Leading the way will be humongous big man Rik Smits.  The Seven foot four sophomore comes into this season with a reputation of being a full blown project but he has shown that he has the potential to be one of the best centers in the country.  The Dunking Dutchman was only third on the team in scoring but he improved almost nightly in his first year in America.  Blessed with a great touch around the basket and a developing mid-range game, the future is bright for this kid from Eindhoven in the Netherlands.  He also showed he knows how to use his large frame to block shots and intimidate the other team.  He is rail thin and does not have the power game yet but with his size and a great motor this kid has a real good shot of getting there.  His development became obvious in his matchups’ with other prestigious big men this year including showdowns with other great seven footers such as Walter Dukes, Steve Hayes, Robert Parish and of course Steve Stipanovich.  He might not be as well-known as some of the other big men in this country yet especially being a tow-headed skinny kid from the Netherlands but he has shown he can play with any of them.  Smits has all world potential but he must get better on the boards and he must get thicker.  But it’s not like he will be going against Ewing or Sampson so he should gain confidence and will be able to develop his game slowly while in the MAAC.  As a matter of fact his biggest opponent will probably be the other Euro kid the Red Foxes brought into Poughkeepsie, both literally and figuratively.  

Sophomore Mirosolav Pecarski is not quite as big as Smits but is way more physical and these two Euro kids make practices fun to watch and more importantly is making each other better (and oh so much tougher).  Pecarski has the size (6’11 256) and game to play next to Smits.  Pecarski has a more advanced offensive game and was way ahead of Smits as a huge recruit from Yogoslavia.  An trip home to play for the national team midway through the year was all for not but it did open the door for Smits to shine which he did averaging 15 points a game the second half.   He is back and ready to battle his neighbor to the North and take back his job as the starting power forward.  That might be easier said then done as sophomore Ted Taylor played well after the Yugo left.  At 6’8 he is nowhere near as big (or talented) as Pecarski but he is an old school banger who rebounds like a bull and protects Marist with gusto.  Pecarski might actually be used as super sub especially with Smits propensity to not eat up large minutes on the court (stamina and fouls being the main culprit). Either way Pecarski gives the Red Foxes two talented seven footers (or almost) who can flat play.  How many other teams in the MAAC or any other conference for that matter can say that?  Taylor really showed some toughness especially on the boards.  He does not score much but will get better and was a solid complement to Smits down low.   

The play of Drafton Davis at point guard was inspiring.  The Sophomore took the reins of this team last year and came into this season as the chosen quarterback.   Davis is a six foot tall bundle of energy who is all over the court.  Davis does not score much (if it all) but he is great at setting up the offense (especially Smits), harassing the other teams guards and hitting the open man.  He is as good as it gets as causing turnovers and was a fan favorite but Petro, as much as he loved this kid, needs someone who was a threat to score at least a little because you can only see defenders back away from your point guard so many times!  Davis did lose minutes down the stretch as the Red Foxes looked for more firepower from this position but for now is the quarterback of this team with his main of getting the ball to his two huge tight ends in the middle.  Fellow first year played Bruce Johnson got called up from JV near the end and showed some potential at running the team.  At 5’11, Johnson is a better scorer for sure then Davis and as good defensively (which is saying something) but not quite as good distributing.  Still, there is definitely going to be a quarterback battle in Poughkeepsie this fall (and winter). 

The Red Foxes will continue to rely on Steve Smith to provide scoring.  The Sophomore wing has the skills to compliment Smits and their dynamic point guard  Smith can hit the open jumper but can really run the court.  He also has size to post up down low when he gets a smaller player on him.  Smith may be the best offensive weapon on the team that is not seven foot four and to be honest is much more complete.  He led the team in scoring by quite a margin but does need to improve his long-range game.  A six five athletic wing is something every team needs and with all of the European size up front.  You could make a case that Smith was the most important player on this team.  You might have a twinkle in your eye when you say that but Smith is the real deal. 

Smith got the primary scoring role on the wing when Junior Mike Hart went down with an injury.  The 6’5 lefty is a gifted shooter with a smooth stroke and can help inside but is nowhere near as athletic as Smith.  This hometown kid is extremely popular and should begin next year lacing them up next to Smith on the wing.  That is unless one of these recruits Magarity is bringing in (and he has got a truckload of perimeter players coming to Poughkeepsie).  There is no one on the returning roster that would block Hart though one other old school D-3 guys lost his job to someone with bigger upside.  Senior Fred Weiss used to be the man here.  This 6’6 post led the team in scoring and rebounding his first two years but was relegated to backup with the Euros in town.  He played more when Pecarski went down but is not exactly the beefiest guy on the team and that is saying something with Smits around.  He can score though and once had a 38 point, 26 rebound game back in the D-3 days so there is something here.  Petro, who goes 6’5, actually played against Weiss back in the day in some pickup games and is not ready to exile Weiss yet as he knows this cat can play and more importantly has a bunch of tricks in his bag he can teach the kids. 

The Foxes had plenty of subs coming off the bench on the perimeter including a huge crew of carryover D-3 players. Seniors John Murphy and Bill Gowen plus juniors  Bill Spenla, Ray Manning and Joe Scott all played last year but their role were greatly diminished from the year before.  These guys were recruited for D-3 ball so it is understandable and their future in Poughkeepsie is in jeopardy especially with a great recruiting class coming to town.  As for the post guys players like sophomores Rudy Bougaret, Daryl Powell, Mark Shamley, Dewine and Steve Eggink will battle for leftover minutes from the monsters.  Bougaret has some size too as he is another true seven footer but is even more of a project then the Euros.  He will probably play another year on JV but it wouldn’t hurt having him practice (and even play some games) with the varsity, both for him and the other two.  Powell can flat score but is undersized and there is some question to his eligibility.  If he is deemed eligible and comes back, he will play as the Red Foxes do need some more offense.  The other three are definitely bound for another year of JV unless there are injuries or someone leaves the program again. 

The Marist Red Foxes will rely on the development of big Euros Rik Smits and Miroslav Perkarski to carry them to hopefully compete in the brave new world of D-1 basketball.  The Red Foxes did not have a good season in the Northeast Conference after taking the leap of faith of moving up from Division Three.  Marist has barely entered the water of Major College basketball and now are already jumping ship to much more competitive Metro Atlantic Conference.  Will they stay afloat?   Well, when you have a big man down low with the talent and heart of the Dunking Dutchmen then you have a chance. And when you got two, well, your chances double!!