Player Grades for the Hofstra University Pride
Senior, Jalen Ray, shooting a jump-shot
As a current student at Hofstra University in Long Island, I have naturally been very invested in the success of our Men’s Basketball team. After watching every game so far this year, I decided to grade each player on their overall production since the game one heartbreaker against Houston.
Abayomi Iyiola - B
Iyiola has played well this year, but I feel like there is more untapped potential that has yet to be seen. The 6-8, 215 lbs. center is a lanky defender with a nice finesse touch around the basket, but I still would like to see more intensity. It seems like he tends to stray away from contact down low, and I would like to see him be a little more aggressive. With a bit more aggressiveness, I feel his rebound totals would dramatically increase, and defenders would be a bit more scared when he is in the paint.
Jaquan Carlos - C
The freshman point guard has not done all that much for the Pride, but that is understandable for a first-year player. He is averaging just over 1 point per game and 1.4 assists per game. This production should increase with a more significant role, but as of now, even in his limited minutes, he has yet to wow me.
Aaron Estrada - A+
Aaron Estrada is a special player and, unlike Carlos, has yet to have a game where I have not been “wowed.” He has a beautiful shot from anywhere on the court, and he seems like a great leader for a team who seemed to lack one at the beginning of the season. He also has a clutch gene which is something that cannot be taught. Estrada’s ability to perform in the clutch has been incredible this season and their last game against JMU was a perfect example. Without Aaron Estrada, this would be a totally different team.
Darlinstone Dubar - A
The Iowa State transfer Dubar has been another guy who is so important to this team’s success. His ability to play almost every position on the floor makes him so valuable to a team who lacks depth at so many positions. He may not be truly elite at any position outside of a stretch forward, but he has been playing everywhere and doing everything they ask of him. He opened up his game and has started shooting more three-pointers as well. A 6’7 forward who can shoot 34% from beyond the arc is such a valuable piece to a team that relies on floor spacing so heavily.
Kvonn Cramer - C+
Cramer only played legitimate backup minutes for part of the season, but in the games he did play, he looked good. He was a great rebounder and post scoring spark off the bench for this team. He was never truly elite and had a knack for being in foul trouble, but he never did anything to really make me angry. I liked what I saw, but Jarrod Simmons is clearly the backup center for the Pride.
Jarrod Simmons - C+
Simmons got his first real minutes of the season against Delaware on January 15th and made an immediate impact. He may not be as offensively talented as Iyiola, but he is much stronger and is a great rebounder. This team needs a guy that can fill the “bully-ball” role and he is a perfect fit. His true impact he has is his ability to tire out the opposing big men. This doesn’t show up in the box score, but it definitely helps out everyone else’s. I need to see more as I’ve only seen a small sample size, but I like what I see.
Zach Cooks - B+
Cooks is a very talented scorer and is a very huge piece in the Pride’s offensive strategy. He is averaging 15 points per game and is on pace for a great season offensively. The problem is his defense, sadly. He is an undersized guard at 5’11 and has trouble staying in front of faster and bigger defenders. This forces the Pride’s big men to have to play help defense, leaving open layups and dunks under the basket for opponents. I love what Cooks has done for this team, especially when Estrada is not on the court, but I cannot give him an A until I see some improvement on the defensive end of play.
Caleb Burgess - B-
When discussing point guards who can play defense at an elite level, the conversation has to start with Caleb Burgess. While he may only be averaging .4 steals per game, his mastery of the art of disrupting the shooter is probably the most unseen impact any player has provided to this team. Burgess is a very good defender and has been an amazing addition to the starting lineup, but I am worried about his offensive game. His points production has dropped off from about 8 points per game to just over 1. He no longer looks to shoot and is becoming a detriment to the floor spacing at times.
Omar Silverio - B
Silverio showed major improvement in a very short period of time. He has an elite mid-range game and can shoot the lights out, combining that with his 3-point ability. At the beginning of this season, after the Houston and Maryland games, I gave him the nickname “No Shot Selection Silverio,” but he has soon outgrown it. He has learned how to pace his game and has become a very nice wing threat for coach Speedy Claxton. I love what I have seen and hope to see more. Let’s just hope he doesn’t fall back into old habits.
Jalen Ray - A
Senior guard Jalen Ray is a very talented 3&D player and has been a perfect leader for the Hofstra Pride. I have been very happy with Ray’s performance and have a hard time finding things to complain about. He spreads the floor, runs in transition, and attacks the basket as well to keep the defenders on their toes at all times. He is averaging 40% from 3-point range, so at times it may feel like he is a streaky player, but the stats prove otherwise. I originally had his rating at a B+, but about halfway through writing this, I had to change his grade to an A. I love what I have seen, and any improvement to his passing game or ability to drive to the hoop would put this team on a clear path to win the CAA.
Speedy Claxton - C+
I’ll give Speedy a break as this is his first year as a head coach, but so far, he has done nothing but frustrate me beyond belief. I do not feel that his offense has any creativity or off-ball movement, every play starts with a high screen at the top of the key, and he seems to have a personal vendetta against using screens in press breaks or inbounds plays. He seems to have a vendetta against drawing up those plays in general. I think his defensive zone schemes are sound, and the potential to be a long-term answer at coach is there, but I have not seen enough to say that I am a fan of the hire. I hope he can prove me wrong in the next game tonight at 5 pm EST against UNCW.
