SEMO Basketball: Get to know the Redhawks

Southeast Missouri State freshman guard DQ Nicholas drives to the basket Saturday in an exhibition game against Lincoln University at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball squad opens its 2019-20 season today at Vanderbilt at 7 p.m.

Here is a look at the Redhawks and what you need to know about each of them.

Darrius Agnew

6-8

Junior

Look for: Agnew is a strong post presence who will come off the bench. He isn’t as athletic at Quatarrius Wilson or Sage Tolbert, but he consistently brings his lunch pail to work.

Nana Akenten

6-6

Redshirting

Look for: The Nebraska transfer will sit out this season and is out right now with an injury. Very athletic once he gets healthy. Needs to spend the next 12 months working on ballhandling and shooting and will.

Alex Caldwell

6-0

Sophomore

Look for: Caldwell runs the offense and is trying to do what the coaches ask of him in being a team leader and corral everyone in the same direction. Lightning-fast off the bounce and is a perimeter threat, as well. Will be very valuable this season.

Khalil Cuffee

6-4

Redshirt sophomore

Look for: Cuffee has the size, strength, athleticism, and skill-set to fill an important role if he chose to. If he set his mind on playing great defense, ran the floor with relentless energy, crashed the boards on every possession, and continually was vocal and positive, he’d end up playing 10 minutes a game off the bench and be very valuable.

Isaiah Gable

6-7

Junior

Look for: Gable is a ‘stretch four,’ who is strong offensively, but needs growth at the other end. He is a positive guy who is trying to do what the coaches ask and will fill an important role as a shooting threat. May start on occasion (depending on match-ups), but is valuable off the bench.

Chris Harris

6-3

Junior

Look for: JUCO transfer is a perimeter shooting threat that needs to build his mental toughness and conditioning. Will fill a role off the bench.

Skyler Hogan

6-5

5th-year senior

Look for: Veteran who is tired of the losing and wants to end his career on a strong note. Works hard and is doing all he can to be a team leader and steer this ship in the right direction. Will start and brings perimeter shooting and defensive effort to the court.

Oscar Kao

6-0

Junior

Look for: Perimeter shooting threat, who can put the ball on the floor and finish through traffic. Needs to play under control and grow as an individual defender. Will play a very valuable role this season, probably starting half of the time.

Jordan Love

6-5

Redshirt freshman

Look for: Perimeter athlete that brings length to the floor. Has missed most of the preseason with mono, so tough to evaluate role right now.

Jakob Medina

6-2

Freshman

Look for: Walk-on with perimeter skills. Injured and out indefinitely.

Evan Morrison

6-5

Junior

Look for: Walk-on who plays the four. Provides defense and energy in practices. Trying to be a positive, vocal presence.

DQ Nicholas

6-1

Freshman

Look for: Very talented, athletic perimeter player with strength and great quickness. Will have nights he looks awesome and others he looks like a freshman. He is the kind of player who leads teams to top of OVC as a junior and senior. Will play a lot this year.

Nygal Russell

6-4

Redshirt sophomore

Look for: Russell brings skill, size, and strength off the bench. Will fill an important role this season on nights some starter isn’t performing well. Like Cuffee, he has the potential to be a very valuable defender and “energy guy.”

Sage Tolbert

6-8

Sophomore

Look for: Has the potential to be an All-OVC selection. Athletic, strong, big, has some skill, can really, really be good this year. May end up being team MVP. Needs to work into being a 70 percent FT shooter. He, Caldwell, and Nicholas are the types of young players you build a program on.

Quatarrius Wilson

6-8

5th-year senior

Look for: Like Tolbert, could be an all-league selection. Long, athletic, skilled around the basket, can face some. Very difficult match-up. Basketball isn’t his issue, it is being consistent emotionally and not allowing adversity (foul call or not getting a foul call) to negatively impact his performance. Focused and in the right mindset, good night, he’ll be really good.