Temple Basketball: Sophomores key to Fran Dunphy’s final season

Young Owls to watch

Shizz Alston, Jr., and preseason All-Conference player Quinton Rose will be expected to shoulder the brunt of the production burden, and Ernest Aflakpui, the senior center, will be looked at to show flashes of the player he was expected to be when he was recruited out of Archbishop Carroll High School. Aflakpui was Temple’s starting center a season ago, but his consistent foul trouble and ineffectiveness on the glass landed him on the bench for over 20 minutes per game, his rebound and point totals both averaging below five per game.

With the graduation of leading rebounder Obi Enechionyia, Aflakpui will be expected to keep himself in the game and become a difference maker for the Owls down low.

But the ultimate key to the Owls’ season will be the sophomore class. One of the biggest complaints from Temple fans for some years has been Fran Dunphy’s unwavering loyalty to upperclassmen and seniors, and last year he let a strong and talented freshman class ride the bench for the first half of the season while Temple’s offense sputtered and defensive energy lacked.

When Dunphy finally started consistently tapping the freshmen around New Year’s, he found a group ready to contribute in AAC play.

The two sophomores that made the most noise a season ago and are expected to round out Temple’s starting rotation are Nate Pierre-Louis and J.P. Moorman.

Pierre-Louis made an almost immediate impact out of the wing and backcourt, bringing a tenacity and level of energy on both sides of the ball desperately needed for an Owls team that too often looked to be stuck in a gear behind their opponents. He showed a nose for the basket and defensive intensity that helped him become an immediate fan-favorite on North Broad.

J.P Moorman had a similarly difficult time staying out of foul trouble as Aflakpui did a year ago, but was effective on the glass and behind the 3-point line in his freshman season. His minutes will certainly be increased in his sophomore year, and if he can find a way to keep himself on the court, he will be a leading rebounder and offensive contributor for Temple this year.

Sophomores De’Vondre Perry and Justyn Hamilton will also be available for Fran Dunphy off the bench heading into 2018-19. Perry, a 6’6, 220 pound Baltimore native, saw almost 12 minutes a game a year ago and should be a major secondary contributor along with Alani Moore and Damion Moore. Hamilton saw limited playing time in his freshman season, and will likely be the last option for Dunphy off the bench to open the year, but his development in his sophomore season could end up being as big of a storyline as any for Temple’s frontcourt.