The Foundation: Part 3- Horses in the Stable
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Quincy Taylor should fit right in with Coach Gee’s PACE system.[/caption]
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After losing to Gardner-Webb last week Coach Gee said, “We’ve got some horses in the stable, we will be back. Make no mistake about it, what you saw this year, you will never see again.”. Gee knows he’ll have a very different roster next year with an influx of new talent coming in. Some of that talent is already in Farmville and has been practicing in blue and white all year. Who are these players and what type of effect with they have in the 2014–15 season?
Lotanna Nwogbo, C: It would be a vast understatement to say Longwood’s biggest deficiency last year was in the paint. That will change next year primarily with Tulane transfer Lotanna Nwogbo. After signing Nwogbo Coach Gee said, “Lotanna is a great find for us for so many reasons.I believe he can become a dominant post player in the Big South. He has a 7–5 wing span and an uncanny ability to score in the low post. He has untapped potential that we will be determined to bring out of him through our strength and conditioning program.” (via LongwoodLancers.com). While the 6'8 Nwogbo wasn’t stuffing statsheets for the Green Wave, he was an important role player appearing in 47 contests. Coach Gee has applauded Nwogbo’s efforts on campus and in practice the past year and often says he’ll be a dominant shot blocker in the Big South. At the very least the junior will be a rim protector for the Lancers in their PACE defense, hopefully he’ll also develop into an offensive presence to open up things for Lucas Woodhouse.
Quincy Taylor, G: Quincy Taylor will really help Coach Gee ratchet things up next year as the senior guard comes from playing in a pressure defense at UAB under Mike Davis. Taylor was the starting point guard for the Blazers before tearing his ACL at the end of the 2012 season. His best year came as a sophomore when he averaged 33 minutes per game and posted 6.4 points and 3 assists for the Blazers. Taylor brings experience and talent to the Lancers next year and could be a huge asset playing along with Lucas Woodhouse and Leron Fisher. Imagine pressure defense with both Fisher and Taylor defending. What Taylor also brings is a great deal of vocal leadership. All season long he was like another coach on the Lancers staff and was often in open discussion with the guards during the game. I fully expect that to carry over on the floor next year.
Charlie Lockwood, C: The 6'10 Lockwood will benefit from redshirting this season and should be a stronger, better player his freshman year that he otherwise would have been. He’s another big body to add in the paint and a natural rim protector as he lead the whole state of California in blocks as a senior at Inglewood. At the very least Lockwood will be another body in the paint and a valuable member of Coach Gee’s rotation.
