What a difference a few weeks can make for a rebuilding program. When John Gallagher’s Hartford Hawks were set to battle the New Hampshire Wildcats on the night of January 5th of 2012, the Hawks were still searching for their first victory after failing in their previous 13 attempts. Along with struggling conference mates Binghamton and UMBC, Hartford helped drag a once proud America East down to one of the worst Division I conferences in the nation.
Two months later, however, the same Hartford team nearly upset the 23-win Vermont Catamounts in the semifinals of the America East tournament, after knocking off a veteran Boston University team in the quarterfinals a day prior. Both games were played in the friendly confines of Chase Family Arena on the Hartford campus, yet pundits and critics alike were thoroughly impressed with the in-season maturation of a club that featured four freshmen. Overall the season, with its wild peaks and valleys, served as invaluable on-the-job training for Gallagher’s players.
“I think the sophomores are more than sophomores because of what they went through,” said Gallagher. “Starting out 0-13, we embrace that now, that’s sort of like our calling card. We don’t shy away from talking about it, because we were tough enough to get through it.”
“To be a play away from upsetting Vermont, [the players] understand that wasn’t good enough. I think that’s the chip they carry on their shoulders. They’re a phenomenal group to be around, they’re a phenomenal group to work with, so it’s exciting for the coaches to come into the gym everyday because of their approach.”
With a 9-9 record to conclude last season, the Hawks confidently forge ahead as one of the youngest teams in the America East, and in the nation, with 10 underclassmen (6 sophomores and 4 freshmen) under scholarship for the 2012-13 season.
The Hawks are led by the sophomore trio of Mark Nwakamma, Nate Sikma, and Yolonso Moore. The 6-foot-6 froncourt duo of Nwakamma and Sikma compliment each other well, with Nwakamma as the athletic, high-motored “5” who can score a variety of ways and Sikma as a finesse big who possesses guard-like skills with shooting range to stretch the defense, an adept passing eye, and the ability to take defenders off the dribble when in space. A crafty combo guard, Moore will be asked to run the point after playing mostly off the ball in his freshman campaign.
These 3 sophomores, all selections to One Bid Wonders All-AE rookie team, will be asked to guide a developing Hartford squad into a America East power once again. When asked who will play the role of go-to-guy, Gallagher didn’t hesitate in nominating Nwakamma.
“Everyday he comes in the gym and everyday he’s been really impressive,” said Gallagher. “Mark’s an impressive kid. If you coach a kid like this, you can’t wait to get out there everyday with him. He’s really improved himself in a lot of areas.”
Nwakamma will assume a leadership role on the court, because of the graduation of All-AE third teamer and point guard Andres Torres, leaving the Hawks devoid of a senior leader. Enter John Peterson, a fifth year senior from Sanford who’s eligible to play immediately. Peterson’s insertion into the rotation gives his new team a much needed senior presence and should alleviate Hartford’s most glaring weakness: their inability to drain the outside jumper. Last season, Hartford finished third from last in the conference with a three-point percentage of 31.0%, on an insane 736 attempts. The 6-foot-7 Peterson will add length and perimeter skills at the “3” and will improve Hartford’s ability to rebound the basketball. Last season, the Hawks were dominated on the glass with a rebounding margin of -7.
After Peterson, the most notable newcomer may be 6-foot-5 Parker U’u (pronounced you-you). Half Samoan, U’u possesses surprising natural strength that allows him to be very physical with defenders. His physicality and ability to knock down the three makes U’u an intriguing prospect, even if his coach believes he should be competing somewhere else.
“I joke around with him that he chose the wrong sport,” said Gallagher. “He would have been first team All-American safety or middle linebacker. I’ve never seen anybody love physicality like [Parker]. He just likes mixing it up. He’s got great feel, he’s got great ball toughness, he sure makes people know he’s out there.”
U’u is expected to compete for minutes right away at the wing, along with Australian Taylor Dyson. Dyson is a work in progress on the defensive end – where he’ll need to adjust to the American game – but he has “anywhere in the gym” range and therefore could provide instant scoring off the bench.
Evan Cooper and Antoine Burrell are the final two freshmen, with both hailing from Texas, a recruiting hotspot these days for Gallagher. In his junior season, Cooper impressed scouts with his explosiveness and playmaking ability, drawing the interest of mid-major powers Butler and Rice. Now in Hartford, Cooper figures to spend his inaugural season backing up Moore at the point.
“He’s physically ready to go – his body, his strength, he’s a man right now,” said Gallagher when asked about his point guard of the future. “He’s really savvy, and he really knows how to get in the lane and draw defenders.”
Throw in sophomores Wes Cole (who looks to improve his long-range stroke) and Jamie Schneck (who struggled through injuries last season), and you have a Hartford squad hungry to make some noise once again in the America East. It’s been difficult enduring eight losing seasons in the past nine years, but with many of the conference’s top teams – Stony Brook, Vermont, and Albany– losing much of their talent through graduation and defection, Gallagher’s Hawks are rising at the right time.
When asked if Hartford is ready to compete for an America East title, Gallagher still wasn’t willing to take the bait. “I’m not ready to say that. We just have to worry about Hartford. If we control ourselves, then we have a chance. I do like our group and I like the direction we are heading in.”
Ryan Peters covers mid-major college basketball on Big Apple Buckets and Pioneer Pride. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @pioneer_pride
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