Liberty Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Flames
By William Cash
Key Players Off The Bench
Freshman G Drake Dobbs
Dobbs, a three-star recruit from Eden Prairie, Minnesota averaged 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists while shooting 46% from the field. Dobbs plays like a traditional point guard with a very nice touch around the rim and a sweet shooting stroke. Look for Dobbs to play the role of a backup point guard in his freshman year.
Freshman G Isiah Warfield
Warfield a three-star recruit and the highest-ranked recruit in Liberty school history averaged 21 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 49% shooting. Warfield plays like a combo guard with a quick first step, a soft touch around the rim, and a good shooting stroke. McKay needs Warfield to step up and be a scoring spark off the bench for the Flames.
Junior G Colton Reed
Reed averaged one point, 0.3 assists, and 0.2 rebounds last season in very limited playing time. Reed has a good stroke from three and shot 42% from three on 14 attempts last season. McKay is going to need Reed to pray a much bigger role than he did last season as Reed is one of the only players left on the roster from Liberty’s last two NCAA Tournament appearances
Sophomore F Blake Preston
Preston averaged two points and one rebound on 45% shooting in limited action last year. Preston is the only true post player on Liberty’s roster and there is a good chance we could see him start by the end of the season. As current starting center Shiloh Robinson is not a true big man. Look for Preston to get a lot of time if the Flames have trouble with the opposing team’s big men.
Freshman G Jonathan Jackson
Jackson is the younger brother of former North Carolina superstar and Mavericks player Justin Jackson. He was homeschooled during high school but played for some of the best AAU teams in the country. He has a very good shooting stroke and I expect him to get some playing time just for his outstanding three-point shooting for the Flames.