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ULM Basketball Media Day Notebook: Richard Has Deep, Versatile Roster

ULM Basketball Media Day Notebook: Richard Has Deep, Versatile Roster

Men's Basketball Oct 22
By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist
 
MONROE, La. – The ULM men's basketball team features 13 scholarship players on the roster and head coach Keith Richard can envision a role for every one of them.

For example, ULM has much bigger options at center this season with Chris Efretuei (7-2, 260) and Dadou Traore (6-10, 220) and the players themselves bring different skill sets to the court.

"They are interesting because they're both big," Richard said. "But they're two completely different players."

In Efretuei, ULM has a space-eating intimidator in the paint.

"The seven-footer is huge," Richard said. "He's not as mobile as Dadou. He's got a nice jump hook inside and he's just a bigger body guy."

At this point, Traore won't be as polished, but his athleticism is off the charts.
 
"He's a really good athlete," Richard said. "He's got a seven-foot wingspan and over a 40-inch vertical. A shot-blocker type guy and he is more mobile."

Figuring out how and when to utilize his big men will be one of the early experiments for the ULM coaches.

"They've both had some good moments in practice, and they both at times looked raw," Richard said. "Their improvement over time and their impact in games is going to be interesting to watch. They're something we haven't had. Implementing them in our program is something that we're excited about. But they've got some improving to do too." 
       
Coming forward: Richard calls his options at forward a "gumbo of guys."

Like ULM's men in the middle, the forward position comes with an assortment of options.

Elijah Ifejeh is a 6-foot-7, 240-pounder who will be the most physical specimen in the mix.

"Brute, muscle, strong, great athlete," Richard said. "Not as good a shooter but a lot more physical player. He's going to be an important guy in the rotation and in certain games."

D'Andre Bernard (6-8, 190) is a seasoned player coming in as a graduate transfer from East Tennessee State.

"Great athlete with guard skills," Richard said. "He can really play offense out there and he moves well. He's in the mix."

Youry White (6-8, 205) is back for his senior season and has shown improvements this preseason.

"Youry is having a good camp," Richard said. "He's further along than he was last year. He's doing some good things."

Luke Phillips (6-10, 220) will be more of a finesse player for the Warhawks.

"He's not as strong and not as athletic as the other guys," Richard said. "But he's a really good motion player."

Rolling with the role players: The starting rotation appears set at the one, two and three with Michael Ertel, JD Williams and Tyree White returning to the lineup from last year's team.

Finding the right options off the bench to spell them also will be part of the continuing development of this squad.

West Monroe product Langston Powell has shown promise, Richard said. The sophomore transferred to ULM from Pearl River Community College.

"He's had some really good practices, and he's had days where he struggled," Richard said. "He brings energy and is a hard-playing guy. We like him. I think he's got a chance to really help us."

Sophomore Jalen Hodge, who saw action last season, is back looking for a bigger role, along with Josh Nicholas and Erie Olenade.

"They're all kind of battling for some playing time," Richard said. "They're all three different players. We're trying to figure that out and we're not going to know until we start playing games."

Hodge is smaller guard who played well in spurts last year while Olenade is combo scoring guard. Nicholas is bigger, a solid defender and can knock down 3-pointers.

"How it shakes out will be interesting to watch," Richard said.
 
 
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