As of right now (there could always be transfers) we have four scholarships to give for the 2011-2012 season and three verbal commits (Dylan Ennis, Nick Harney, Blake Justice). That leaves us with one more scholarship to be spoken for. Our current 2011-12 roster should look like this.

PG-Humpty Hitchens-Senior
PG-Alex Abreu-Sophomore/Redshirt Freshman
PG-Dylan Ennis-Freshman
SG-Brett McClanahan-Senior
SG-Blake Justice-Freshman
SG/SF-Quincy Diggs-Junior
SF-Michael Green-Sophomore/Redshirt Freshman
SF/PF-Josh Egner-Sophomore/Redshirt Freshman
SF/PF-Nick Harney-Freshman
PF-Nikola Cvetinovic-Senior
PF-Dakotah Euton-Sophomore/Redshirt Freshman
C-Zeke Marshall-Junior

A list of 2011 scholarship offers can be found here:
http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?showtopic=17865

So lets here it Zipsnation, who do you want to see fill that final spot.

For me:
Dream: George Fant-PF-Bowling Green Kentucky: Normally in a dream scenario I would say Mr. Sampson from down the road at St.V, but looking at our roster we would then be getting a log jam of athletic combo-forwards with Sampson, Harney and Egner. Fant is more of a true post player with the ability to play with his back to the basket. Most consider him to be among the top 5 prospects in Kentucky for 2011.

Realistic: Remy Abell-SG-Louisville Kentucky: The Zips are going to be short on SG's in 2011-12, even with the addition of Blake Justice. Abell is a likely answer to that. The Zips have jumped on him early and should hopefully have the inside track as one of the first programs to offer him (there has been interest from programs such as Xavier and Louisville). At 6'4", 197lbs Abell is described as a do it all SG who can score in multiple ways with good defense to boot.

The recruiting question aside.....this gives us a good picture of where we will be in a couple of years in terms of personnel. Will that be the year that Zeke becomes dominant? Will Humpty fulfill his potential? Will Nik contunue to get better? And, will Brett become more than a 5-10 min. per game bench players?

These are the questions to be answered by the upper classmen on this future Zips team over the next couple of years.

Will the coaching style evolve?

I already said either 3 guards and 1 forward or 2 of each for 2011, depending on how the current group of new players works out. So with 2 guards and 1 forward having apparently already made verbals, the final choice is a tough call for me.

Given the players graduating, the question marks about how the incoming frontcourt players will work out at power forward, and with no backup center for Zeke, I'm leaning toward more depth at power forward rather than a 3rd guard for 2011.

If the Zips can't find a quality true center to take over for Zeke when he graduates, it will help to have a strong lineup of power forwards.

Just my opinions:
#1: Yes, I think 2010-2011 is when Zeke will start to make a bigger impact for the Zips. By the 2011-2012 season he should be ready to be a dominant force inside for us.

#2: Sadly, no. I think the Zips at this point are probably just a bad fit for Humpty. He needs a program that will let him be the primary ball handler and will let him push the tempo with a coach who doesn't mind the occassional turnover. Though I think KD is going to make some adjustments to his coaching next year, I don't think we will see that big of a change.

#3: Yes and no. I don't think Nik has much higher of a ceiling than where he already is in terms of physical capabilities. I think if you are going to see improvements from Nik it will come from playing smarter, particularly on the offensive end. As teams learned his moves (head fake/dribble drive from the top of the key, baseline spin move) this year it really started to frustrate him. Nik is a smart kid, with a year off I think you will see him learn to adjust to defenses the way defenses have adjusted to him.

#4: Doubtful. Brett's best opportunity is going to come in 2011-12 when McNees and Roberts aren't in the picture anymore and there is a big, gaping hole at SG. At this point I haven't seen enough from him to warrant a lot more playing time. I think the switch over to SF this past year really hurt his development and I have my doubts as to his ability to bounce back.