The new offense will likely run through Jason’s younger brother, Ryan, who was the Broncs second-leading scorer with 15 points per game. The younger Thompson, standing at 6’6”, is an all-around player. He shoots, drives, boards, and distributes. Last season, Thompson averaged 6 rebounds, 3.4 assists per game, and shot 44 percent from three-point range.
Tommy Dempsey is bringing in Jermaine Jackson, the No. 48 power forward according to ESPN, in order to fill the hole left by Thompson. It will be impossible to replace Thompson, but scouts say that Rider got a steal in Jackson.
Rider is returning their third best scorer, Harris Mansell. Mansell averaged 13.7 points per game, and shot 44.7% from beyond the arc last season.
Forward Mike Ringgold and guards Mansell and Justin Robinson will compliment Thompson, keeping Rider in the top tier of the MAAC.
Niagara University Purple Eagles (19-10, 12-6)
Coach Joe Mihalic, who took the Purple Eagles to the tournament in 2007, intends to be playing in the middle of March of 2009.
Despite losing the league’s leading scorer, in Fisher, the Purple Eagles have three solid players to run their offense. Anthony Nelson and Tyrone Lewis will be the two starting guards for Mihalic this year, with Benson Egemonye at center.
Nelson only averaged five points per game last season, but managed to record five assists per contest. Lewis scored 16.1 points per game, and can definitely add to his average now that Fisher is not ahead of him in the offense’s priorites.
In a league dominated by guard-play, Benson Egemonye averaged 9 points and 6.6 boards in 25 minutes per game last season. Egemonye’s minutes were limited because of foul trouble, but if he can avoid fouling he can be a major threat for the Purple Eagles.
He will be vital to Niagara’s success because he will attract attention down low, allowing Lewis to get more space behind the arc. Egemonye will need to become more aggressive on the boards, as the Purple Eagles will be without Fisher’s 9.5 rebounds per contest. Niagara led the MAAC in rebounds last season.
Niagara will welcome the nation’s 95th best shooting guard, Austin Cooley, to the mix.
Mihalic will certainly miss Fisher and Stanley Hodge, who combined for 40 points per game for the Eagles in 2007-08, but he will find a way to keep the Purple Eagles competitive.
Loyola College (Md.) Greyhounds (19-14, 12-6)
Another MAAC school to lose key players, Jimmy Patsos saw three of his top five scorers play their final game as Greyhounds in a two point semifinal loss to Siena. Gerald Brown, Michael Tuck, and Omari Isreal all graduated after last season. Brown was the teams top scorer, and Tuck was the top rebounder.
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