The University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee wound up as the school of choice for two highly sought-after transfers. James Haarsma and Ryan Allen will don the black and gold for the Panthers next season- however due to NCAA transfer rules, only Allen will be eligible to play right away (Haarsma will be eligible in '11-'12). Both transfers have 2 years of NCAA eligibility remaining.
Haarsma, a 6'7" forward known for his tenacious D and keen inside presence (Haarsma posted numbers of 10.8pts and 7.1rbs last season in the MVC) hails from Racine St. Catherine's in Racine, WI and is transferring to Milwaukee by way of the Aces program in Evansville, IN (James played ball with Kaylon Williams in '08-'09).
Ryan Allen is coming to Milwaukee from the JUCO ranks (at Vincennes in Indiana) as a 6'3" guard also renowned for his defensive abilities (on top of that, Allen averaged double-digits and almost 3 assists per contest at Vincennes).
By any standard, these recruits look very solid (on paper).
Said Allen of his decision to touch ground in Milwaukee after meeting and playing with the team at the Pavilion:
Here's to hoping those last 7 words ring true. In any case, if you need another reason to believe in (or at least be marginally excited about) the Panthers '10-'11 campaign, keep this is mind:
Horizon League: Beware the Return of Tone
Whatever your team affiliation or level of college hoops interest- this will be a Panther Basketball season you will not want to miss. Message!
Ryan Allen
Haarsma, a 6'7" forward known for his tenacious D and keen inside presence (Haarsma posted numbers of 10.8pts and 7.1rbs last season in the MVC) hails from Racine St. Catherine's in Racine, WI and is transferring to Milwaukee by way of the Aces program in Evansville, IN (James played ball with Kaylon Williams in '08-'09).
Ryan Allen is coming to Milwaukee from the JUCO ranks (at Vincennes in Indiana) as a 6'3" guard also renowned for his defensive abilities (on top of that, Allen averaged double-digits and almost 3 assists per contest at Vincennes).
By any standard, these recruits look very solid (on paper).
Said Allen of his decision to touch ground in Milwaukee after meeting and playing with the team at the Pavilion:
"Those guys . . . I was surrounded by a group that wants to get better... That was important. I wanted to be around some guys like me because I do plan on playing after college and I saw some guys that really wanted to improve and get better. You've got to have success when you surround yourself with a whole group of guys that wants to get better and improve... we're going to gel and win."
James Haarsma is in middle, defending
Here's to hoping those last 7 words ring true. In any case, if you need another reason to believe in (or at least be marginally excited about) the Panthers '10-'11 campaign, keep this is mind:
- Tone Boyle returns (leading scoring for Milwaukee in '08-'09, sat out last season due to a back injury)
- Highly-regarded and veteran Panther forwards Anthony Hill and Tony Meier return following respectively up and down '09-'10 seasons- both seem bent on taking their game to the next level this coming season
- Transfers Kaylon Williams (Evansville/Kirkwood), Mitchell Carter (South Carolina), Christian Wolf (Florida Gulf Coast), and Ryan Allen (Vincennes) are all immediately eligible starting this Fall/Winter
- Last year's freshmen phenom shooting guards Lonnie Boga and Ja'Rob McCallum return as experienced sophomores with a very solid year under their belts
- Incoming freshmen Kyle Kelm, Evan Richard, and Leek Leek begin their UWM academic life and Panther Basketball careers
- Defensive specialist Jerard Ajami, lane-scoring-friendly PG Deonte Roberts, and seasoned walk-on sophomore PG Pat Souter round out a formidable line-up that most Horizon League teams will envy
- We play national runner-up Butler (as always), Sweet 16 participant Northern Iowa, and Horizon rivals Green Bay and Detroit (most-improved with the addition of McDonald's HS All-American and "coach's son" (and Ja'Rob's cousin) Ray McCallum Jr.) at the Cell.
- We play host to Western Michigan (in addition to our 2 preseason match-ups) at the Klotsche Center on campus in a throwback to the East Side on-campus contests before the Cell become our semi-permanent(?) home
- We play Marquette at the Cell as well - nuff said?
Horizon League: Beware the Return of ToneWhatever your team affiliation or level of college hoops interest- this will be a Panther Basketball season you will not want to miss. Message!
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