Kats pleased with development early on
10/17/2016 4:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Sam Houston State men's basketball team is underway with fall practices, gearing up for its Nov. 12 season opener against LeTourneau, as it practices at New Waverly High School with ongoing construction to Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
“I thought last week was probably our best week up to this point,” sixth-year head coach Jason Hooten said. “I think learning and starting to put together some of the basic fundamentals with what we're looking. We've started to put in some set plays and offense.”
The Kats spent time in Costa Rica this summer, playing exhibition games against the University of Ottawa and the Costa Rica National Team, building chemistry while rotating 16 players in the game while posting a 92-76 win against Ottawa and 84-46 victory over Costa Rica.
Sam Houston returns eight players from last season, including its five starters and top-seven scorers. Seniors Aurimas Majauskas and Dakarai Henderson led the squad last season with both players averaging 14.2 points per game.
“Experience is always a key,” Hooten said. “It's a good feeling to know you have a lot of guys who have been there and done that. We also have a lot of guys in that mix who have played in a championship game before and came up short. I think that's a big motivational factor for them. That is something they're striving for.”
Included in that mix is senior Paul Baxter who returns to the court after having to miss last season due to injury. From the 2012-13 season to the 2014-15 campaign, he has played in 103 of the Kats' 104 games.
“We took it really slow after he had that second stint,” Hooten said. “He probably didn't start doing basketball activities until April or May. This summer as he prepared to go to Costa Rica, he had a little scare and he got it X-rayed again it was totally fine. It was good to get that out of our minds. The last week and a half or two weeks he has been the guy I remember two years ago, maybe even better.”
The Bearkats add seven players to their roster, including sophomore Josh Delaney's brother, Cameron, who redshirted last year due to his transfer. The Kats welcome freshman Justin Van Pelt alongside transfers John Dewey III (Holderness), Christopher Galbreath Jr. (Southwestern Illinois), Marcus Harris (San Diego), Demetrius Levarity (Southeastern Illinois) and graduate transfer Phillip Jones Jr. (UTSA).
“They are all really talented players and I think we did a good job of recruiting,” Hooten said. “Now, the hard part for them is trying to figure things out. No matter what level you're on prior, there is always a learning curve. There is a grind there. At some places, they make take a possession off defensively and we don't do that here so there's a learning curve but I am happy with their attitudes and work ethic.”
Season ticket pages for the 2016-17 Sam Houston men's and women's basketball season are now on sale by calling the Bearkat ticket office at (936) 294-1729. Ticket packages include games at Johnson Coliseum for 20 events as well as Southland Conference doubleheaders.
Bearkat Champion Lower Reserved (Section E and F) are on sale for $200 with a $100 donation to the Bearkat Champions Fund included in the cost. Lower Corner Reserved (Section J and K) are available for $99 while General Admission seats are priced at $75.
