|
By Kent Larsen
Trumpeted BYU Freshmen Did Well, Says Cleveland
PROVO, UTAH -- BYU Head Coach Steve Cleveland says that the freshmen he
recruited a year ago have done well. While the five who played this year
average a total of 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds, Cleveland says they're where
they should be. "They are making contributions and more importantly, they
are understanding their roles. One thing we're not getting is scoring, but I
never thought the freshmen would come in and make a huge impact on the
program. . . . I just wanted them to learn, make progress, get better, and
they have done that very well." But LDS missions have already split them up
as a group.
The six freshmen recruited last year are now down to just three active
players. The group includes Garner Meads, Jesse Pinegar, Derek Dawes, Jake
Chrisman, Daniel Bobik and Austin Ainge, the son of former BYU star Danny
Ainge. But only Dawes, Chrisman and Bobik are still playing for BYU this
season, and Dawes may serve an LDS mission starting before next season.
Ainge, one of the three not playing, decided to serve an LDS mission before
enrolling at BYU. He is expected to return after next year. Highly recruited
Garner Meads, who turned down both Stanford and Utah for BYU, was injured in
a collision in practice that collapsed one of his lungs. Rather than try to
recover too quickly, Meads opted to serve his mission early and rejoin the
team when he returns. Pinegar broke his left foot in Fall practice, and
decided to redshirt this season while he recovers. But he will return next
season since he doesn't plan to serve an LDS mission.
Of the remaining three, only Dawes may serve a mission, and he is
struggling with the decision. Chrisman is not an LDS Church member, and
Bobik has already served a mission, returning this past summer.
Source:
BYU Frosh Make Progress
Salt Lake Tribune 1Mar01 S2
By Phil Miller: Salt Lake Tribune
|
