Bryant Basketball: In-depth look at star senior wing Earl Timberlake

Expectations for Earl Timberlake for 2024-25 season

This has been talked about previously but the wing is the most talented player in the America East and just based on pure ability it isn’t really close. Timberlake is an athletically gifted player who can make things happen whenever he touches the floor. He can play all five positions and is a player that most first-year coaches dream about. He is also 23 which puts him as one of the oldest players in the country. His age, experience, and motivation to get his team to the NCAA tournament for the second time ever will lead to big things for the wing in the 2024-2025 season.

Timberlake is my favorite for the America East Player of the Year and with the way he will be utilized in the offense and his leadership on the floor should make him an easy choice to win the award. Taking this a step further I believe that Timberlake is a guy who can play in the NBA. I may be in the minority there but he is 6’6” and can score and rebound at a high level and he plays defense. The one thing that is holding him back is his inability to shoot the ball from deep.

He does mostly all of his work inside and shot 62% from the floor last season, but he is a 17% three-point shooter at Bryant taking only 29 attempts. There are not many guys who can play in the NBA that can’t shoot at all but his ability to get to the rim and make things happen will at least get him a look. Even if it is not the NBA he will play professionally somewhere. It is also important for Timberlake to not do things he is not comfortable with to make it in pro ball. Keep on getting to the rim and doing what you do and everything will work out.

As for his teammates, this may be the best Bryant team since Peter Kiss and Charles Pride led the NCAA tournament team. The Bulldogs are going to revolve around Timberlake but when he is on the floor with Rafael Pinzon and Conner Withers good things are going to happen. The Bulldogs are getting back a player from injury who they were excited about last year in Kvonn Cramer who had flashes of greatness in his career at Hofstra. Jakai Robinson is in his first year in Smithfield after transferring from Miami and playing in a Final Four and big man Keyshawn Mitchell is due for a breakout season. The way the roster looks now should allow Timberlake to play his natural wing position which will help him reach his very high ceiling.