Texas State Men’s Basketball Season Preview: Power Forwards
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State men’s basketball team is coming off a 15-win season and making its second straight appearance in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Returning six players, including Preseason All-SBC Third Team selection Kavin Gilder-Tilbury, from last year, the Bobcats look to defy expectations with eight new players on the rosters.
In the fourth of a five-part series previewing the 2016-17 team, TXStateBobcats.com takes a look at the players competing for time at the power forward position.
Gilder-Tilbury will be the starting power forward for the Bobcats this season. He is the lone returner that averaged double-figures in scoring (12.3) and is the top rebounder at 4.0 rebounds per game.
“I am looking for great things from Kavin this year,” said head coach Danny Kaspar. “He is our most capable scorer going into the season and has the ability to earn first or second team all-conference honors.”
The senior can stretch opposing defenses with his three-point shooting ability. All three years Gilder-Tilbury has led Texas State in three-point shooting percentage. He is one of just two Bobcats ever to pace the program in the category in multiple seasons and the only one to do so in consecutive years. There are times this year that the Houston native will get minutes at the small forward position.
Two freshmen, Nedeljko Prijovic and Maxwell Starwood, are competing for playing time behind Gilder-Tilbury.
Prijovic played last year at Lee Academy in Lee, Maine. Born in Belgrade, Serbia, he was rated the second-best player in the state by ESPN. He served as the team’s team captain and averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Prijovic recorded seven 20-plus scoring games with a season-best performance of 34 points and 12 rebounds coming against Prestige Prep Academy.
“Nedja attended prep school last year and is a little bit older than a typical freshman,” Kaspar said. “He needs to get strong but is a good passer and reasonably good shooter that will get his share of minutes.”
In the exhibition game against Southeastern Oklahoma State, Prijovic scored four points as he made 2-of-6 shot attempts. He also grabbed four boards in 16 minutes off the bench.
Starwood joined the Bobcats late in the spring signing period after he got his release from Tulane following a coaching change. Rated a three-star recruit by ESPN, he attended Reno International Prep in Reno, Nevada last season and averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game. Starwood graduated from University Lab High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana after helping lead the team to back-to-back Class 3A state championships in 2014 and 2015.
“Maxwell is probably the most naturally talented player on the team. The key to him to getting a lot of playing time this year is learning and understanding our system,” said Kaspar. “He is a very young man for being his second year out of high school. He has to push himself and could be a guy that comes on after a couple more weeks of practice.”
Starwood played seven minutes in the second half of Saturday’s exhibition game. He finished with two points, three rebounds and a block in his limited court action.
The Bobcat open the regular season on Friday against Florida Atlantic for the opening game of the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. The tip will be at 9 p.m. CT and be played at the ‘Iolani School.
Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2016-17 basketball season. They can be purchased online at www.txstatebobcats.com/tickets, over the phone at 512-245-2272 or by visiting the Mark and Linda Smith Ticket Office at Bobcat Stadium between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individual game tickets will go on sale to the general public on November 1.
For the latest on Texas State men’s basketball, visit the official website of Texas State athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, follow the team on Twitter at @TxStateMBB and like on Facebook at /TexasStateMensBasketball.
Point Guards Preview
Shooting Guards Preview
Small Forward Preview
