Long Beach State University Athletics
2017-18 Long Beach State Men's Basketball Prospectus
9/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
2017-18 Men's Basketball Schedule
Long Beach, Calif. -
2017-18 Preseason Prospectus
• Long Beach State has a strong frontcourt presence returning, with three upperclassmen anchoring the post positions. The Beach has a pair of All-Big West selections returning, as Gabe Levin and Temidayo Yussuf enter their senior and junior seasons respectively. Levin averaged 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game before missing the second half of the season in 2016-17, which became Yussuf's time to shine, as the big man averaged 13.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in conference play. The duo is joined by one other returning upperclassman post player in Mason Riggins. Between the three, they have started a combined 111 games at the Beach.
• Two other returners that showed improvement throughout the year that culminated in a crucial role down the stretch and in the Big West Tournament were Barry Ogalue and Quentin Shropshire. Ogalue, a junior college transfer, played in 22 games and averaged 11.5 minutes per game, but started every game of the Big West Tournament, scoring in double-figures in both games. Shropshire, a former track and field athlete at LBSU and a walk-on, played an increased role off of the bench, helping spark a turnaround on the road at Cal Play and then playing nearly 10 minutes per game over the final three games of the season.
• A trio of sophomores also return for the Beach. Jordan Griffin, Javonntie Jackson and LaRond Williams all played meaningful minutes for LBSU last season and will continue to play a big role in the upcoming campaign. Jackson started nine games for LBSU, while Williams tied for second on the team with 15 blocks, and Griffin finished the season with 20 made 3-pointers, and led the group in points scored last season.
• The Beach is looking in three directions for reinforcements, starting from the Division I ranks, as the Beach welcomes a Bryan Alberts, a graduate transfer from Gonzaga who went to the National Championship game a season ago with the Zags. The team will also bring in a trio of junior college transfers. Deishuan Booker is a point guard from the College of Southern Idaho, while KJ Byers from Panola CC is an athletic wing player who was among the nation's juco leaders in blocks last season. Locally, the Beach also will bring in guard Breamon Richard from Long Beach City, who averaged over 20 points per game a year ago.The Beach also welcomes four freshman in Milos Apic, Jaice Gardner, Edon Maxhuni and Jordan Roberts.
• In each of the last six seasons, Long Beach State has had a non-conference schedule rated as one of the five toughest in the country. In 2017-18, the Beach will face West Virgina, Michigan State and Arizona on the road, three NCAA tournament teams from a season ago, while also participating in the Advocare Invitational in Orlando over Thanksgiving weekend.
• Dan Monson passed Seth Greenberg and Jerry Tarkanian to become the winningest coach in Long Beach State and now has 170 total victories during his ten years as head coach at the Beach. During his tenure, Monson has led the Beach to three Big West championships and the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament. Monson has 340 wins over a career spanning 20 seasons at Long Beach State, Minnesota and Gonzaga.
Roster Breakdown
Starters Returning (2)
F - Gabe Levin (6-7, 230, Sr.) 12.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 12 blocks, 3 double-doubles, missed final 18 games of the season with injury
F - Temidayo Yussuf (6-7, 265, Jr.) 9.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 17 blocks, 47 assists, 52.6 FG%, Second Team All-Big West
Starters Lost (4)
G - Justin Bibbins (5-9, 150, Jr.) 13.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2nd Team All-Big West [Transferred to Utah]
G - Noah Blackwell (6-2, 190, So.), 8.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 49 3-FG made [Transferred to Fresno State]
G - Evan Payne (6-1, 190, Jr.) 14.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 25 steals, Honorable Mention All-Big West [Professional]
F - Roschon Prince (6-6, 235, Jr.) 9.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 12 blocks, 21 steals [Transferred to Detroit Mercy]
Lettermen Returning (6)
G - Jordan Griffin (6-3, 165, So.) 3.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 20 3-FG made, 32 games played
F - Javonntie Jackson (6-6, 190, So.) 1.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 11 steals, 30 games played
G/F - Barry Ogalue (6-5, 195, Sr.) 5.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 57.1 FG%, 22 games played
F - Mason Riggins (6-8, 230, Jr.) 2.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 54.5 FG%, 34 games played
F - Quentin Shropshire (6-6, 205, Jr.) 0.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 12 games played
G - LaRond Williams (6-9, 205, R-Fr.) 1.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 15 blocks, 25 games played
Lettermen Lost (3)
G - Loren Jackson (5-8, 145, Fr.) 5.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 52 assists, 21 steals [Transferred to Akron]
G - Anson Moye (6-0, 185, Sr.) 0.4 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 29 games played [Graduated]
G - Alex Rifkind (6-1, 165, So.) 0.8 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 1 steal, 4 games played
Redshirts Returning (0)
Transfers (4)
G - Bryan Alberts (6-5, 200, Jr.) 1.8 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 24 assists at Gonzaga in 2016-17
G - Deishuan Booker (6-3, 170, Jr.) 9.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.4 apg at College of Southern Idaho in 2016-17
F - KJ Byers (6-7, 195, Jr.) 7.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 81 blocks at Panola CC in 2016-17
G - Breamon Richard (5-10, 160, Jr.) 20.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.2 asssists per game at Long Beach City CC in 2016-17
High School Recruits (4)
F - Milos Apic (6-10, 200, Fr.) Novi Sad, Serbia (Sandy Springs Friends School)
F - Jaice Gardner (6-4, 200, Fr.) Encino, Calif. (La Salle HS)
G - Edon Maxhuni (6-2, 185, Fr.) Hyvinkaa, Finland (Helsinky Basketball Academy)
G - Jordan Roberts (6-8, 195, Fr.) Bakersfield, Calif. (Ridgeview HS)
