Towson forward Rodney Spruill knows what it?s like towin a state basketball title ? now he has his eyes set on a Colonial Athletic Association crown. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder starred on Walbrook High School?s state championship team two years ago that defeated Blake, 45-38, in the 4A final.
However, Spruill hasn?t experienced the same amount of success at Towson. But Coach Pat Kennedy expects that to change for the sophomore this season.
As a freshman, Spruill showed flashes of why he was one of the Baltimore?s best high school basketball players two years ago, averaging 3.7 points in 14.1 minutes per game.
But Spruill made his biggest strides in the team?s final game, when he scored 13 points a 58-55 loss to Old Dominion in the quarterfinals of the CAA tournament. His performance has Kennedy believing Spruill can emerge as the premier scorer for a team in which no returning player averaged more than six points per game last year.
“Rodney has come light years from a year ago just if you look at him physically, he?s faster, he?s lighter, he?s playing better defense and he really knows how to play,” Kennedy said. “As we get closer to the Loyola game [on Friday], Rodney will become more of a go-to-guy.”
It will be imperative Spruill replaces the scoring void left by the graduation of Gary Neal, who averaged a conference-high 25.3 points per game as he guided the Tigers to a 15-17 record and a seventh-place finish in the CAA last year.
“I got stronger and hit the weights harder and got in better condition so I can play more minutes,” Spruill said. “It doesn?t matter to me if I start, but I know I need to handle my part. I can?t be out of shape and help the team.”
Spruill joins his former Walbrook teammate Rocky Coleman at Towson, a junior guard who will be counted on to add depth off the bench. Coleman averaged 3.4 points per game and 1.5 rebounds last year, and will play in the back court with Tim Crossin (3.9 ppg.), C.C. Williams (6 ppg.) and junior transfer Vernon Carr.
“We have good weapons, we just have to stay with it,” Kennedy said. “This team will definitely just get better and better everyday because of their attitude and work ethic.”
Tigers at a glance
» Coach: Pat Kennedy (Fourth Season, 33-56)
» Last Year: 15-17 overall, 8-10 CAA, lost to Old Dominion, 58-55, in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
» Returning players: G C.C. Williams, 6-1, 170, 6.0 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 4.1 apg.; F Tommy Breaux, 6-9, 210, 5.9 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 0.8 apg.; F Jonathan Pease, 6-6, 190, 4.3 ppg., 2.7 rpg., 1.0 apg.; G Tim Crossin, 6-2, 170, 3.9 ppg., 1.6 rpg., 1.7 apg.; G Rocky Coleman, 6-4, 185, 3.4 ppg., 1.6 rpg., 1.5 apg.; F Rodney Spruill, 6-4, 210, 3.7 ppg., 1.8 rpg., 1.2 apg.; F Sean Raboin, 6-7, 210, 0.8 ppg., 1.2 rpg., 0.1 apg.; G Ryan Kannegieter, 6-2, 180, 0.0 ppg., 0.0 rpg., 0.0 apg.
» Top Newcomer: G Vernon Carr. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound junior transfer from Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College averaged 15 points and six assists per game last season.
» Big Game: Dec. 3 at Delaware. The Tigers defeated the Blue Hens twice last year by an average of 14.5 points, but this will be Towson?s only CAA game for a month. A 1-0 record in conference over the holiday season would be a big confidence boost, as five of the Tigers? first eight games are away from the Towson Center.
» Key to the Season: Three-point shooting. The Tigers return no scorer who averaged more than 6 points per game last year. In a 73-60 exhibition win over Shepherd University on Thursday night, Towson shot 50 percent from the field, but struggled to put the Rams away because the team made only 5-of-16 three-point attempts.
» Tickets: $8-$12. For information, call 410-704-2244.
» Key Number: 25.3. Points per game averaged by graduated guard Gary Neal.
