate on scoring.''
Calloway said Youngblood may now have to concentrate more on setting up the
offense.
""It might affect his scoring a little bit but might help his overall game and make
him a better all-around player which will help us later on down the road,'' said
Calloway.
' ""I believe in God,''said Youngblood. ""No matter how this situation came it
happened.
""I'm starting, now I've got to take control and replace Ship (Shipman). Ship has
been playing well so now I've got to just carry on and be a leader out there for some
guys.''
Monmouth hosts Loyola Marymount (8-6) 1:30 p.m. Sunday to conclude the
non-conference portion of the Hawks' schedule in which so far they are 3-7.
Calloway said he also hopes to find more playing time for center John Bunch (4.6
ppg., 4.4 rpg., 26 blocks) who is playing just over 21 minutes per game. ""John, knock
on wood, is feeling better,''said Calloway of the 7-2 Bunch whose Monmouth career has
been hampered by knee problems.
Calloway also said freshman forward Rickie Crews, who has played in just one game
this season while serving a number of ""violation of team rules" related suspensions,
has been suspended until Tuesday after arriving late for a team workout Wednesday
morning but said the 6-7 Crews is academically eligible.
Senior guard Jose Olivero scores 18.5 ppg. to lead Lehigh which Nov. 27 lost 93-87
at Notre Dame and bowed last week 67-61 at Rutgers after leading by 10 points with 8:03
remaining.
Lehigh embarrassed Monmouth last season in Bethlehem, Pa. as the Hawks committed 25
turnovers in a 71-57 defeat.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
STAFF WRITER
WEST LONG BRANCH - Monmouth University freshman guard Jhamar Youngblood, a dynamic
performer mainly off the bench this season, apparently is about to assume more of a
major role.
Coach coach Dave Calloway of Monmouth (3-8) said Youngblood will start in the back
court Friday vs. Lehigh University (5-9) replacing academically ineligible sophomore
point guard point guard Michael Shipman.
"""He (Shipman) said he thought one of his grades should have been different and he's
going to talk to the professor,'' said Calloway. ""But right now he's ineligible.''
"Basketball is basketball,'' said the 6-1, 180 pound Youngblood, who has played the
fifth most minutes his season.
He said his youth is not an issue. ""I don't care if I'm playing against guys who are
30 or my age,'' said the St. Patrick's of Elizabeth graduate, Monmouth's first recruit
from an NJSIAA Tournament of Champions winner.
""So that freshman thing to me doesn't matter,'' said Youngblood. ""I'm just out there
being a player.''
The energetic Youngblood, the Hawks' No. 3 scorer, is averaging 9.6 ppg. but has 10
assists and 29 turnovers.
Shipman, averaging 7.1 points and 4.9 assists per game, is the only Monmouth regular
with a substantial plus assist to turnover ratio and had posted 38 assists and 19
turnovers over the last seven games.
""I talked to him (Youngblood) a little bit about how he plays,'' said Calloway. ""When
he had Ship in there he could just concentrate on scoring.''
Calloway said Youngblood may now have to concentrate more on setting up the
offense.
""It might affect his scoring a little bit but might help his overall game and make
him a better all-around player which will help us later on down the road,'' said
Calloway.
' ""I believe in God,''said Youngblood. ""No matter how this situation came it
happened.
""I'm starting, now I've got to take control and replace Ship (Shipman). Ship has
been playing well so now I've got to just carry on and be a leader out there for some
guys.''
Monmouth hosts Loyola Marymount (8-6) 1:30 p.m. Sunday to conclude the
non-conference portion of the Hawks' schedule in which so far they are 3-7.
Calloway said he also hopes to find more playing time for center John Bunch (4.6
ppg., 4.4 rpg., 26 blocks) who is playing just over 21 minutes per game. ""John, knock
on wood, is feeling better,''said Calloway of the 7-2 Bunch whose Monmouth career has
been hampered by knee problems.
Calloway also said freshman forward Rickie Crews, who has played in just one game
this season while serving a number of ""violation of team rules" related suspensions,
has been suspended until Tuesday after arriving late for a team workout Wednesday
morning but said the 6-7 Crews is academically eligible.
Senior guard Jose Olivero scores 18.5 ppg. to lead Lehigh which Nov. 27 lost 93-87
at Notre Dame and bowed last week 67-61 at Rutgers after leading by 10 points with 8:03
remaining.
Lehigh embarrassed Monmouth last season in Bethlehem, Pa. as the Hawks committed 25
turnovers in a 71-57 defeat.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 7:24 PM
1 Comments:
Hey TG
Tim Walker here again. I do not want to get ahead of ourselves as we have 2 important games this weekend. I was looking at the NEC standings and noone is really winning alot. RMU is the only one with a winning record and SHU is at 500. So lets not count the hawks out yet. I believe in Dave and the system and I think they can turn it around. GO HAWKS!!!!!
Tim Walker
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