Dec. 27, 2009
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Jermaine Taylor and some other guards might have received the majority of the headlines, but some talented frontcourt players spent time at UCF during the 2000s. With the decade about to conclude, here is my list of the top-10 frontcourt players who finished their collegiate careers as Knights:
10. Kenrick Zondervan (2005-09)
No player during the 2000s gave the effort that Zondervan exhibited on the court. The center from Holland averaged just 0.3 points as a freshman in 2005-06, but worked hard to improve his game. As a senior, he averaged 7.0 points and 4.4 boards, and shot 57.2 percent overall.
9. Will Bakanowsky (2002-05)
Bakanowsky's career was cut short due to an injury, but the big man was still a part of two NCAA Tournament squads. A great shooter, he connected on 51 3-pointers in 89 career games. His best collegiate contest came against UConn in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. The New Jersey native scored 15 points and added seven rebounds versus the Huskies.
8. Anthony Williams (2004-06)
In only two years at UCF, Williams blocked 86 shots, good for sixth on the program register. Williams scored in double figures 32 times as a Knight, and averaged 10.2 points for his career. As a junior, the Indian Hills Community College transfer averaged 11.0 points and 5.6 boards and helped the Knights make their second-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
7. Marcus Avant (2003-05)
Avant only appeared in 52 games, but was one of the best perimeter defenders during the decade. In his first year at UCF, he started 28 games in 2003-04 and helped UCF advance to the NCAA Tournament. The following season, he averaged 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds for head coach Kirk Speraw.
6. Lavell Payne (2005-07)
Payne did not have the most impressive season after originally arriving at UCF in 2005 from Tallahassee Community College. The Fort Lauderdale native made great strides the following campaign, and averaged 10.8 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds as a senior in 2006-07. Payne improved as his senior season went on, and averaged 13.3 points on 51.8 percent shooting in Conference USA play.
5. Josh Bodden (2000-04)
Bodden showed great improvement during his time in Orlando. He had his best campaign during UCF's historic 2003-04 campaign that concluded with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Bodden started all 31 of the Knights' contests and averaged 10.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. He ranks 10th on UCF's career rebounds list with 509 and is fifth in blocks (88).
4. Paul Reed (1999-02)
In three campaigns at UCF, the 6-foot-8 Reed totaled 1,182 points and 685 rebounds. He ranks fourth in school history in boards and is also second in blocked shots (127). Reed had a strong campaign for the Knights as a senior in 2001-02. He averaged 13.8 points and 8.9 boards. Reed shot 50.3 percent overall and also totaled 40 blocks and 39 steals. He totaled 20 rebounds and also had 17 points and three blocks in a contest at Marist that year.
3. Josh Peppers (2003-07)
Peppers, who helped UCF make the transition from the Atlantic Sun to C-USA, totaled 1,376 career points, which ranks eighth in school history. Peppers was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams. As a senior in 2006-07, he averaged a team-best 14.3 points. In C-USA play, he ranked seventh in scoring (15.3) as the Knights won 22 contests and finished second in the 12-team conference. He was named to the All-C-USA Second Team.
2. Roberto Morentin (2002-04)
A skilled post player from Spain, Morentin averaged 13.5 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds as a senior in 2003-04, helping the Knights record their finest campaign at the Division I level that season. UCF won 25 contests, claimed the A-Sun Championship and played in the NCAA Tournament. In his first year at UCF, Morentin averaged 10.3 points and 5.7 boards in 2002-03.
1. Dexter Lyons (2002-04)
One of the best defensive players in school history, Lyons helped the Knights win 46 games from 2002-04. As a senior, he was a key member on a team that went 25-6 overall, 17-3 in A-Sun play and participated in the NCAA Tournament. The small forward averaged 18.3 points and 4.4 boards that season. He shot 50.1 percent from the floor and also dished out 86 assists. He recorded 55 steals and was named the A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year.
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