2020-21 Chicago State Men's Basketball Preview

Chicago State University men's basketball coach Lance Irvin is entering his third season at the helm of the Cougars men's basketball program but this season is already unlike the previous two.
 
The 2020-21 Cougars return four of their top five starters and six of their top eight scorers from a season ago in contrast to returning just one starter heading into his second season (2019-20).
 
"When I looked up my first year when I got here, we had one guy who played more than 17 minutes," Irvin said. "So you had guys that really weren't used to playing. Last year, after we lost C.J. [Christian Jacob (Gary, Ind./Westside)], I looked around and nobody had played in an actual Division I game.
 
"Coming into this year, it's going to be great. We've got Andrew Lewis (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Vincent H.S.) and Xavier Johnson (Dallas, Texas/Hopkins H.S.). Both played a lot. Rajeir Jones (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy) basically started as a freshman and he played over 30 minutes a game."
 
Irvin has even watched his returners take a quasi-coaching role in practices.
 
"I remember the first workout this year, I was calling out a drill. They just hopped into the drill, then I was asking them about a play because I didn't have my play sheet with me so X (Xavier) and Rah (Rajeir) were like 'No, you stay here, and you go over there and you go over there,' so I started laughing. It's good when you have guys who are actually used to playing and hopefully that will help translate into us having a better experience, because at the end of the day everyone wants to win some games."
 
Last season's leading scorer (15.4 points per game) is senior guard Xavier Johnson (Dallas, Texas/Hopkins H.S.), who is the returning statistical leader in 11 categories including three-point field goals made (51) and attempted (130), points scored (354), assists (64) and steals (33). Johnson ranked eighth in scoring in the Western Athletic Conference while he (fourth, 86.7) and teammate Andrew Lewis (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Vincent H.S.) (second, 87.2) were two of the top four free-throw shooters in the league.
 
"Xavier can score the basketball," Irvin Said. We just need to cut down on turnovers. He came back a little bit more focused this year. His body looks different. He understands how hard he has to work on the defensive end but it's good having him back and I'm expecting big things. One thing about him, when he's open, he's going to make it. So it's good having a guy who I know is going to make an open shot."
 
Lewis is the team's second leading returner scorer (12.2 ppg), while also leading the team in minutes played (767), free throws attempted (109), free throws made (95) and free throw percentage (87.2%). He ranked second on the team in field goals made (100) and attempted (250), three-point FGs made (20) and attempted (68), assists (41) and steals (25).
 
Irvin is excited to have two senior guards leading his team.
 
"Those guys (Johnson and Lewis), they understand how to play off each other and they understand what I want as a coach," Irvin said. "I'm talking to them and they're telling some of the new guys 'No, this is how coach wants it, so we need to pick it up and let's do it this way, this is how we need to do it.'
 
"They're two different players. X (Xavier) can really shoot it from three, whereas Andrew Lewis (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Vincent H.S.) is more of a slasher and is a guy who will put pressure on a defense. One thing about him is he should be first-team all-defense this year. I will be shocked if he's not one of the top 10 defensive players in the league.
 
"You could see it in the last 10 games of the season, his defense really started to pick up and I think he really embraced what we were trying to do after his first month or two here, because it's tough when you come from a junior college, you really don't know what to expect.
 
"Those two really like each other off the court. They got used to playing with each other last year, so it's good when you bring some veteran guards back, that's why I'm sitting here smiling."
 
Other returning starters include Ke'Sean Davis (Compton, Calif./Taft Charter H.S.) (6-7, Sr., F), Solomon Hunt (Pomona, Calif./Upland H.S.) (6-9, Sr., C) and Rajeir Jones (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy) (6-3, So., G). Isaiah Lewis (Romulus, Mich./) (6-1, RF, G) and Carlo Marble (/West Des Moines Valley) (6-5, Sr., F) also saw a few starts and Kalil Whitehead (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical) (6-5, So., F) appeared in 24 games.
 
Davis, the leading returning rebounder in 2020-21, earned 11 starts in 22 games last season, averaging 7.3 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game, ranking fifth and second on the team, respectively. Hunt checked in just behind Davis in the rebounding department with 4.4 rpg, which ranked third last season, also making him the second leading returning rebounder. Jones started all 26 games in which he appeared as a freshman a season ago, averaging 6.2 ppg and 2.8 rpg.
 
"The key with Ke'Sean Davis (Compton, Calif./Taft Charter H.S.) is if he can consistently play hard and stay healthy, because he missed 7-8 games because he was hurt," Irvin said. "He has potential to be the best player on the team and one of the best players in the league. He's 6-7, athletic, can pass, dribble and shoot. He just needs to get his confidence right so I'm looking forward to that.
 
"Solomon Hunt (Pomona, Calif./Upland H.S.) played hurt last year so I think they sky's the limit for him, if he can stay healthy. He has a big body, he can score, he was wearing post players out but just had the injury bug. He really wasn't 100 percent all season.
 
"Rajeir Jones (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy) is another guy that has potential to be on the all-defensive team. As a freshman, he covered up so many mistakes for us on the defensive end, and he had an opportunity to play point toward the middle part of the season, so it's huge having another ball handler and having someone with experience.
 
"Carlo Marble (/West Des Moines Valley), as a walk on, played 19 minutes a game. If we didn't have Carlo, I don't know what we would have done last season. He basically bought us some toughness. He's a good spot-up shooter too, so I'm happy to have Carlo back."
 
Lewis earned an extra year of eligibility, starting five of six games, averaging 9.3 ppg before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He was the team leader in three-point field goal percentage (37.9) a season ago while Kalil Whitehead (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical) (6-5, So., F) contributed as a freshman, appearing in 24 games, averaging 1.9 ppg and 1.0 rpg.
 
"Isaiah Lewis (Romulus, Mich./) was the only point guard on the roster," Irvin said. "So the games we played well in the end, was because he was out there and he was able to run the team. He knew who to throw the ball to and he didn't turn it over. So it's huge having him out there this year.
 
"Kalil Whitehead (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical) really improved his body over the summer. He is a jack of all trades. He can defend, is a good athlete and can score. He played more minutes at the end of the season and did well. I'm looking for him to take a big jump from his freshman to sophomore year."  
 
Despite the returning experience, the Cougars will also welcome a number of transfers, including Aaris-Monte Bonds (Denver, CO/Martin Luther King Jr. Early College) (6-6, Jr., F), Jordan Polynice (San Clarita, Calif. /West Ranch/North Dakota Co. School) (6-6, Jr., G/F), Coreyoun Rushin (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse College Prep) (6-6, Jr., F), Isaiah Simpson (Richmond, Va./John Marshall ) (6-9, Jr., C) and Levelle Zeigler (Oakland, Calif. /Ridgeview HS) (6-1, Jr., G).
 
Polynice, the nephew of former NBA player Olden Polynice, averaged 7.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg at East Los Angeles College and was named All-South Coast Honorable Mention. Polynice spent his freshman season at North Dakota State College of Science.
 
Zeigler averaged 9.5 ppg, 4.1 assists per game, 3.3. rpg and 1.5 steals per game and shot nearly 50 percent from the floor (106-of-213) while scoring in double figures on 13 occasions. He was a first-team All-South Coast North Conference selection.
 
Polynice and Zeigler, two of three Cougars via East Los Angeles College (joining Solomon Hunt (Pomona, Calif./Upland H.S.)), teamed up to lead the Huskies to a 29-1 record, including a 25-game winning streak and a berth in the CCCAA State Championship Elite Eight.
 
"Everybody knows I like size," Irvin said. "When I was recruiting, I always get some 6-5 to 6-8, long, lanky guys, so we addressed that issue. Jordan Polynice (San Clarita, Calif. /West Ranch/North Dakota Co. School) has really been nice for us. He's going to provide a spark, because he has the length.
 
"We brought in Levelle Zeigler (Oakland, Calif. /Ridgeview HS), Jr., a point guard, so now we have two point guards. He's been a great leader thus far. He's first in sprints, he's first in all the drills, he's fast, he's quick, he's another one that can guard."
 
Rushin, a Chicago native, was a 2017 Chicago Sun-Times All-State, Chicago Public League All-City and Red-West All-Conference performer. He comes to Chicago State from Idaho State, where he appeared in 29 games as a sophomore with eight starts, averaging 3.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game. The 6-6 forward started his collegiate career at the College of Southern Idaho, averaging 9.5 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game, shooting 63.5 percent from the and was named honorable mention all-conference.
 
"Coreyoun Rushin (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse College Prep) from Westinghouse High School, he's a defender, he's tough" Irvin said. "He is a former all-city and all-state player out of Chicago. He is a good defender and an aggressive offensive player. His toughness, athleticism and length will really be able to help us."
 
Bonds averaged 14.8 ppg and 8.4 rpg as a sophomore for Southeastern Community College (Burlington, Iowa) and 10.5 ppg and 7.8 rpg as a freshman at Lamar Community College (Lamar, CO).
 
"Aaris-Monte Bonds (Denver, CO/Martin Luther King Jr. Early College), that's a tough guy right there," Irvin said. "I love toughness. If I'm in a dark alley, I'm taking Bonds with me. I'm taking him in a heartbeat, because he's tough, he's scrappy."
 
Simpson played one season for Santa Monica (CA) College, appearing in 23 games with 11 starts in 2019-20. He averaged 13.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg, helping the Corsairs to a 21-9 overall record. He earned Western State South All-Conference honors. Simpson played his freshman season at the University of South Carolina Upstate and averaged 2.9 ppg and 2.5 rpg, registering season-highs of 12 points and seven rebounds.
 
"Isaiah Simpson (Richmond, Va./John Marshall ) brings a great deal of size and athleticism to our roster," Irvin said. "He is a tough player who has a versatile basketball toolbox. At 6-9, he has the ability to make strong post moves or step out and make the 3-point shot. Isaiah comes from a successful program and we are looking forward to having him on our roster."
 
The lone freshman on the Cougars squad this season is 7-footer Lou Demuth (Luxembourg City, Luxembourg), who comes to the Windy City from Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. He recently played for BBC Gréngewald Hueschtert in Luxembourg. In the 2019 FIBA U20 Division B European Championship, Demuth averaged 14.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 1.4 blocks per game.
 
"I'm happy to get a 7-footer," Irvin said. "He's pick and pop. The guys love him. He can run for a seven footer. He can shoot. He's just getting used to the game over here, but it's a luxury having a 7-footer. We finally have some size, so this should be an interesting year for us."
 
Irvin is optimistic entering his third season, thanks to a solid core of returning starters and an influx of veteran transfers and size.
 
"I think this team could go a long way," Irvin said. "If we can stay away from the injury bug, I think we really could have a good year. We bring back six guys that played 20 minutes or more, and I think that experience will really help us. I expect us to play hard.
 
"We'll play a lot faster this year. We have experience. We have guards. I think the sky's the limit for this team."