STARKVILLE — In a matter of weeks, the summer of transformation is set to begin for Mississippi State men’s basketball. It’s the summer where the youngest team in America is supposed to make the big jump expected of freshmen and sophomores, in theory enough to compete among the top of the Southeastern Conference.
It can still happen that way, it will just have to be shorthanded.
In his season review press conference Tuesday, MSU coach Ben Howland said sophomore guard Quinndary Weatherspoon had wrist surgery in New York on March 30 and freshman center E.J. Datcher will have surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday for a torn labrum. He expects Weatherspoon to be out of full contact for five months and Datcher for four to five months.
Howland said they will mostly be missing individually-based skill work, as that will be the focus for this offseason as opposed to five-on-five drills, given the team did a lot of that in its trip overseas in last year’s offseason.
Beyond injuries, Howland sees another offseason hindrance in the NCAA’s rules governing time in the offseason. The rules dictate student-athletes can only spend eight hours per week in required athletic activity per week, six of them in strength and conditioning and two of them in individual skill work.
“They’re talking about changing that rule and I hope they do at some point. There was talk that you would be able to use that time however you wanted,” Howland said. “The biggest time that you see guys make big jumps in their ability is in between seasons. I wish that were the case and hope at some point here down the road that they make that change because I think it would benefit the student-athlete: they want to work at it, they want to get better, they want to be coached, they want to be taught.”
When MSU is permitted to work individually, Howland said the emphasis will be on offense, particularly ball handling and passing. MSU ranked near the bottom of the SEC in assist-turnover ratio with 433 turnovers and 386 assists.
“We really have to be a better ball-handling bunch,” Howland said. “Obviously shooting’s big and everybody can improve in that area. There’s a lot of time to be spent on those things in particular.”
Garrison Brooks granted release
Hours after Howland declined to comment on signee Garrison Brooks, MSU said in a release that it has granted his request for a full release from his National Letter of Intent.
Brooks, the son of MSU assistant coach George, signed out of Auburn High School in Alabama, where the forward was named to the 7A All-State First Team by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. His request for release was initially denied by both MSU and the NCAA. The statement said Howland talked to Garrison Brooks in between declining to comment and deciding to release him later that afternoon.
“I first met Garrison not long after taking the job here at Mississippi State, and I was so excited when he originally committed to playing here,” Howland said in the statement. “Mississippi State is where his dad played and now works, and I knew this would be a special place for him. This entire situation is very unfortunate for the young man, but I don’t want to put him in a situation that causes further family hardship.
“I want to do what’s best for Garrison Brooks. I’m in support of him being happy and successful. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him the past several years, and I want to wish him the best moving forward.
Notes
Howland said MSU is conducting a, “national search,” to replace former Director of Basketball Performance David Deets, who took the same position at Tulsa earlier this month. Howland said Deets’ successor will likely be in place by the time MSU’s summer term begins, which is the first time MSU’s staff will be allowed to work with players after April 20 according to NCAA rule.
Joe Strugg is not expected to be back, according to Howland, who added he had no other personnel news to report. Strugg, a forward from Montgomery, Alabama, played in just six games as a redshirt freshman, scoring three points in 15 minutes. Strugg was suspended indefinitely from the team during conference play.
Howland said he expects the other signees, Nick Weatherspoon and KeyShawn Feazell, to arrive in time for summer school. Howland said there was a time when Feazell was thought to need ankle surgery before arriving on campus, but has recovered well enough to not need it.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter, @Brett_Hudson
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