Rutgers set to celebrate lone senior on Saturday
Mike Vorkunov / Associate Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Sports
The season is nearly complete and fans will have only two more chances to see the Rutgers men's basketball team don the familiar scarlet and white and one last opportunity to see them on the Louis Brown Athletic Center court.
That chance comes tomorrow when the Scarlet Knights take on South Florida. The game will have dual meanings for the program. It will break a tie for last place in the Big East. It will also be Byron Joynes' Senior Day.
With Joynes the lone senior on the squad this year, Saturday night is all his to revel in.
The 6'9 center has made great strides in his time on the Banks. A span that started five years, one coaching staff and about 45 pounds ago.
Joynes came into the program from the vaunted Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia where he was a teammate of Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony. The No. 21 ranked center in his class by Rivals, Joynes elicited excitement after his commitment to Rutgers.
"We are excited that Byron has elected to continue his education and play basketball at Rutgers University," head coach Gary Waters said about his newest recruit.
"Byron is a young man whose best basketball is in front of him. He is just 17 years old. Byron is a skilled big man, who is a real wide body. He has good hands, excellent agility, and offers a huge presence on both ends of the floor."
The freshman came into his first year at 310 pounds, but quickly lost 25 pounds and made strides on the court. He finished the year averaging 1.9 points per game and 2 rebounds, filling a distinct role on a team that made it to the finals of the National Invitational Tournament.
"We want [Joynes] to be physical, rebound the basketball, and defend. Anything else is a bonus," Waters said about him early his freshman year.
Joynes showed improvement in his second season. His numbers jumped to 4.5 ppg and 5.7 rpg, including over six rebounds per game in Big East play.
While Joynes' junior year showed a marginal downturn in his statistics, it was not due to a lack off effort. The Baltimore, Md. native played 29 games, the majority of them with a non-shooting shoulder injury that necessitated post-season surgery.
The big man would not be healthy for a while as he fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during the summer leading up to his senior year. Unable to suit up after half the year, Joynes decided to redshirt his fourth season as a Knight.
The 2007-08 season has seen Joynes make a successful return from injury and become a vital contributor.
As Joynes came into Rutgers with a stream of anticipation behind him, he has actualized his potential to become a player who earns praise from current coach Fred Hill Jr.
"I can't say enough about Byron Joynes," Hill said.
"He's a senior, and senior night is on Saturday. And the kid has done everything we've asked him to do. He battles, gives up his body and he's always in the right spot. He gives every ounce of energy and heart that he's got. If we had a few more guys like him, we would have won some of these close games."
That chance comes tomorrow when the Scarlet Knights take on South Florida. The game will have dual meanings for the program. It will break a tie for last place in the Big East. It will also be Byron Joynes' Senior Day.
With Joynes the lone senior on the squad this year, Saturday night is all his to revel in.
The 6'9 center has made great strides in his time on the Banks. A span that started five years, one coaching staff and about 45 pounds ago.
Joynes came into the program from the vaunted Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia where he was a teammate of Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony. The No. 21 ranked center in his class by Rivals, Joynes elicited excitement after his commitment to Rutgers.
"We are excited that Byron has elected to continue his education and play basketball at Rutgers University," head coach Gary Waters said about his newest recruit.
"Byron is a young man whose best basketball is in front of him. He is just 17 years old. Byron is a skilled big man, who is a real wide body. He has good hands, excellent agility, and offers a huge presence on both ends of the floor."
The freshman came into his first year at 310 pounds, but quickly lost 25 pounds and made strides on the court. He finished the year averaging 1.9 points per game and 2 rebounds, filling a distinct role on a team that made it to the finals of the National Invitational Tournament.
"We want [Joynes] to be physical, rebound the basketball, and defend. Anything else is a bonus," Waters said about him early his freshman year.
Joynes showed improvement in his second season. His numbers jumped to 4.5 ppg and 5.7 rpg, including over six rebounds per game in Big East play.
While Joynes' junior year showed a marginal downturn in his statistics, it was not due to a lack off effort. The Baltimore, Md. native played 29 games, the majority of them with a non-shooting shoulder injury that necessitated post-season surgery.
The big man would not be healthy for a while as he fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during the summer leading up to his senior year. Unable to suit up after half the year, Joynes decided to redshirt his fourth season as a Knight.
The 2007-08 season has seen Joynes make a successful return from injury and become a vital contributor.
As Joynes came into Rutgers with a stream of anticipation behind him, he has actualized his potential to become a player who earns praise from current coach Fred Hill Jr.
"I can't say enough about Byron Joynes," Hill said.
"He's a senior, and senior night is on Saturday. And the kid has done everything we've asked him to do. He battles, gives up his body and he's always in the right spot. He gives every ounce of energy and heart that he's got. If we had a few more guys like him, we would have won some of these close games."