Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball 2009 Season Outlook

Wilmington University looks forward to the 2009-2010 season, as the ‘Cats return four of out of five starters from a team that missed last year’s Central Athletic Collegiate Conference (CACC) playoffs. This year the Wildcats plan to rejuvenate their program under the guidance of new Head Coach Mike Gallagher. The team returns 10 of 16 letter winners and 10 seniors to navigate their league play.

Wilmington is led by senior forward Antonio Sherrod (Glen Burnie HS/Glen Burnie, MD), a third-team All-CACC selection last season. He led the Wildcats in scoring (17.1 points), rebounding (6.9) and free throw percentage (.787). Sherrod was second on the team in steals (34), ranked fifth in the conference in scoring, and seventh in both rebounding and free throw percentage. Other returning starters include senior Blake Rubinstein (Hatboro-Horsham HS/Ambler, PA), who led the team in three point shots last year; senior center Allen Hairston (Piscataway HS/Plainfield, NJ), who was second in the CACC in blocks; and sophomore forward Brandon Savage (Cardinal Dougherty HS/Philadelphia, PA), who led the team by shooting 60 percent from the floor.

Senior Mike Shipman (Middletown HS/Bronx, NY) returns to takes over the point guard position and classmate Vernon Dupree (Concord HS/Wilmington, DE) is new to the Wildcats and will help with the scoring load. This season, the team will also benefit from the senior leadership of forward Courtney Hines (Howard HS/Wilmington, DE), center J’son Sanders (Salem HS/Virginia Beach, VA), forward Michael Myers (Easton Area HS/Easton, PA), guard Terrance Gibson (BCIT-Westhampton HS/Willingboro, NJ) and forward Jamar McCray (New Castle Baptist/New Castle, DE).

Freshmen Isiah Mason (Cardinal Dougherty HS/Philadelphia, PA) and Eric Selby (HowardHS/Claymont, DE) solidify the point guard position. Newcomers Elijah Daniels (Upper Darby HS/Upper Darby, PA), Marcus Gomes (Westwood HS/Brooklyn, NY) and Andrew Corrigan (Hodgson Vo-Tech HS/Newark, DE) help with the long range shooting, while sophomore Mike Sammons (Dickinson HS/Wilmington, DE) provides depth in the paint.

Wilmington opens a challenging season against Division I Delaware State University on November 16th. The out-of-conference schedule is highlighted with games against nationally-ranked Kutztown University on November 18th and University of Massachusetts at Lowell on January 14th. The conference schedule is highlighted with two games against nationally-ranked Philadelphia University on December 10th and January 28th. The rivalry between the Wildcats and Goldey-Beacom College is re-ignited at Goldey-Beacom on January 19th and when the Lightning comes to the Pratt Gymnasium on February 9th.