The Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans surprised a lot of people last year in the Sun Belt conference.  The Trojans were expected to do about the same as rival Arkansas State (which is to say not good) but had a solid year in this underrated league. The Trojans almost got to both 500 in league and overall, something no one from Little Rock ever dreamed of going into their first D-1 year.  The best thing about this upstart program is that there are no expectations in Little Rock.  Yet! Coach Mike Newell knew the cupboard was pretty bare when he got here so went out and immediately recruited the heck out of the Juco world including taking some kids off the practices playgrounds before the season even started.  He was looking for any kid who could play defense and run the court.  Newell is a no nonsense protégé of one Billy Tubbs of Oklahoma and has implemented the same up and down style based on a tough man press that is wonderful to watch. Newell does not have at his disposal anywhere near the same kind of talent as the talents he helped bring into Norman.  One of the ironic things about Little Rock is that it is without question the center of Arkansas in almost every way.  Except sports.  When it comes to sports Fayetteville is the epicenter and probably always will be.  And the sad thing was that Nolan Richardson would not even give the new bloods a chance and would not schedule either UALR or Arkansas State.  These teams needed this kind of game and recognition (as well as the payday either home or away) to boost their programs.  But Newell has a plan beyond his superb coaching to get this program on the national map and he wants to continue to win as many games as possible and give his young squad confidence for the future. He had another terrific recruiting class filled with JC kids but he will still have to rely on some of those ‘veterans’ to produce.  And by veterans in Little Rock we means primarily sophomores and few juniors from the D-2 days with no seniors on the returning roster. 

Juniors Larry ‘Lenny’ Drake, Tom Brown and Marty Leguerre were the ‘experience’ for the Trojans and performed well.  They had good seasons in Little Rock but lost minutes as the year progressed to younger, more athletic kids.  Brown is a dynamic point guard who can really score but wildly inconstant.  He was a JC transfer who had some huge games but also had a few stinkers including one where he had ten turnovers.  Drake and Leguerre can score but are not exactly David Thompson if you know what I mean.  All three will be back and will battle to keep minutes as Newell is brining in six guards this year to compete for time.   

Sophomore Vaughn Williams was the starting point guard last year from the get go and had a solid in unspectacular first season.  Williams is a solid player who also has leadership skills and can score a little. He is best at setting up teammates and running the show and is a terrific defender. He is not much of a shooter yet but is as good of a Quarterback as there is in this league especially considering this was his first year.  He should continue that role this year. 

Sophomore wing man Pete Myers is to Williams and thus a great compliment. At least on one end of the court.  Myers is a defensive stopper. He will shut down an opponent.  He is big (six foot six) and athletic and tough.  He is not afraid to go toe to toe with anyone.  He relishes the opportunity to guard other athletic wings. And then shut them down.  Myers is a burgeoning offensive player.  The ‘Skeeter Hawk’ is developing some range on his shot and can go to the board.  His best attribute is his ability to go to the hole and finish and he will finish with gusto.  No one throws it down like Myers does on the break at least outside of the state of North Carolina. He did finish second on the team in scoring but has a ways to go to catch up to his defensive game.  Still, he is by far the best athlete on the team and Coach Newell knows that he brings a physicality that this team needs.  He missed the first five games of the year due to transferring in (he is one of the kids Newell brought in from a juco to jump start this program) but only got better as the year progressed. Teamed with Williams for a full year this duo could be awesome in the Sun Belt.  Right now he plays the three (he might be a more natural two but on this team he is needed at the three) for the Trojans but no matter where he lines up he gets the job of guarding the other team’s best perimeter player. 

Coach Newell is always looking for other more options who can score and defend in his press.  Sophomore Myron Jackson really came on strong the last ten games. Jackson is a true combo guard who got on the court some part of the year and was known more for his defense than anything else. He really shined when Newell got him some more minutes down the stretch. He can really get to the hoop and has a nice touch and will be in the mix for more playing time this year in a crowded back court. 

The Trojans will rotate guys up front often but did have a carryover from the old NAIA days to be their base in the middle.  Junior Larry Johnson is a rebounder who plays defense but is limited offensively.  He is not very big as well but plays tough defense against bigger guys and is a terrific board man.  Johnson may not be nowhere near his namesake kid that the Shark has brought in to UNLV talent wise but he can play and is consistent.  Newell would love to upgrade here and has brought in some bigger and potentially more talented guys but they do have some baggage.  Sophomore Jim ‘The Voice’ Lampley is huge and eats up space at six ten and 230 pounds.  He is still learning the game however and makes his share of mistakes and has a huge motivation problem.  He is coming off the sideline after transferring from a JUCO but gives the team the size it needs down low.  This New Jersey kid was highly recruited out of high school and actually went to Vandy first before transferring here after not getting enough playing time. He has more skills than most men his size as he can score and board and is a good passer down low.  His overall game gives this team a different look and they need him to improve as they just do not have the size to compete at this level no matter how good the back court is.  Lampley did have runins with Newell and missed some games but did come back and if he can hang on the team he will make this team much better.  Sophomore Johnnie Bell got some minutes and played well. He is a physical player and should continue in that role and gives the Trojans some offense down low.  Fellow Sophomores Donald Newman  and Michael Clarke are terrific rebounders who give Newell some quality minutes up front.  Newman (say that with disdain) is not great offensively but they he is soo good on the boards that they are pushing for him to get more minutes after getting stuck on the JV most of last year. Clarke was huge down the stretch and became the go to post guy down low.  He uses his 6’5 frame like a bulldozer and can flat score. He should get many more minutes next year.  Junior Charles Johnson was the main man to start the year up front but by the end was odd man out of this much better than anticipated front line. 

Newell has others battling for minutes on a roster filled with overachievers. Sophomores Mike Rivers and Jeff Cummings are big guys who have potential.  Rivers play both spots and got some minutes but is nowhere big enough for the paint in the Sun Belt so was stuck more as a wing player on the defensive end. Cummings does have size at 6’11 but is green as they come and did play a minute on varsity and barely on JV. 

The Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans shocked the world by winning many close games and eventually finishing much higher in the Sun Belt Conference than expected. New coach Mike Newell had a group of players of inexperienced players but are fast learning how to compete at this level.  The team is young and motivated to show last year was no fluke. They have some talent but seem to have more Kahones than anything and that can carry you along way.  It will be hard for them to improve on their breakout year but they can.   Newell is a great young coach but he definitely does it his way and sometimes rubs his players as well as the fans the wrong way but if he continues to pull out seasons like he did from nowhere then Little Rock will continue to love him.  Now if they can just figure out what they wanted to be called UALR or Little Rock or Arkansas-Little Rock.