Prior to the start of the 2016-17 season, FullertonTitans.com sat down with head coach Dedrique Taylor to preview the Titans roster. We will be rolling out the players by position leading up to the fans first opportunity to watch this year's squad at the Blue/Orange Scrimmage on Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. at Titan Gym. Today's story focuses on the men in the middle; the centers.
In Dedrique Taylor's previous three seasons, Cal State Fullerton has never had more than one player taller than 6-foot-10 on any individual squad. In fact, the Titans have not had multiple players listed at 6-foot-10 and above on the same team since the 2006-07 season when Curtis Battles and Chris Minardo were both on the squad. They both combined to make three starts.
The 2016-17 Titans features four players at 6-foot-10 and above, three of them at the center position.
"If you look at teams that have had success, not only in our conference, but on a grander scale, everybody has some semblance of depth," Taylor said. "Having the ability to go down the line and pick and choose different guys; that's a huge opportunity for me as a coach. "
The Titans stable of Darcy Malone, Richard Peters and Joshua Currenton will be an important asset to a Fullerton team that is not accustomed to having that type of size at its disposal in the past.
Darcy Malone, Sr., 7-0, Canberra, Australia, LSU
Malone is a 7-footer, something the Titans have not had on a roster since the 2008-09 season when 7-foot-2 Adam Thomas patrolled the middle for Fullerton, playing in 14 games off the bench.
Malone will have a much bigger role than that on the 2016-17 squad and his versatility looks to be a huge factor in helping the Titans have success on the floor.
"He's an athletic guy with good hands at seven feet," Taylor said. "He runs, he moves very well. He's very comfortable facing the basket just as much as he is with his back to the basket."
Malone came to Fullerton after doing his undergraduate work, on and off the court, at Louisiana State University. Malone played 63 games while at LSU and played with Ben Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, during the 2015-16 season. Malone appeared 19 games for the Tigers.
Prior to LSU, Malone also played international basketball with the Australian national team at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship tournament, earning a silver medal.
"Coming from Australia, he's had to play on a world stage, and that experience in itself will pay dividends for Darcy's career and also for Cal State Fullerton in terms of what we're trying to do," Taylor said.
Richard Peters, Sr., 6-11, Toronto, Ontario, University of Albany
Peters measures in at 6-foot-11 and is more of a conventional big man. He comes to the Titans after playing two years at Albany. Peters appeared in 62 games for the Great Danes. He was a part of the 2014-15 squad that won the America East Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, falling to Oklahoma in the second round. Last year's squad played in the College Basketball Invitational postseason tournament. According to Taylor, Peters' experience and maturity will be one of the most important things he will bring to this year's squad.
"The biggest impact he has had on our team already is just he knows what to do," Taylor said. "He's been through the wars, he's been through the battles, so that effort right there is either good enough or it's not. He's big enough physically and has a big enough voice, literally and physically, to command a different type of presence. And we just haven't had that, quite frankly, since we've been here. So he gives us a different level of experience, a different level of maturity, both on and off the floor."
A left-handed post presence, Peters' savvy on the court will also be an asset for the Titans.
"He's a left-handed guy who can pass and has a unique skillset; a Zach Randolph type of skillset," Taylor said. "He's not above the rim athletic, but he can get his skillset going and knows how to use the skills and tools he's got."
Joshua Currenton, Jr., 6-10, Watts, Calif., Cypress College
The final center on the list, Currenton comes to the Titans after playing his first two collegiate years at nearby Cypress College. He played in 29 games as a sophomore and will look to be the Titans anchor in the middle when he's on the floor.
"He's a big, strong physical guy that we're hopeful he can, not only help us in practice, but be running around on the floor and give us a different physical presence in the paint," Taylor said.
Currenton should be a great addition on the glass for Fullerton, a team that was in the middle of the pack of the Big West Conference in overall rebounding (37.2 rpg, 4th) and defensive rebounding (26.0 drpg, 5th) while adding to a squad that ranked second in the conference in offensive rebounding (11.2 orpg).
"I think it's huge," Taylor said. "And I think it's somewhat unique to our conference but very unique to Cal State Fullerton. We haven't typically been able to attract that kind of size consistently. To be able to have that kind of presence at the rim, those extra opportunities to be able to rebound. From a competitive standpoint, he gives us that in practice. He's going to be able to give us an option to be able to say, 'hey, if you don't bring it everyday, you know this guy is.' So that gives you a different level of comfort as a coach."
Tim Myles, Sr., 6-9, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Chaffey College
The "shortest" of the Titans stable of big men is also the most experienced. Myles enters his senior season at Cal State Fullerton following a solid junior campaign in which he played in 29 games and made four starts and averaged 12.7 minutes per game. He was fourth on the team in total rebounds last season, leading the team on the boards in five games.
"Tim's a guy who has been around for a long time." Taylor said. "He's got a different level of experience that he brings to our table. He's been at New Mexico, he's been through the JC ranks and now he's here."
Myles has been working through an injury this offseason but is working his way back and will undoubtedly be one of the leaders of the 2016-17 Titans.
"What Tim, most undoubtedly, brings to the table is just a different level of energy and competitive spirit; he's a guy who always excited about being around," Taylor said. "He's got a pep in his step. We need that, quite frankly, in our program. A huge energy guy, effort guy, and competitive guy. Tim, in my opinion, embodies those things to a certain degree because of what he's been through."
***
Make sure to come back Friday evening as we preview the 2016-17 Titans stable of forwards/wings. And make sure to mark your calendars for the annual Blue-Orange Scrimmage which will be held Oct. 22 at Titan Gym at 11 a.m. Admission is free.