October 23, 2007

 

     Bristol, TN—The 2007 AAC Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll has been released and the Bryan College Lions are picked to finish 7^th in the league.  There are a lot of new faces in the AAC this year, however two of last year’s strongest finishers remain atop the predictions.

     Bryan is looking to turn things around after a disappointing 2006-2007 season which left a bad taste in Head Coach Don Rekoske’s mouth.  The Lions return a solid nucleus of players in Kyle Terry, Lamarr Shorts, Matt Housley and Thomas Davis. Terry is a deep threat for the Lions, while Shorts has matured through much hard work over the summer, and has become a serious scoring threat from anywhere on the floor. Housley has showed flashes of greatness in the past, and appears ready to step up and take over the reins. He will play the point for Rekoske and will be looking to get the ball to guys like Terry and Shorts early and often. Thomas Davis remains a serious inside presence, giving Bryan some size and toughness in the paint. Davis is one of the vocal leaders of the Lions, and brings a lot of intensity every time he steps on the floor.

     Bryan will showcase a lot of new talent on the floor this season, featuring seven new players among their top 12. Depth may have been a problem last season for the Lions, but this year should be different as there is a lot of talent on the end of Rekoske’s bench.

     Brothers Mike and Charlie Lytle from Tampa, FL will create a lot of mismatches this season for Lions’ opponents. The brothers are 6’7 and 6’8 respectively, and are both extremely athletic. Mike, a senior, can play the point or the two guard at 6’7, using his height to see the court “as well as anybody I’ve ever coached,” says Rekoske. Younger brother Charlie, a true freshman who was all Sun Coast in Florida among 5A high schools, is an unbelievable talent. “Charlie is a guy who you watch play and just go ‘wow, I didn’t know a 6’8 kid could do that’,” Rekoske said recently when talking about his talented freshman. Mike is a transfer from NCAA Division II West Georgia, and brings experience at a high level of play to a team looking for leadership. Charlie spurned numerous NCAA Division I offers for the chance to play along side his older brother, and the two have already made an impact on the program at Bryan.

     In addition to the Lytle Brothers, the Lions have added Cody Christopher, a 6’6 swingman from Roane State Community College. While at Roane State, Cody averaged eleven points and seven rebounds a game.  “Cody might be the most athletic player on our squad,” said Rekoske adding “the kid has nearly a 35-inch vertical leap.” Christopher is also dangerous on the perimeter with a pure stoke from beyond the arc. The Lions look for big contributions from him this season. While the Lions will rely on Christopher from the outside, they have a new inside presence to compliment Thomas Davis in Scott Newton. The 6’5 freshman forward from Kingston Springs, TN is a tough defender who really understands the game. Bryan Assistant Coach Matt Schock said of Newton, “He does so many great things on the floor. He really doesn’t play like a freshman, and most importantly he doesn’t lose his composure under pressure; I think he will play a big role in what kind of success we have this year. All of our freshman will be looked upon to step up and perform well this year.”

     Derek Batt and Demond Craig are also newcomers that will contribute immediately for the Lions. Craig is highly skilled and plays the point, bringing toughness to a team which has lacked a strong consistent point guard the last few seasons. He is quick and plays a very unselfish style of basketball which Rekoske loves. Batt is a warrior on defense and may be the Lions’ best perimeter defender. Rekoske said of Batt, “He is a tough nosed kid who loves to get after his opponent. He can score, but I really love the way he defends. I’m excited about how we’ll defend this year as a whole, and Derek will really contribute to how tough we’ll be on that end of the floor.”