5-1 Basketball Notes: Signees confident for next season

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Peter Ariz

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In Miami’s second season under Coach Jim Larrañaga, the team won the ACC regular season title, the ACC tournament, and reached the Sweet 16 for only the second time in program history. With five seniors gone and dynamic point guard Shane Larkin declaring for the NBA draft, next season’s team will have a whole new look to it. I was able to catch up with signees Davon Reed, DeAndre Burnett, and James Kelly to get their thoughts on the past season and the future of the program.

**Reed and Burnett reflected on the team’s success this season.

Davon Reed: “It was just an awesome team. It surprised a lot of people, but I wasn’t surprised because I knew when I went down on my visit that Coach Larrañaga was going to do something special with the team. I’m very excited about the direction of the program.”
DeAndre Burnett: “They took it to another level. Miami basketball is looked at differently now as a team that can really compete with this coaching staff.”

**The three signees aren’t lacking any confidence when it comes to next season’s team.

Reed: “Just like this year, you can’t count Miami out. It will be a completely different team, but we’ll be back and ready. It will be Coach Larrañaga’s first full year with his own recruits and I think we’ll definitely make a lot of noise.”
Burnett: “I’m very confident. We have to go out there and play with a chip on our shoulder like they did this year.”
James Kelly: “I’m really confident because we have some experienced players and I feel we have a good motive to come in and work hard but I think it will take time for us to jell as a team or get on the same page, but I am confident that we will revisit the tournament again.”

**Reed, Burnett, and Kelly have been reaching out to each other and seem to have already developed a nice relationship.

Reed: “I’ve been keeping in contact with DeAndre Burnett. Recently I’ve been talking to James Kelly and Adonys (Henriquez) the 2014 commit. I try to keep up with them on a consistent basis and we seem to have something special already. I can’t wait to get down and start working with the guys.”
Burnett: “Me and James (Kelly) joke around on twitter a lot, Davon (Reed) too. All of us joke and talk on twitter so were gonna know each other well when we get in here, so were just gonna have to get familiar with each other on the basketball court, but that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Kelly: “I think we developed an okay friendship for right now and we know that we are there for the same goal and we all love the game. We have to work together, but our relationships are coming along good.”

**With the foundation set by this past season’s team, the three incoming recruits talked about what it will take for the program to become a yearly powerhouse.

Reed: “I think we just got to keep improving on last year. A lot of people who are being recruited are texting me and telling me they’re thinking about coming to the U.”
Burnett: “I still think we have a lot of talent on this team to win, especially with the new addition of Angel Rodriguez and the signings of me, Davon, and James. We just have to work on team chemistry and put the time in the gym, but we should be fine with the talent we have.”
Kelly: “We all need to know what our main goal is, which is to win everything. But we have to go in knowing nothing will be easy, we have to practice hard everyday, and always be mentally focused to go hard until that buzzer sounds or the clock stops.”

**All three know that they will be needed to contribute on next season’s squad, especially Burnett now that Shane Larkin has declared for the draft.

Reed: “I’m just going to step in and play my game. Whatever the coaches need me to do is what I’ll do. Whether it be a scorer, a playmaker, a lockdown defender, I’ll go out and play hard.”
Burnett: “My whole mindset has changed. I know for sure that I’m going to be a main ball-handler for the team. I know now that I have to still have that scoring mentality, but also bring the ball up and control the game. I should be ready.”
Kelly: “Coming in as a transfer and the experience I have, I feel I will have to fill the leader role as of making sure our team is on the same page and is working as hard as possible.”

**The versatile Reed broke down what was different about Coach L from the other coaches who recruited him.

“His personality is what really stood out to me. I remember it was the EYBL and Coach (Michael) Huger was the one who had been recruiting me till that point and it was one of the first times that Coach L had seen me play. After the game he was talking to me and before he told me all the good things, he was pointing out different things as though I was already one of his players. He was so upfront about my game and kept it real with me. From that point on, I felt like he was the leading coach in my recruitment,” said Reed.

**Reed will report to Miami on June 25th.

**Some people who have watched Burnett play have compared his style to former ‘Canes great Jack McClinton. Although Burnett fully respects McClinton’s achievements at Miami, the incoming freshman has his sights set on even bigger things.

“I know his (McClinton) game a lot and watched him play when he was here. He was a great player and did great things as an individual, but I’m looking forward to building something as a team,” Burnett said.

**The big news of the day was former Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez officially committing to Miami. Rodriguez, a 2011 graduate of Dr. Krop High School in Miami, was second-team All-Big12 last season as a sophomore, while posting 11.4 PPG and 5.2 assists. Rodriguez is known for his ball-handling and passing ability, which could be a huge asset for next year’s squad if he is able to receive a waiver to play immediately. Burnett, a 2012 graduate of Carol City High School in Miami, is excited for the opportunity to play with Rodriguez.

“Me and Angel competed three years in a row. We went at each other in high school and are very familiar with each other. I look forward to playing with him since we’re both Miami natives and we were two of the best guards in the area, so I want him in the same backcourt as me,” said Burnett.

**Dade County is often thought of as a hotbed of football recruiting, but Burnett takes special pride in playing for his city.

“I take so much pride in that. Every time I step onto the court, I feel like I’m doing it for Dade County. Up in Virginia, my whole mindset was to show them that there’s basketball players in Florida, not just football players. If we have success and I have success, then it will just show people that we can ball down here too,” Burnett said.

**Burnett commented on his brother, Dalvin Cook, who is a top football recruit at Miami Central. Cook recently switched his commitment from Clemson to Florida, but Miami is still in the mix.

“I’m with Dalvin everyday and I’m trying to convince him. He still has another year so I’m gonna make sure this Florida thing isn’t a sure thing. I’m gonna have him on campus a lot, so hopefully these guys can convince him.”

**Burnett will be reporting to Miami in two weeks, on May 15th.
 
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Man Pete, that was a great article.

Maybe your best one yet, football be damned.
 
Best news in there is about dalvin cook! Sounds like his brother is doing his best.
 
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Thanks alot Pete. Some major work put in to that one.

I've been following Burnett since we started recruiting him and I like everything about him. I think he will be a great player here and if he does anything close to what Jack did here we are going to remember him for a long time. Steal of the class, IMO.

Getting Angel is basically like getting Shane back. Shane was AWESOME and I'm not sure if Rodriguez is better but I do know he plays the same type of ball. I don't think he can hit 3s and step backs like Larkin though.

The key to a great season next year is finding a go-to guy in the important minutes of the game like Scott was for us last year. We are going to miss Scott more than anyone except for (can't believe I'm saying this) gamble. Rion Brown needs to be that guy. If he isn't, someone else HAS to be and brown will be the same his whole career, a guy who can put up 20 every now and then and hit 3s. That Rion Brown is fine, when he is 3rd or 4th option, but he's going to get a hard look at first option and he needs to capitalize.

WE NEED BIGS.


Love what coach L is doing here.
 
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RB has just been all over the place lately.

Hopefully, he can find his shot this year.
 
I am excited about Burnett. I cant wait to watch him play. Hopefully his bro can get that love for the Canes.
 
This actually shows we might have a decent future and could use this season to build our basketball program up.
 
Great article Pete...I agree with you pcitycane ...I'm going to miiss. gamble...coach L really changed him...he is going to be a steal in the league

Thanks alot Pete. Some major work put in to that one.

I've been following Burnett since we started recruiting him and I like everything about him. I think he will be a great player here and if he does anything close to what Jack did here we are going to remember him for a long time. Steal of the class, IMO.

Getting Angel is basically like getting Shane back. Shane was AWESOME and I'm not sure if Rodriguez is better but I do know he plays the same type of ball. I don't think he can hit 3s and step backs like Larkin though.

The key to a great season next year is finding a go-to guy in the important minutes of the game like Scott was for us last year. We are going to miss Scott more than anyone except for (can't believe I'm saying this) gamble. Rion Brown needs to be that guy. If he isn't, someone else HAS to be and brown will be the same his whole career, a guy who can put up 20 every now and then and hit 3s. That Rion Brown is fine, when he is 3rd or 4th option, but he's going to get a hard look at first option and he needs to capitalize.

WE NEED BIGS.


Love what coach L is doing here.
 
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**All three know that they will be needed to contribute on next season’s squad, especially Burnett now that Shane Larkin has declared for the draft.

Burnett: “My whole mindset has changed. I know for sure that I’m going to be a main ball-handler for the team. I know now that I have to still have that scoring mentality, but also bring the ball up and control the game. I should be ready.”

Sounds like Deandre will start off at PG... If Angel gets his waiver, I wonder if Coach L will redshirt Emmanuel Lecomte since he's on the smallish side. Also, redshirting 'Manu' would create some separation between the PGs.
 
Pete, I read somewhere we are courting the Texas PG to be our next get. Is this true? Any word on a big man coming here to play this year?
 
Dont know much about Deandre Burnett. Heard he dropped 30ppg at Carol City. Was he the truth in HS? Heard good things about him.

I too think that Julian Gamble is gonna have a Udonis Haslem type entrance into the league. He will go overseas for a few years. Get his conditioning in order. And before you know it you will be watching a Spurs game or a Utah Jazz game and he will be coming off the bench giving them solid minutes. Reminds me of Ronny Turiaf. Def think he can make it in the league. Scott not so much. RJ I think wont be able to stay healthy or in shape enough. Had high hopes for him two years ago. Thought he would be a taller Zach Randolph. Kenny Kadji can get a look if he works on his game. Trey will be a overseas guy. But will make a living though. Thats all u can ask for really.
 
Burnett will light it the **** up, watch. Kid is not only an assassin but he works his *** off at his craft
 
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Great article Pete...I agree with you pcitycane ...I'm going to miiss. gamble...coach L really changed him...he is going to be a steal in the league

Thanks alot Pete. Some major work put in to that one.

I've been following Burnett since we started recruiting him and I like everything about him. I think he will be a great player here and if he does anything close to what Jack did here we are going to remember him for a long time. Steal of the class, IMO.

Getting Angel is basically like getting Shane back. Shane was AWESOME and I'm not sure if Rodriguez is better but I do know he plays the same type of ball. I don't think he can hit 3s and step backs like Larkin though.

The key to a great season next year is finding a go-to guy in the important minutes of the game like Scott was for us last year. We are going to miss Scott more than anyone except for (can't believe I'm saying this) gamble. Rion Brown needs to be that guy. If he isn't, someone else HAS to be and brown will be the same his whole career, a guy who can put up 20 every now and then and hit 3s. That Rion Brown is fine, when he is 3rd or 4th option, but he's going to get a hard look at first option and he needs to capitalize.

WE NEED BIGS.


Love what coach L is doing here.


Gamble...in the league?!

LOL wut
 
Laugh if you want. But "glue guys" or "floor burner" type guys always find there way on somebodys roster. Just like Bryan Cardinal, Ronny Turiaf, Reggie Evans type guys. They ALWAYS seem to find work. Gamble can be that type. But I do think he needs to go overseas for a year or two. Get in better shape.
 
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Laugh if you want. But "glue guys" or "floor burner" type guys always find there way on somebodys roster. Just like Bryan Cardinal, Ronny Turiaf, Reggie Evans type guys. They ALWAYS seem to find work. Gamble can be that type. But I do think he needs to go overseas for a year or two. Get in better shape.

Right, except that those guys were stars in college and became glue guy or dirty work guys in the NBA.
 
Laugh if you want. But "glue guys" or "floor burner" type guys always find there way on somebodys roster. Just like Bryan Cardinal, Ronny Turiaf, Reggie Evans type guys. They ALWAYS seem to find work. Gamble can be that type. But I do think he needs to go overseas for a year or two. Get in better shape.

Right, except that those guys were stars in college and became glue guy or dirty work guys in the NBA.

This

NBA Glue guys 99 percent of the time werent glue guys in college
 
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