The Flyers will feature a great deal of athleticism from their shooting guards this season. Although UD only officially features two players labeled as shooting guards in Marcus Johnson and Paul Williams, I will include Luke Fabrizius in the shooting guard section. Dayton will look to these three players to contribute heavily in the upcoming season and their success could hinge on the performance of their guards.
#22 Paul Williams – 6-4 Sophomore
Paul Williams came into Dayton last season as the Flyers highest rated prospect and was named to the A-10 All Newcomer team in the preseason. With the reputation of filling up the basket, he struggled in the early going of his first season at UD. Although he only averaged 2.2 points per game, Williams showed some dramatic signs of improvement as the season went on. Williams had the disadvantage of coming into his first season injured causing him to miss significant practice time. This lack of practice showed in the early goings and he didn’t look comfortable until midway through the season. Paul and his left-handed shot will play a crucial role in the Flyers offense off the bench. Now a full year into the Brian Gregory system, look for Williams to blossom in his Sophomore season and dramatically improve in all offense categories. Paul will be one of the first players off the bench for the Flyers.
#23 Luke Fabrizius – 6-9 Sophomore
Standing at 6-9, Luke is not what you would call the prototype outside shooter. Although he is gifted with great size, Luke is most comfortable on the perimeter facing the basket as opposed to playing in the post. His size and range can create matchup nightmares for opposing coaches. After an extremely slow start to his first season, Fabrizius had a coming out party in the stretch-run of the season. In the regular season finale against Duquesne, Luke dropped 17 including five consecutive three-pointers. A catch and shoot player, Luke struggles with creating his own shot and generally relies on screens and passing to create open shots for himself. Fabrizius like most outside shooters is a streaky player that can be lethal when he is feeling it from long range. Expect Luke to improve in his 4.0 points per game average last season but I wouldn’t expect him to be a consistent double-figure scorer for the Flyers at least this season.
#32 Marcus Johnson – 6-3 Senior
Marcus Johnson is a freak athlete. Period. Since his first game with the Flyers where he scored 23 points, Flyer fans have expected great things from Marcus. Though he has been slightly overshadowed by Chris Wright, Marcus is just as much of an athlete as Wright is. Marcus’ above the rim game is scary and he is a force on both offense and defense. After averaging 11.8 points his junior year, Flyer fans can look for an improvement in his final year. Marcus can be a frustrating player to watch as he seems to occasionally disappear on the court for a half. When he is on the top of his game, Marcus is one of the best players in the A-10, but he needs to remain aggressive throughout the game. Unlike Fabrizius, Marcus has the ability to create his own shot and can finish in the lane. Johnson is also known for his lock-down defense and is generally assigned to the opposing team’s best guard. UD fans have expected a lot out of Marcus and I believe that his senior season is when he puts it together. With flashes of brilliance the last three years, it’s easy to drool over the type of player he could ultimately be.
That wraps up the guards for the Flyers. Tomorrow I will take a look at the Flyers forwards as well as provide a look at UD’s final preseason game against Division II powerhouse Northern Kentucky. Be sure to check back here tomorrow.
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