Opening the season 2-1, the Loyola men?s basketball team is continuing to build on the work that has been done the last two years. Coach Jimmy Patsos took over a team that was 1-27 in 2004. Last year, the Greyhounds finished 15-13. Recruiting the right talent has been a strength for Patsos, particularly coming up with successful transfer students.
Gerald Brown (Providence), Andre Collins (Maryland), Hasaan Fofana (Maryland), Omari Israel (Notre Dame) and Joe Miles (Marshall) have all come to Loyola since Patsos took over.
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Collins was the fourth-leading scorer in the NCAA last season, and junior guard Gerald Brown is taking the lead for the Greyhounds this year. Brown is averaging nearly 26 points per game and was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player of the week for his performance in Loyola?s first two games.
“I am quite proud of everything Gerald has been able to do,” Patsos said. “He has been really impressive. I like guys to score. If they can score, I let them do what they do.”
Patsos has been trying to recruit good players either out of high school or possible transfers. With Collins gone, Brown will have to fill the void left at guard, one of the most important positions for mid-major programs, according to Patsos.
The 6-4 guard left Providence and transferred to Loyola after the 2005 season because his mother was sick. She later passed away, but Brown stayed at home to remain close to his family.
“I just wanted to come home and be close to my family,” said Brown, who was drawn to Patsos? demeanor.
“He has that winning attitude.”
Brown, Israel and Miles (eligible next season) have all played together before, according to Brown, and agree that coming to Loyola is a great chance to play near home and turn the program around.
“I wanted to find a place I was comfortable with,” said Israel, a top prep recruit from Montgomery County?s Good Counsel, of the elite Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. “[Patsos] has always been a real cool guy and a real down-to-earth guy.”
Israel, who will make his Loyola debut on Dec. 22 on the road against High Point, has a feeling that once he enters the Greyhounds? lineup, things will start to click even more.
“There is going to be a lot of chemistry flowing through the building,” Israel said. “I just think it is going to be like artwork.”
