Jalen Speer (50) and Ryan Nutter run through a shooting drill as the Marshall menƵs basketball team conducts its first team practice Friday, June 14, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Jalen Speer (50) and Ryan Nutter run through a shooting drill as the Marshall menƵs basketball team conducts its first team practice Friday, June 14, 2024, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON Ƶ After taking the job, Marshall University menƵs basketball head coach Cornelius ƵCornyƵ Jackson was up front about one of the teamƵs biggest needs heading into the 2024-25 season Ƶ guards.
Enter Jalen Speer, Kai Spears and Dezayne Mingo.
Speer transferred from Florida A&M, Spears from Alabama and Mingo from the University of Guelph (Canada) and each has shown the ability to move the ball up the floor, set up the offense and cut strong to the basket when needed.
ThatƵs something that was missing from the team last season when the Thundering Herd tried a number of different options at point guard but never found a true fit.
ƵI see myself as one of those guys, for sure,Ƶ Speer said. ƵThatƵs what coach Jackson recruited me as and heƵs been nothing but true on his word all the way.Ƶ
ƵHe is pushing me to become the best me that I can be, off the bench, starting, it doesnƵt matter,Ƶ the former Rattler continued. ƵI want to be the best that I can be for this team.Ƶ
Speer was the team leader in scoring average (15.5 per game) and assists (76) last season with Florida A&M is now joined in the backcourt by another double-digit scorer in Mingo, who tallied more than 20 points per game with the Gryphons a year ago.
The first time they were on the floor together, each got a chance to show his skill sets while on opposite teams during an intrasquad scrimmage Thursday morning. It was only MingoƵs second day on campus.
ƵDezayne just came in like two days ago but me and him clicked off the rip,Ƶ Speer said. ƵHeƵs from Canada and IƵve had a teammate from Canada before and we were lead guards so it was kind of like a flashback. HeƵs an aggressive guy on the court, a killer and a dog. I can see it already.Ƶ
Jackson called the revamped group of ball-handlers a clean slate from both a team perspective as well as individually. Each, he said, has unique skill sets and this summer is about working to identify how he can tie those in with positive results on the floor.
ƵWe have some experienced guys and some guys that arenƵt as experienced,Ƶ Jackson said. ƵItƵs a clean slate, clean canvas to give those guys some space to grow and create their own vibe on the floor.Ƶ
Luke Creasy is a reporter for The Herald-Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @LukeCreasy or reach him by phone at 304-526-2800.
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