May 30, 2008

Basketball season is less than six months away, but for the Dayton Flyer freshman class, they are ready to hit the ground running in preparation for the 2008-09 men's basketball campaign.

Dayton will be looking to this class to add upon a team that went 23-11 last season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT, losing to eventual champion Ohio State in Columbus. The Flyers graduated All-Atlantic 10 guard Brian Roberts, but return their next three scorers and top three rebounders - forward Chris Wright (10.4, 5.7), guard Marcus Johnson (10.1, 5.1) and forward Charles Little (8.0, 4.6).

Here's a sneak peak at what fans can expect with the 2008-09 freshman class.

Paul Williams
Williams, one of the top prep recruits out of Michigan, will bring a reputation as a clutch shooter and lockdown defender to this year's Flyer backcourt. An athletic 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Detroit's Renaissance High School, Williams was one of four finalists for the title of Michigan's "Mr. Basketball" during his senior year.

Although Williams finished third in the final vote - checking in behind Brad Redford, who committed to Xavier, and Michigan State recruit, Draymond Green - he was one of just four finalists, as selected by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.

His senior averages of 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game give merit to those who describe him as a, "warrior," and rave about his determination, hustle and leadership ability.

Williams, whose game - with his left-handed release - would mirror current Flyer, Marcus Johnson, also shot 51 percent from the field and 78 percent from the foul line during his senior campaign.

Chris Johnson
Johnson joins the Flyer recruiting class of 2008 from Columbus Brookhaven High School with a reputation as a high-flying, explosive scorer endowed with the ability to take over a game.

The athletic 6-foot-5 guard/forward will bring heaps of versatility to Brian Gregory's squad next fall, along with tremendous rebounding ability for a player of his stature. Johnson's statistics, physical ability and post-season awards are all indications of his potential to become an impact player at the collegiate level.

Following a senior year in which Johnson averaged 26.2 points on 63 percent shooting, he was awarded Columbus All-District First Team and Player of the Year honors. Those numbers also earned Johnson a spot on the AP All-Ohio First Team in Division I and caught the attention of ESPN scouts, who have ranked him the 39th best small forward in the nation.

Josh Benson
Benson will arrive on campus this fall as the second in a line of highly-anticipated local talents who have made the decision to "stay home" and committed early to the Flyer program. The 6-foot-10 big man is an ESPN Top 150 recruit out of Dunbar High School where he had averages of 18.9 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks per game during his senior year.

He will be counted on to add depth to an experienced Flyer frontcourt next year and, like the entire class of 2008, has shown promises of being able to contribute in a big way as a freshman.

After his final season at Dunbar, Benson was named to the AP Ohio Division II First Team and also picked up Southwest District Player of the Year honors. He was rated No. 31 amongst incoming power forwards by ESPN.com.

Luke Fabrizius
Fabrizius joins the Flyers from Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois and following Fabrizius to Dayton will be his highly respected inside and outside game. At 6-foot-9, he has shot-blocking ability and the savvy to hold his own with taller players in the paint, but most scouts gush about his range from beyond the arc.

Although asked by his high school coach to play more of a post role during his senior year - Fabrizius made 16 less three's from his junior to senior seasons--he is a lanky catch-and-shoot forward known more for his 3-point shot than for his ability to bang down low.

Fabrizius averaged 14.7 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and hit on 47 treys during his senior year as Hersey went 17-13 overall and reached the Illinois sectional finals.