The Dustin Ford Era

[Let'sGoZips94]

42 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

Hoping he takes the Jimmy Conyers leap this year 

 

Wouldn't be surprised if he pushes for All MAC in some regard. Honorable Mention, Defensive Team, etc. He has the head on his shoulders to achieve whatever he wants.

[ewbrooman1]

2 hours ago, zippy5 said:

Hoping he takes the Jimmy Conyers leap this year 

It would be nice if he develops at least a semblance of an offensive game.

[Blue & Gold]

Article by Terry Pluto

[kreed5120]

5 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

Article by Terry Pluto

 

Thanks for sharing. It sounds like Ford signed a 5 year deal at $500K/yr. That's $350k less than what Groce was making, plus we received a $350K buyout from Groce leaving. Hopefully that money was mostly reinvested in the program. Whether it be assistant coach salaries, revenue share, travel, etc.

[akzipper]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Thanks for sharing. It sounds like Ford signed a 5 year deal at $500K/yr. That's $350k less than what Groce was making, plus we received a $350K buyout from Groce leaving. Hopefully that money was mostly reinvested in the program. Whether it be assistant coach salaries, revenue share, travel, etc.

 

$350k after 5 years to put towards a new arena. That should cover most of it. 

[Illini Zip]

1 hour ago, akzipper said:

 

$350k after 5 years to put towards a new arena. That should cover most of it. 

That might be enough to cover the architectural drawings and permits. Maybe. 

[ZippyRulz]

3 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Thanks for sharing. It sounds like Ford signed a 5 year deal at $500K/yr. That's $350k less than what Groce was making, plus we received a $350K buyout from Groce leaving. Hopefully that money was mostly reinvested in the program. Whether it be assistant coach salaries, revenue share, travel, etc.

 

I guess DF can be credited for some fundraising indirectly..

 

[Zippy87]

Does anyone know if Ladd, Christion, and Jones are still committed? 

[Zippy87]

Starting to come together...two spots left I believe? 

 

White/MMK

Halligan/Henderson

Burton/Barre

Head/Wilson

Staveskie/Perkins

 

Edited yesterday at 02:24 PM by Zippy87

[Let'sGoZips94]

14 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

Starting to cone together...two spots left I believe? 

 

White/MMK

Halligan/Henderson

Burton/Barre

Head/Wilson

Staveskie/Perkins

 

 

The combos here are a little off I'd imagine and I wouldn't rule out any of the freshman from an impact role until we hear that they're definitely redshirting.

 

This roster will be competitive with the top half of the MAC. I'd imagine the next 2 additions put us at the top. 

[kreed5120]

25 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

Starting to cone together...two spots left I believe? 

 

White/MMK

Halligan/Henderson

Burton/Barre

Head/Wilson

Staveskie/Perkins

 

 

I would guess Wilson would start over Head.

 

Burton/Barre/MMK probably will be a position battle.

 

I would prefer if we can add another SF/PF, but I would guess Henderson as of now is primary backup for White while also playing a few minutes at SF.

[Zippy87]

18 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

The combos here are a little off I'd imagine and I wouldn't rule out any of the freshman from an impact role until we hear that they're definitely redshirting.

 

This roster will be competitive with the top half of the MAC. I'd imagine the next 2 additions put us at the top. 

 

9 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I would guess Wilson would start over Head.

 

Burton/Barre/MMK probably will be a position battle.

 

I would prefer if we can add another SF/PF, but I would guess Henderson as of now is primary backup for White while also playing a few minutes at SF.

 

This is probably the hardest team in recent memory to project because there's so many players that we just don't know what we will get. The only things I'm confident in are that Steveskie will start, and that one of Burton/Barre will start (unless we add another big!). 

[NWAkron]

2 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I would guess Wilson would start over Head.

 

Burton/Barre/MMK probably will be a position battle.

 

I would prefer if we can add another SF/PF, but I would guess Henderson as of now is primary backup for White while also playing a few minutes at SF.

last time there was a big guy position battle there was a broken jaw and criminal charges involved.

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

Ladd is following Groce to CofC.

[Zippy87]

9 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Ladd is following Groce to CofC.

 

Doesn't really surprise me. Incoming freshmen are going to be more invested in the coach who recruited them than the school they haven't attended/played for yet. 

 

Does this mean we have 3 spots left? 

[Zippy87]

 

Edited 10 hours ago by Zippy87

[Zip Watcher]

On 4/17/2026 at 5:59 PM, zippy5 said:

Hoping he takes the Jimmy Conyers leap this year 

 

[Zippy87]

 

[Zippy87]

Two spots remain. Here's a position breakdown based on what each player what officially listed as:

 

Forwards:

Barre, Burton, White, Christion

 

Wings:

Halligan, MMK

 

Guards:

Steveskie, Pence, Wilson, Head, Perkins, Henderson, Jones

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Zippy87

[HoopsFan03]

8 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

He beat PCCC last year. Should be a smooth transition. 

[kreed5120]

This is a massive haul for Akron. He is projected as a HM start/mid-major all-conference. He's a 2-way player and his game is very well rounded. He is an elite finisher at the rim and dangerous enough from 3. IMO this is this our best signing with Tahj a close second.

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by kreed5120

[Let'sGoZips94]

20 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

Two spots remain. Here's a position breakdown based on what each player what officially listed as:

 

Forwards:

Barre, Burton, White, Christion

 

Wings:

Halligan, MMK

 

Guards:

Steveskie, Pence, Wilson, Head, Perkins, Henderson, Jones

 

 

Would imagine only 1 spot remains. We're at 13. The next would be 14, and I would bet Akron goes Walk On for the 15th spot (go find the next Freeman/Evan Wilson/Halligan). Pence & White slot into more of a Wing role on this roster, giving us some really nice depth and balance. 

 

Look at the height!

 

Barre 6'10"

Burton 6'10"

Christion 6'9"

MMK 6'6"

White 6'6"

Pence 6'6"

Halligan 6'5"

Henderson 6'5"

Jones 6'5"

Head 6'3"

Staveskie 6'1"

Wilson 6'1"

Perkins 6'0"

 

Couple different directions we might go with the final spot...

 

- We're missing a proven sniper. There's a chance Henderson, Jones, Perkins, Wilson, or Head prove to be that, but at the moment we don't have a proven ~40% 3P shooter.

 

- Another front court piece would be nice. There's a gap between the 6'6" group and the PFs. A 6'7"-6'8" stretch 3/4 would be incredible. 

 

- In a perfect world, we get a stretch 3/4 at the aforementioned height that is also a sniper from deep, although that type of player is like Elmer and already committed to Wisconsin. 

Edited 4 hours ago by Let'sGoZips94

[kreed5120]

One would have to think the last scholarship will go to PF or a SF that can play the PF spot. I would expect to see White or probably more likely Pence play PF for stretches of the game. Just not sure I would want them there for 30 mpg.

[AkronAlumnus]

4 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

One would have to think the last scholarship will go to PF or a SF that can play the PF spot. I would expect to see White or probably more likely Pence play PF for stretches of the game. Just not sure I would want them there for 30 mpg.

Gimme Kraig Gilbert from Concord. 

[Zippy87]

1 minute ago, AkronAlumnus said:

Gimme Kraig Gilbert from Concord. 

 

Would definitely be an intriguing addition.