June 29, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After recording some notable achievements a year ago, the UCF men's basketball team is poised for more success in 2012-13. With the return of several standouts, plus an influx of talent led by a pair of transfer guards, the Knights are seeking another stellar campaign.
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UCF Summer Notebook
A Program on the Rise
? Under head coach Donnie Jones, UCF is a program on the rise
? Last year, Jones led the Knights to their first trip to the postseason National Invitation Tournament
? The Knights went 22-11 overall a year ago and finished third in Conference USA after going 10-6 in league play
? In two seasons in Orlando, Jones has guided the Knights to some big victories, including triumphs over No. 16 Florida, Miami, Princeton and USF in 2010-11 and wins versus No. 4 UConn and Memphis a year ago
They're Back
? UCF returns 83.8 percent of its scoring and 75.0 percent of its rebounding from a year ago
? Four of the team's top-five scorers are back from 2011-12, including its top-three: Keith Clanton (14.5 points per game), Marcus Jordan (13.7), Isaiah Sykes (12.3)
? UCF welcomes back four starters from last year in Clanton, Jordan, Sykes and Josh Crittle
Going for 20
? The Knights will be seeking their third-straight 20-win season in 2012-13
? UCF has only achieved the feat once since joining the Division I ranks in 1984, having won 20 games each year from 2002-05
Follow the Leader
? Keith Clanton enters his senior season as one of the premier players in Conference USA
? One of the best players in UCF history, Clanton garnered All-C-USA First Team and NABC All-District 11 Team honors as a junior after averaging 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds
? A C-USA All-Defensive Team selection, Clanton blocked 59 shots and led the league with 2.0 swats per game in conference play
? Clanton already ranks first in program history with 164 career blocks, and is third with 737 rebounds and 11th with 1,260 points
Show and Improve
? As a freshman in 2010-11, Isaiah Sykes averaged 4.0 points and 3.2 boards in 16.5 minutes per game
? In league contests, Sykes averaged only 1.9 points
? The guard/forward showed great improvement as a sophomore as he played in all 33 contests, making 32 starts, and averaged 12.3 points and 6.4 rebounds
? Sykes had 22 double-digit scoring performances, after recording only one as a rookie, and shot 54.5 percent overall to lead the team
? In Conference USA contests, he shot 55.1 percent, good for fifth in the league
? Despite standing 6-foot-5, Sykes ranked third in C-USA games in offensive rebounds (3.2)
A Loaded Backcourt
? Thanks to the addition of two talented transfers, UCF will have a loaded backcourt
? Both C.J. Reed and Calvin Newell (eligible in December) will compete for the Knights after sitting out a year ago
? The duo averaged a combined 31.8 points during their last seasons at their previous schools
? A point guard, Reed came to UCF with impressive credentials
? As a junior at Bethune-Cookman, he was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year and the HBCU National Player of the Year after averaging 18.8 points and 4.8 assists
? Newell, who will see time at both guard spots, played in five games for Oklahoma in 2011 before heading to UCF and averaged 13.0 points in 19.6 minutes
Senior Shooting Guard
? Marcus Jordan spent all of UCF's non-conference schedule a year ago playing point guard, looking to get open teammates involved
? Once Conference USA play began, he moved back to his natural spot at shooting guard, but still had ample minutes at the point
? Despite the position changes, Jordan still managed to average 13.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists
? This season, Jordan should see all of his time off the ball, and should benefit from the arrival of point guard C.J. Reed
? Jordan, who knows how to get to the basket and score in traffic, enters his senior campaign 14th in UCF history with 1,182 points
The Return
? UCF also returns four talented players in Tristan Spurlock, Josh Crittle, Rod Days and Kasey Wilson
? A small forward, Spurlock could make a huge jump this season
? He averaged 7.2 points in 23.5 minutes per game last year after averaging 2.4 points in 13 contests at Virginia as a freshman in 2009-10
? Crittle, who has improved his strength and conditioning since arriving at UCF, made 25 starts at center last season
? The big man is working hard on his post-up game and could contribute more offensively in 2012-13
? Wilson displayed great promise at the end of his freshman season
? The power forward averaged 3.1 points in 2.2 minutes per game a year ago, but will receive more playing time this season and is expected to make a big impact as a sophomore
? Days made seven starts as a rookie last year and the UCF coaching staff is excited about his potential and willingness to improve
Welcome Freshmen
? Four freshmen joined the program this summer
? The group consists of Matt Williams from Orlando, Staphon Blair from Fort Lauderdale, Dylan Karell from North Miami Beach and Daiquan Walker from Philadelphia
? A shooting guard, Williams averaged 17.0 points and 8.0 rebounds at Jones High School this past year
? Blair will help provide depth behind Josh Crittle in the post
? He averaged 14.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks as a senior at Dillard High School, and was listed as the No. 29 power forward nationally by ESPNU
? Karell, who attended Dr. Krop High School, averaged 16.0 points in 2011-12
? Walker, who is listed as the No. 33 point guard in the country by ESPNU, averaged 18.1 points and 7.0 assists in leading Constitution High School to a state title