Newcomers shine at Vandal scrimmage
<p>Former Post Falls High standout Connor Hill elevates between Joe Kammerer and another defender Tuesday during the first game Tuesday of the University of Idaho scrimmage at North Idaho College.</p>
<p>University of Idaho's Denzel Douglas, left, tries to outpace his teammate Robert Harris to the basket.</p>
<p>University of Idaho head coach Don Verlin watches his team during the first game of the Vandal's two-game scrimmage at North Idaho College.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - After losing three starters from last year's team that finished an impressive third in the Western Athletic Conference, Idaho men's basketball coach Don Verlin has apparently reloaded well.
Junior college transfers Antwan Scott, Robert Harris and Marcus Bell were among the newcomers that stood out Tuesday night when the Vandals held a public scrimmage at North Idaho College's Christianson Gym.
Scott, a 6-foot-1 shooting guard from Ranger (Texas) College, hit 4 of 5 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 15 points in the scrimmage, which consisted of two 10-minute halves.
Harris, a 5-10 guard from Eastern Arizona, made a couple of 3s in the first half, and Bell, a 6-8 forward from Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College, impressed inside with three baskets and three rebounds.
"I like this team," said Verlin, entering his fifth season as Vandals coach. "We've got a pretty solid veteran group (of eight players) returning, and I've liked some of the new guys we've added. I thought tonight Antwan Scott and Robert Harris both played very well. I thought Marcus Bell rebounded the ball well."
Junior forward Stephen Madison, a returning starter, had eight points and four rebounds in the scrimmage. The other returning starter, senior center Kyle Barone, who was suspended for nearly two weeks recently following a DUI arrest, returned to practice this week and played 15 minutes in the scrimmage. He had eight points and six rebounds.
"It's a work in progress, but they're picking up things quickly," Madison said of the newcomers. "I think we have a lot of good shooters like we did last year."
Sophomore shooting guard Connor Hill, the former Post Falls High star, hit his first shot - a 3-pointer - some 4 minutes into the scrimmage. He finished with five points in 16 minutes.
Verlin originally planned to redshirt Hill, but pulled the redshirt after three games. Coming off the bench last year, Hill played in 30 games, averaged 5.6 points in 12 1/2 minutes, and was 47 of 122 (38.5 percent) from 3-point range.
“I know what to expect (this year), for sure,” the 6-2 Hill said. “It was a good learning experience to get a year under my belt, playing as a freshman. There was a lot of things I could have gotten down on myself about, but you just have to push through and keep getting better. It’s not easy to come in cold off the bench and hit 3s, but that was my role last year.
Madison went through a similar learning curve as a freshman.
“Playing at this level, experience is a really big deal,” Madison said. “He had a great freshman year, and having logged those minutes has really helped him flourish into a great shooting guard. I’ve always talked to him about not getting down on himself, because I’ve been there, and I know how it feels to be a freshman — coach is always on you, trying to get you broken in to a new system.”
Verlin said he’s been pushing Hill to expand his game.
“He’s done a great job since the season ended last spring, and summer and fall,” Verlin said. “He’s really worked on his athleticism and his strength. Connor has to shoot the ball for us — that’s his strength. He will see increased minutes because he’s gotten better defensively.”
Hill and Scott play the same position, and after Tuesday’s scrimmage Verlin said he might have to try to find a way to get them both on the court at the same time.
“I’m trying to become a more complete player, not just a straight 3-point shooter,” Hill said. “That is my specialty, but I believe in myself that I can do more than that.”
Hill’s cousin, Westin, is a walk-on with the Vandals, but did not play in the scrimmage. Westin, a 5-11 sophomore guard, grew up in Moscow, and moved to California at a young age, and attended high school there.
The cousins live together in Moscow.
“It was always our dream to play together,” Connor said.
Verlin said Westin Hill and Mac Stannard, the former Moscow High standout who went on to play at Walla Walla Community College, would “probably” redshirt this season. Stannard is also a walk-on.
Another area player, Max Salesky of Priest River, is a sophomore walk-on guard. He came in for Hill with 2:18 left in the scrimmage and missed his only shot, a 3. He tried to walk on with the Vandals last year, but was unable to play because of eligibility issues that stemmed from the amount of core classes he took while at Priest River.
Verlin said Barone should be able to play in the next couple of weeks, but there are still some legal issues through the courts that need to be wrapped up concerning his arrest.
Idaho plays exhibition games Saturday vs. Seattle Pacific and Nov. 2 vs. Central Washington, then opens the regular season Nov. 9 at home vs. Wright State. All games are at Memorial Gym.