Ragin' Cajuns Men's Basketball 2014-15 Preview: Guards

This is the third in a three-part series, taking a glance at the upcoming 2014-15 Ragin' Cajun basketball team. Louisiana went 23-12 a year ago, claiming the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. They kick off the season this year with an exhibition vs Loyola-New Orleans on Nov. 5 before the official season-opening game on Nov. 14 at home vs Louisiana College.

Returners: Steven Wronkoski, Kasy Shepherd, Xavian Rimmer, Donovan Williams, Hayward Register
Newcomers: Jay Wright, Johnathan Stove, Tiremone Williams

LAFAYETTE, La. – Throughout the preseason, Louisiana head coach Bob Marlin has been asked one question repeatedly – "How do you replace Elfrid Payton?"

Losing one of the best players in the history of the program is an undertaking no coaching staff looks forward to, but with a mix of veterans and newcomers, the Ragin' Cajuns backcourt looks as though it is going to be a strength of the team once again.

Payton was taken as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft in June, just months after closing out his Cajun career as the school's all-time steals leader, earning national defensive player of the year honors and being the focal point of a team who made a run into the NCAA Tournament.

In addition to Payton at the point guard, the Cajuns also have to replace Sun Belt Tournament MVP Bryant Mbamalu, another 1,000-point scorer who averaged 12.3 points in 2013-14 at the shooting guard slot. Still, Marlin knows what he has and feels as though this year's group of guards has what it takes to pick up right where that pair left off.

"The day after the draft we had practice and we quit talking about Elfrid," Marlin said. "We were genuinely happy for him, but we knew we had to put it behind us and look to this year."

Marlin has seen similar situations before, winning the national championship at Pensacola Junior College a year after losing eventual NBA Draft pick, point guard Anthony Goldwire. He used that example with his team, and that of Damian Lillard, noting the year after Lillard left Weber State to join the Portland Trail Blazers, the Wildcats turned in a 30-7 season - the best in program history.

This year the Cajuns will boast a deep backcourt to compliment what is arguably the best front line in the SBC. Returners Kasey Shepherd, Xavian Rimmer and Steven Wronkoski all have played big minutes for UL over the last two years, while sophomore Hayward Register showed flashes of being an instant offensive contributor, especially from beyond the three-point line last season.

Add in junior college transfers Jay Wright and Tiremone Williams at the point guard, and high-end freshman Johnathan Stove at shooting guard, and options are aplenty for Marlin and his staff.

With just days until the exhibition opener, Shepherd looks to have the inside track at the starting point guard spot; although, Wright, Williams and occasionally Rimmer will all likely see duty there. A natural shooting guard, Shepherd missed half of the 2013-14 season with a knee injury, but is back this year at full strength.

Though not the penetrator or defender that Payton was, Shepherd brings a polished skill set of his own to the point. A 6-3 junior, he was one of UL's top outside threats last season, hitting nearly 54 percent of his shots from beyond the arc and nearly 94 percent of his foul shots – both marks that would top the UL record books had he finished the year with enough attempts.

"Kasey is fully recovered from his injury and we are very excited to have him back out there for us this season," Marlin said. "He can play either guard spot and has been really working hard to become better at the point, even talking to Elfrid on a consistent basis to pick his brain about it."

Alongside Shepherd to open the season will be Rimmer, who was recently named to the preseason all-SBC second team. He enters his senior season on the heels of a year that saw him finish sixth in the league in three-point shooting (.432) and earn a spot on the all-SBC Tournament team after a breakout event where he scored 24 points in the quarterfinals against UT Arlington and 27 in the championship game against Georgia State.

A strong guard at 6-2, 225 pounds, Rimmer will be looked at to up his production even after playing 27.1 minutes and averaging 8.8 points last season. It will be the first time in his collegiate career that Rimmer has been on the same roster for consecutive seasons, having won SWAC Freshman of the Year honors at Alcorn State in 2012 and playing at Pear River CC as a sophomore, which Marlin feels will be a big benefit entering 2014-15.

"Rimmer is one of the best shooters in our league and he's done a great job of leadership so far this preseason," Marlin said. "Working hard and being consistent is the key to his game. Everyone knows he can shoot the basketball, but he's more comfortable now and I expect him to be very good for us."

Wronkoski has also played a big role in the program's success the past two years, seeing action in 66 games and making 36 starts as a freshman and sophomore. A solid three-point shooter, he has hit 34 percent of his attempts from long distance in two years and has the size and skill to play up to three positions on the floor.

Still, the added depth throughout the roster should benefit Wronkoski, allowing him to move away from spending time at the power forward to almost exclusive time at the small forward and shooting guard spots - positions where he fits much more naturally.

"Steven has done a nice job filling in wherever we have needed him," Marlin said. "Hopefully he can play just the 2-3 this year and get back to guarding people more his size after having to play the up a position sometimes previously. We feel like he can contribute a lot to our team based on his leadership and knowledge. He's started a lot of ballgames for us the last two years and played in some big games."

Other returners include local products Register and Donovan Williams, both of whom will see time in the Cajun backcourt. Register, from Lafayette's Comeaux High School, is a pure shooter who will immediately stretch the court and saw time In 27 games a year ago. He averaged 19.5 points per game in high school and had the signature game of his freshman season when he exploded for 17 points at UT Arlington, canning five of his seven tries from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Williams enters his fourth year with the program, and gives Marlin another late-game option off the bench.

Newcomers Wright, Tiremone Williams and Stove look to be in line for significant minutes as well. Wright is a speedy point guard who joins the Cajuns with three years of eligibility remaining after playing just one year at Casper College as a freshman.

He took full advantage of his time in Wyoming, earning North Conference Player of the Year honors for the Thunderbirds with 11 games of at least 20 points. In all he averaged 16.5 points, five rebounds, 4.5 assists and nearly two steals a game last year.

"Jay is fast, quick and can get to the basket pretty easily," Marlin said. "He is a point guard who plays a lot like Elfrid. He's fearless when he gets into the lane and has a really good jump shot off the dribble, as well as an improving three-point shot."

Tiremone Williams will be another option for Marlin, and brings a lot of familiarity with the Cajuns roster after having played in high school alongside big man J.J. Davenport at Abbeville High School and with Devonta Walker the last two years at Western Texas College.

He averaged 6.8 points per game each of his two seasons for the Westerners, and even led Abbeville High School to the state title game in 2011 while earning all-state honors.

The staff is also very high on Johnathan Stove, a true freshman from Baton Rouge with a frame already built for the collegiate level. At 6-4, 220 pounds, Stove impressed the coaches with his showing in pre-camp strength testing, immediately topping the team list in the majority of categories.

Ranked as the No. 3 player in Louisiana by NOLA.com, Stove was the LSWA Class 1A MVP at Christian Life Academy and led his team to the state quarterfinals. He averaged a double-double as a senior with 25.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, just a year after averaging 19.8 points per game as a junior.

Marlin says he has been very impressive in preseason camp, and projects as a shooting guard who will also likely see time at the small forward spot.

#GeauxCajuns

2014-15 Season Preview Schedule
October 24 – Posts
October 28 – Forwards
October 30 – Guards
Nov. 3 – Loyola (N.O.) Exhibition Preview

Players Mentioned

J.J. Davenport

Bryant Mbamalu

Elfrid Payton

Hayward Register

Xavian Rimmer

Kasey Shepherd

Johnathan Stove

Devonta Walker

Donovan Williams

Tiremone Williams

Jay Wright

Steven Wronkoski