Fordham coach Bob Hill realized early last season that serious changes had to be made if the Rams basketball program was to gain respectability.
A lack of leadership on the floor and in the locker room resulted in several of the team’s problems. So the former Knicks coach focused his attention on two sophomores – Michael Haynes and Mark Jarrell-Wright.
What made them stand out?
“They were always staying late after practice. They were always on time. They really cared about the team,” Hill said prior to last night’s meeting at Rose Hill Gym with MAAC dynamo Manhattan (2-0). “Leadership is such a big part of basketball. I knew they could be counted upon. That’s why I made them co-captains.”
Now juniors, Haynes and Jarrell-Wright are attempting to guide the young Rams in the right direction. With 10 new faces added to the roster, their first task was preaching brotherhood. And it’s working, despite a 1-3 start.
“We’re much tighter than last year. Even though we’re losing right now, we’re sticking together,” said Haynes, who described himself as a lead-by-example guy. “We’re respecting each other this year.”
The changed atmosphere has brought a huge smile to Jarrell-Wright’s face.
“Without a doubt things are different. You could tell the difference just being around the new guys,” Jarrell-Wright said. “Guys want to be here. It’s a different mentality.
“But it’s been a difficult process. [Hill] said it was going to be hard. It really has been.”
Last night it got even harder for Jarrell-Wright. The shooting guard was assigned to defend Manhattan’s Luis Flores, the MAAC preseason pick for player-of-the-year.
Flores, who is averaging 22 ppg in the Jaspers’ first two games, has Jarrell-Wright’s attention.
“Last year I defended him pretty well, but he did his thing when we went to a zone,” Jarrell-Wright said, whose Rams fell 82-72 to the Jaspers in last season’s MSG Holiday Festival. “You have to contain him because if you don’t you could be in for a long night. He’s an unbelievable player.”