Valparaiso Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Crusaders

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LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 07: De’Aaron Fox #0 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball during the game against the Valparaiso Crusaders at Rupp Arena on December 7, 2016 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Bench Players

Micah Bradford (Junior – G)

A shooting guard with abysmal shooting stats, Bradford found his groove late in the season as a ball distributor and should continue to shine in that role, backing up Evelyn and Freeman and continuing to chuck up shot.

Markus Golder (Junior – G)

Only returning player who averaged more than 4 rebounds per game, Golder might actually start more often than not. In his second year since his transfer from North Idaho, he’s the Crusaders second-returning scorer and a guard/forward combo who can be electric when driving to the basket.

John Kiser (Junior – G/F)

The high energy former walk-on has fought and scrapped for every minute he’s played in his first two seasons and Kiser will continue to be a part of the rotation, albeit in a limited role.

Deion Lavender (Senior – G)

A grad transfer point guard, Lavender should provide necessary depth and has MVC experience after spending the 2014-15 season with Southern Illinois, averaging 6.6 ppg before falling out of the rotation at UAB.

Daniel Sackey (Freshman – G)

The Canadian freshman has been advertised as one of the fastest point guards in the sport and we’ll see how his speed and dunking ability impacts this team in his first season.

Jaume Sorolla (Junior – C)

The other half of Valpo’s seven-foot duo of centers, Sorolla fared better than Smits, finishing sixth in blocks in the MVC last year. Unless one of them breaks out, Sorolla and Smits will split their time and could start an even amount of games depending on who’s in a better groove.