TCU’s Frontcourt Key for 2011-2012 Success
Last season Jim Christian‘s frontcourt was often inconsistent in its production and lacked depth to wear down opposing teams in the paint.
This offseason, Christian and the TCU basketball staff have seemingly addressed that need by adding three big bodies to the void left by the departing Nikola’s (Cerina and Gacesa). Cerina was the Frogs’ best big man averaging 5.4 ppg and 4.1 rebounds per game as well. After a strong freshman campaign, Cerina’s numbers did not improve in his sophomore season as many around the program expected them to.
Cerina often split time with fellow serbian, Nikola Gacesa, who was a senior transfer from FIU. After playing three seasons in Florida, Gacesa struggled with injuries and inconsistency as he averaged just 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. J.R. Cadot turned out to be the Frogs’ leading rebounder averaging six boards per contest.
Amric Fields and Garlon Green were forced to spend some time as the four man along with J.R. Cadot. Neither of the aforementioned three are cut out to play the power forward position, so TCU’s production had to come predominantly from the guards. Cerina occasionally showed signs of his potential, but those spurts often took their own sweet time arriving.
Well Gacesa graduated, and Cerina transfered this offseason leaving a large gap in the middle. However, head coach Jim Christian who will enter his 4th season at the helm at TCU wasted little time filling the void left behind.
His first signing of the offseason was Fort Worth native, Adrick McKinney, who is joining the Frogs after two seasons at Angelina junior college.
McKinney’s coach at Angelina had high praise for his former player who stands tall at 6’8 weighing 250 pounds. “He’s a warrior, competitor-type player who brings it every day in practice. He’s a guy who energizes the team. Being a local guy from Fort Worth, I think he will really benefit Coach Christian and the TCU program. You can see Adrick’s growth from when he first arrived at Angelina to now. Hopefully, those things will carry over his junior and senior years.”
McKinney’s size and hard-nosed attitude will benefit the Frogs on the defensive end and instill a sense of tenacity in TCU that was lacking at times last season. Christian’s next signing for the frontcourt was one of his biggest signings of the offseason when he landed Ryan Rhoomes from New York. Rhoomes is ranked a “three star” prospect by Rivals.com, and he averaged over 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Rhoomes provides a formidable offensive threat in the paint for the Frogs, and he has a mature back to the basket game for an 18 year old kid.
Christian’s last signing provided much needed depth to the front court. Winslo Barry is a 6’11 and 238 pound load in the paint, and he committed to TCU after four years at Houston’s Christian Life Center Academy. He averaged 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game last season. His game is still developing, but hesitate to slap the “project” label on Barry. His size and athleticism should allow him to contribute to the Frogs atleast defensively, but his back to the basket post game is raw and will take time to develop.
He is the second native of the Bahamas on TCU’s team. J.R. Cadot (Sr) is from Nassau, Bahamas.
The wild card in the front court will be Cheick Kone. Kone played less than meaningful minutes last season for the Frogs, but another offseason to work on his game may have been exactly what Kone needed. Like Barry, Kone is 6’10 and 240 pounds. Injuries have plagued the Mali native, but 2011-2012 may finally be the year Kone is healthy and ready to contribute to the Frogs. Another big man who can contribute would be very beneficial to the Frogs in the case that Rhoomes, McKinney, or Barry struggle with foul trouble.
Jim Christian has said he wants his team to play physical basketball, and this may finally be the season that the Frogs bring the physicality to the court that Christian has been seeking.
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