Recruiting the right players is one of the most important elements in building a NCAA Tournament team. Seton Hall has gone back to the tournament again this year, for the fourth year in a row.
They succeeded in finding the right players to excel at their level.
Seton Hall finished the regular season third in the rugged Big East Conference.
Coach Kevin Willard had a relatively new team after graduating the best senior class in school history. They have exceeded almost all expectations this season. Willard knew he had a star returning in Myles Powell and he has delivered.
RECORD 20-13, 9-9 in Big East (3rd)
FIND UNDER THE RADAR RECRUITS
Only three players were ranked in the top 110 nationally by Rivals.com. Two of those Myles Powell and Myles Cale are the top two scorers and came to South Orange directly from high school. The third Taurean Thompson came via transfer.
Coming out of prep school Powell was also considering VCU, Depaul, Georgetown, St. Joes, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, UConn. So for him they out recruited some good schools.
DEVELOP YOUR PLAYERS
If you are successful at a Big 6 conference and do not have top 100 recruits you have to develop the players you have. Coach Kevin Willard's staff has done that. The transformation of Myles Powell physically and of his game is exhibit A.
HAVE A STAR
Myles Powell has become one of the top players in the country. He can carry a team has been invaluable as a leader
RECRUIT THE METRO AREA
9 of the Pirates are from the New York/NJ Metro area.
ADD PIECES WHEN NEEDED
Sacred Heart transfer Quincy McKnight was a huge pickup. Juco transfer Romaro Gill has been valuable. The most talked about transfer Taurean Thompson has not played as big a role as anticipated.
SETON HALL PLAYER PROFILE - Click on the story links to see see the story on their commitment to Seton Hall. Click on their names to see their stats.
FROM NJHOOPS.COM SEASON PREVIEW (OCTOBER 2018)
The college basketball season is almost upon us. We begin our season previews of all 44 NJ colleges. We start with the NJ Division 1 schools.
Coach Kevin Willard loses the four seniors who were the cornerstones in three successive NCAA Tournament appearances. Sharpshooter Myles Powell comes back with his ability to score from deep. Syracuse transfer Taurean Thompson is poised for a big year as well.
Should be in the running for a post-season spot
2017-18 Stats -
The Good: 32nd nationally in offensive rebounding
The Bad: 241st in ft% at 69.8%
LAST SEASON - 22-12
10-8, in Big East
STARTERS RETURNING - 1.5
THE PLAYERS
6-foot-2 So.
South Kent CT
Trenton Catholic
2016-17 Stats - 10.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.9 apg, 68 treys
2017-18 Stats - 15.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 89 treys
2018-19 Stats - 22.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.9 apg, 103 treys
6 foot 5 Fr.
Appoquinimink DE
2017-18 Stats - 4.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.6 apg, 13 treys
2018-19 Stats - 10.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 53 treys
THE RANKINGS:
Ranked 76th nationally by Rivals.com
THE LINKS:
6 foot 4 Jr.
Transfer from Sacred Heart
THE SKINNY:
Transferred up after two strong seasons in the NEC. Will be in a fight for backcourt minutes with freshman Anthony Nelson.
2016-17 STATS at Sacred Heart - 18.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.6 spg while shooting 43% from the floor, 32% from three and 78% from the line.
2018-19 Stats - 9.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.0 apg, 18 treys
THE RANKINGS:
THE LINKS:
6 foot 10 Fr.
Montverde FL
2017-18 Stats - 2.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.5 apg, 8 treys
2018-19 Stats - 9.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 23 treys
THE RANKINGS:
Ranked 201st nationally by 247 Sports
THE LINKS:
6-foot-7 R/S Fr.
Our Saviour New American NY
2015-16 Stats - 3.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.2 apg
2016-17 Stats - 4.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.2 apg
2017-18 Stats - 4.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.5 apg
2018-19 Stats - 9.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.0 apg
6 foot 6 Fr.
Our Saviour Lutheran NY
THE SKINNY:
Athletic scoring wing. Has a chance for a good role as a frsoh
THE RANKINGS:
Ranked as 46th best wing forward by Rivals.com
2018-19 Stats - 3.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.3 apg, 13 treys
THE LINKS:
6 foot 4 Fr.
South Kent CT
THE SKINNY:
Has a chance to step in a point. Most likely will split minutes with Quincy McKnight.
THE RANKINGS:
Ranked as 33rd best point guard by Rivals.com, Ranked as 19th best point guard by ESPN, Ranked 204th nationally by 247 Sports
THE LINKS:
2018-19 Stats - 2.3 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 5 treys
7 foot 2 Jr.
Vincennes JC
THE SKINNY:
Big man can provide some minutes as a rim protector and rebounder.
2016-17 STATS:
5.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 56%, 42% ft%
2018-19 Stats - 2.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg,
THE LINKS:
6 foot 11 So.
Transfer from Syracuse
Brewster Academy/St. Anthony's
THE SKINNY:
Expected to be a big scorer and star right from the get go.
2016-17 STATS:
8.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 0.6 apg while shooting 53% from the floor, 20% from three and 65% from the line.
2018-19 Stats - 4.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.2 apg, 7 treys
THE RANKINGS:
Ranked 84th nationally by Rivals.com
THE LINKS:
6 foot 2
Covenant College Prep/Manchester HS
NJ Hoops #5 Postgrad Class of 2017/NJ Hoops #99 Class of 2016
2017-18 Stats - 0.3 rpg, 0.1 apg
2018-19 Stats - 2.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.6 apg, 5 treys
THE SKINNY:
Very good NJ walk-on turned down some scholarship offers for the Pirates
THE LINKS:
6 foot 9 Fr.
Montverde Academy FL
THE SKINNY:
Big physical widebody spent a postgraduate season at Montverde before joining the Pirates.
THE LINKS:
2018-19 Stats - 0.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg,
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