Lions gear up for season, new era under Kiefer

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana men’s basketball team over went a face lift in the offseason when SLU assistant coach David Kiefer was promoted to head coach.

Kiefer, a Kansas State grad, takes over after being the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach for the Lions under former SLU head coach Jay Ladner for the last four seasons.

The road back to the top of the Southland Conference won’t be easy for the Lions. SLU will be looking to replace their top two scorers from last year in first team All-Southland selections Marlain Veal (15.9 ppg, 4.4 apg) and Moses Greenwood (17.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg).

The Lions return two starters from a year ago including senior Von Julien and junior Brandon Gonzalez.

Julien, a Reserve, Louisiana native, started all 33 games for SLU and led the team in minutes played with 1,126. The Riverside Academy grad was second on the team behind Veal with 136 assists. The senior was rock solid in Southland Conference games averaging 7.5 points and 5.1 assists.

“Von embodies everything we want in a player,” said Kiefer. “He is the heart and soul of our team and we will go as he goes.”

Gonzalez, a Punta Gorda, Florida product, was inserted into the starting lineup last year after 10 games. The 6-6 guard averaged 7.7 points and 4.3 rebounds a game over the final 23 games of the season.
“I think it will be a breakout year for Brandon,” said Kiefer. “He has changed his body and is in the best shape of his career. He can really score the ball and get on the offensive glass. I’m expecting big things from him as one of the older guys on the team.”

The Lions will look to returners Pape Diop Ty Brewer and Max Starwood to fill in the lane with the departure of Greenwood and Keith Charleston. Brewer (6-7, 210) showed flashes of the future last year. The Meridian, Mississippi native scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 69-53 win at Northwestern State to aid SLU while Greenwood was in foul trouble.

Diop (6-9, 205), like Brewer, was instrumental in SLU’s resurgence last year after a tough start. The Senegal native played in 17 games last year but saw few minutes due to Greenwood and Charleston’s dominance. He still showed what he is capable of providing valuable minutes off the bench.

“Both Pape and Ty are going to be great players in this league,” said Kiefer. “Both are future all-conference caliber players. I think they can be elite defenders and rebounders in this league. Both are still learning and getting better every day.”

Starwood (6-9, 230) provides the Lions with a ton of size and strength down low. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was a big piece of Southeastern’s resurgence in the second half of the season. The junior helped the Lions to a couple of road wins in conference at Houston Baptist and Central Arkansas when Greenwood was in foul trouble. His playing time, with the departure of Greenwood and Charleston, could go up tremendously this season.

“Max is one of our best scoring big man,” said Kiefer. “He can score with his back to the basket and step outside and hit shots. Consistency is the key for Max and if he is consistent he will prosper.”

Also returning for the Lions is sophomore Jeremiah Saunders (6-3, 200). The Fort Lauderdale, Florida product showed the ability to shoot the three-pointer last year. Saunders, in his only start of the season, drilled four threes in the first half against Sam Houston State.

“He is a terrific rebounding guard that can shoot the basketball,” said Kiefer. “He is going to be a glue guy. He can really make shots and he showed signs of it as a freshman. He can guard the perimeter or the post if we need him to. He is a tough kid and a winner.”

The newcomers bring a lot of intrigue to the Lions as Kiefer brought nine new faces to the program. Sophomores LaQuan Butler, and Avery Wilson as well as freshmen Max Brackmann, Nick Caldwell, McKay Howell, Bryce Johnson, Isiah Kirby, Maxim Romanov and Byron Smith join the program.

Butler (6-0, 170) comes to the Lions by way of Benton Harbor, Michigan. The sophomore played a year at Chipola Junior College where he shot 36 percent from the three-point line (24-for-66) and 81 percent from the free throw line (36-for-44) in 32 games. With the loss of Veal, Butler could be one of several that can help bring the production at the guard position.

Wilson, after transferring from Boston College, will have to sit out the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules. However, the Forest Park, Georgia native could be a valuable piece for the Lions down the road. His size (6-4, 215) at the guard position and explosiveness attacking the rim are reasons for Kiefer and the Lions to salivate at the future.

Brackmann, out of Loehne, Germany, is an intimidating presence (7-2, 275) with raw talent. His immediate impact is uncertain but will cause some matchup problems for SLU opponents.

Kirby (6-3, 180), is another potential successor to Veal. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native is a terrific ball handler with good floor vision.

Caldwell (6-6, 200), is a combo guard that was named first team All-District 5-5A for Dutchtown High School in Louisiana. The Geismar, Louisiana product is a player to keep an eye on as a potential play maker.

Romanov (6-6, 200), comes to the Lions from Nahariya, Israel. The freshman has the ability to shoot the three-pointer and finish at the rim.

Smith (6-0, 170) is also another option at point guard for the Lions. The Palatka, Florida native is a premium defender that can pressure the ball.
Johnson (6-6, 180) is a local product from Springfield, Louisiana. The freshman had a stellar career at Springfield High School. He scored over 1,000 points for his career and was Named District 10-2A MVP his senior year.

Howell (6-7, 225) is a strong presence that gives the Lions more versatility. The Louisville, Kentucky native was an under the radar player that SLU could be thankful for.

“It’s a very talented group of newcomers,” said Kiefer. “We have a lot of youth but these guys bring a combination of the size, speed and athleticism we are looking for.”

The Lions will be in action Saturday afternoon at home at 1 p.m. against William Carey in an exhibition. SLU open the regular season Wednesday, Nov. 6 at Tulane at 7 p.m.