I hope everyone enjoyed my all breakout teams. However, I felt all break out didn’t cover all of the excitement of the Summit League this season. Teams are filled with newcomers that are poised to play a big role on their new teams. So I am releasing my all newcomer first team today and second-team tomorrow. One caveat some players who are new to their Summit team had played division 1 basketball previous so they made the all breakout team. If a player made the all breakout teams they are ineligible for the newcomer team. I made these teams feel really official, didn’t I? The main reason for this is it allows for more players to be discussed.
G Donald Carter (JR) 6’0 195 North Dakota State: Many of you may remember a junior college point guard originally from Minneapolis who starred at North Dakota State the last two years. Okay, who am I kidding you are reading an article on a Summit League website, you remember Vinnie Shahid. Someone is taking over the lead guard spot for the Bison and Carter seems to be the most likely candidate. Carter was fantastic at the JUCO level at taking care of the ball, top 100 in assist to turnover ratio, and Coach David Richman likes his guards taking care of the ball. Carter did a bit of everything at the JUCO level last season averaging 13 points, over 5 rebounds, and over 5 assists last year. If Carter is recovered from an off-season leg injury expect big things and an immediate impact from Carter this season.
G Kobey Lam (SO) 6’2 170 Denver: No more Ade Murkey on a team that relied heavily on backcourt scoring last season. Maybe Roscoe Eastmond takes over but I see Eastmond as more of a distributor. So who helps Jase Townsend with the backcourt scoring? Lam is a good candidate. The Canadian averaged 18.1 points per game in his lone JUCO season while shooting 41% from three. As I was watching youtube clips of Lam and evaluating life decisions, I saw a smooth guard with a quick release and a good finisher at the basket. Rarely was the 170lb guard’s path altered with contact when he went to the basket. Let’s just say I hope no one in my Summit and Horizon fantasy basketball league reads this article.
G A.J. Plitzuweit (SO) South Dakota: The former South Dakota Mr. Basketball is back home playing in Vermillion. Plitzuweit played his freshman year at Augustana averaging over 14 points and 4 assists at the division 2 level. One of the big reasons Plitzuweit makes this team is an opportunity. There is a good chance Plitzuweit finds himself in the starting lineup for the Coyotes. Plitzuweit spent last season as a redshirt with the thought that he would play a major role this season. Everything seems to indicate that he will. There are scenarios where Plitzuweit is the second leading scorer behind star Stanley Umude.
F Tamell Pearson (JR) 6’10 223 Western Illinois: My original thoughts were that Western would give a major run to their youngsters and maybe players like Pearson wouldn’t have as big of a role as a person would think. However, the more I think about it with the rule that this year is basically an extra year, players like Pearson are far from just a stop-gap for the Leathernecks. Pearson could potentially play 3 seasons in Macomb. Pearson is one of several Chicago natives on the Western Illinois roster and comes onto campus as a formerly highly touted 3-star recruit. Pearson transfers from the high major level at UAB and should be an immediate impact player. Pearson’s waiver is still not officially approved but that seems to be a formality right now. Pearson started 18 games last year for UAB and averaged 3.7 points and 3.6 rebounds. Pearson will likely be heavily leaned on this season for the transitioning Leathernecks.
F Jonathan Bolden (JR) 6’7 225 Kansas City: If I am being really honest, I may have picked Bolden because he sports hair that screams defensive intensity. Let’s be honest that is the kind of hardcore basketball analysis that brings you back to this site over and over. All that said Coach Billy Donlon loves defense and Bolden brings that. If you love defense watch some Bolden highlight videos. Active, active, and active describe Bolden well. He may not give the Roos 15 points per game but no one gives the Roos 15 points per game. Bolden is a good athlete who can be seen competing for each rebound, blocking shots, and hustling. Bolden has the ability to step back to 15 feet too and will have a couple of power dunks a game. There is plenty of opportunities down low for Kansas City and in steps Bolden.