ANdy kennedy gives updates on uab newcomers

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - July 10, 2024

His team has taken steps – important steps – during the first part of summer practice. But UAB men’s basketball head coach Andy Kennedy knows there are still critical steps ahead.

“You know what I was just telling them, I think we do a lot of good things,” Kennedy said on Monday before the Blazers began their fourth week of summer practice. “But right now, when you have six newcomers, they're still at the phase of trying to memorize the drills. And that's really not the goal, the goal is to do the drills so that you understand the concept. And they're not to that phase yet, but thank goodness we have the summer.”

As he does often this time of year, Kennedy revisited how life was different during his playing days at UAB.

“I think back, and I've said this before, but back in the day when I played, you didn't see your coach until October 15th,” Kennedy said. “Now, you would also go like six days on (with) two a days, one day off. You were cramming a lot of stuff into a really small window. But now, thankfully, this is what this summer's for, to try to get these new guys up to speed.”

Kennedy said many of his returnees, including Yaxel Lendeborg, Christian Coleman, Alejandro Vasquez, Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson and Tony Toney, “have a pretty good understanding of where they can be successful.”

Kennedy added that he’s also pleased with the progression of the seven returning players, which also includes Will Shaver and Marquis Hargrove, since the 2023-24 concluded with a NCAA Tournament first round loss to San Diego State.

“The one thing that I've been the most encouraged about is I do think we addressed some needs that we needed through that recruiting class,” Kennedy said. “But, more importantly to a man, all seven of our returners, starting with obviously our most decorated in Yax (and) a kid in Marquis who redshirted last year, they've all improved. They've all gotten better. And that's what you want to see in your program.”

While he knows what he has with the returnees, Kennedy took some time before his team’s practice on Monday to break down what he has seen thus far from the six newcomers on the roster.

Tyren Moore: “Let’s start at the point guard position.  A guy that was productive last year at Georgia Southern. Shot maker. He's different. He's a volume guy, but he was pretty efficient, you know, made over 40% of his 3s. He's not going to out-athletic you. He's got kind of an old man's game, and I say that affectionately. He's kind of got an old man's game, an old man's pace, but he can really shoot the ball. He's got a high basketball IQ. And he's really been engaged for us through our short time together. I'm really excited about what he's going to bring to this group.”

 Jaborri McGhee: “He’s also a guy that can play lead guard (and) can play off the ball. Both of these guys (McGee and Moore) can.  Jaborri is, pound for pound, probably the best athlete on our team. He's a physically strong kid (with a) max (vertical jump) of 44 inches, we just measured that. Our strength coach, Keenan Gumbs, was an assistant at Kentucky last year. And he's remarked that a number of our guys, headlined by Jaborri, are at the level that he was around last year from a physical standpoint. So Jabori's a physical, strong kid. Junior College kid, again, we went through it last year with Yax and Chris. (Vasquez), not so much, because he had played Division. But it's a learning experience for him, the day in and day out, this is like riding with training wheels compared to what it's going to be when we get into the season, because we just don't have them as often, we don't have them as long. But he's a guy that I think has really made the most improvement over the three weeks, and that's kind of to be expected simply because this is a whole new way in which he has to play.”

Greg Gordon: “Senior. I try to give people comparisons. He plays a little like Tavin Lovin. He’s not a prolific perimeter shooter (but) can make enough for you to guard him. But he just has the ability to get downhill and finish at the basket. He can play multiple positions on the perimeter. He’s an incredible rebounder, really has a nose for the ball. I call them ball getters. Best ball getter I've had here in my time was Quan Jackson. He's different than Quan, but has the ability where he’s always around the ball. He can really make plays off the bounce. I expect him to come in and really, based on what we have, I think he's going to be a great compliment to our wing backcourt ensemble.”

Bradley Ezewiro: “He’s a big body, athletic guy. We're his fourth school in four years. He's a 12 (point) and 6 (rebound) guy at St. Louis. We feel like he can give us a real post presence, score the ball inside, rebound, use his physicalness. I always tell him, ‘Hey man, play big, play to your size.’ He'll have a chance to come in and make an immediate impact.”

Makhi Myles: “A long, athletic freshman. He reminds me a little bit of a baby Ty Brewer. He's probably more of a four than a three now. But I think in time he can evolve into a three like Ty did. I love his motor. I love his competitiveness. I think the kid has got a really bright future.”

R.J. Kennedy: “Another high school kid, comes from a really good prep school. He’s a combo guard, very competitive. Again, these guys are playing behind upperclassmen but they've already shown, I think, they're going to be really good players before it's all said and done.”