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Dispatch
Canal Winchester picks up building block in 7-1 center
Indians must replace five starters, but towering Mullens makes task easier
Friday, December 01, 2006
Dave Devereux
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
MIKE MUNDEN DISPATCH B.J. Mullens, who has orally committed to Ohio State, averaged 18.6 points and 10.8 rebounds at Harvest Prep last season.
Replacing five starters can be a tall order. Canal Winchester will start with 7-foot-1 B.J. Mullens and go from there.
Mullens, a junior who has committed to Ohio State, transferred to Canal Winchester after spending two seasons at nearby Harvest Prep.
"I don?t want to look back with Harvest," Mullens said. "I?m looking to the future with Canal Winchester. Since I came here, I?ve been getting to know more about the game."
Mullens will be the centerpiece for Canal Winchester and coach Kent Riggs, who has won four district titles and 311 games in 19 seasons.
"B.J. came to us in March," Riggs said. "The kids are getting used to playing with him. Right now, we?re trying to get all the pieces to match together."
Mullens? presence in the lineup will be an interesting experiment as Riggs? teams have been guard-oriented.
Meshing Mullens with the Indians? traditional style of play will be an ongoing process.
"B.J. is trying to learn a new system, which is always difficult," Riggs said. "We?re still running a lot of the same offense. We?re still going to try and move the ball around.
"B.J. for his size is pretty versatile. He can move around, and that?s going to be important as he progresses, not only in high school but in college."
Mullens said he was familiar with Riggs? record and coaching methods, particularly his focus on fundamentals.
Mullens said an area of emphasis this season will be moving better without the ball.
"(Riggs) has been here a long time, he knows what he?s talking about," Mullens said. "I?ve been working on the fundamentals and being effective without the ball. That means running from rim to rim."
Mullens, who averaged 18.6 points and 10.8 rebounds last season, will join a Canal Winchester team that was hit hard by graduation.
The Indians lost leading scorer Sean Elliott along with starters Darren Wagner, Joe Klamfoth and Justin Odenthal from a team that went 12-10 overall and 9-5 in the Mid-State League Buckeye Division.
Blake Erwin, a 5-10 junior, is the only returning letterman. He averaged 4 points last season.
"It?s going to be interesting," Erwin said. "We?re still looking at guard play, we have a good point guard in (junior) Aaron Gilbert. But having that big guy down low doesn?t hurt, either."
Riggs said, "I think where (Mullens) is really going to help us is defensively. He?s going to alter shots and just rebound the basketball."
Mullens, who committed to Ohio State before his freshman season, said he?s focused on developing chemistry with his teammates at Canal Winchester.
"Good guard play is what this school has been strong with. I know this is a change," Mullens said. "But we?re going through all that pretty well."
He added, "I know with my background people are going to expect a lot from our team. But we are a young team. We?re going to learn a lot over this season."
Canal Winchester picks up building block in 7-1 center
Indians must replace five starters, but towering Mullens makes task easier
Friday, December 01, 2006
Dave Devereux
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Replacing five starters can be a tall order. Canal Winchester will start with 7-foot-1 B.J. Mullens and go from there.
Mullens, a junior who has committed to Ohio State, transferred to Canal Winchester after spending two seasons at nearby Harvest Prep.
"I don?t want to look back with Harvest," Mullens said. "I?m looking to the future with Canal Winchester. Since I came here, I?ve been getting to know more about the game."
Mullens will be the centerpiece for Canal Winchester and coach Kent Riggs, who has won four district titles and 311 games in 19 seasons.
"B.J. came to us in March," Riggs said. "The kids are getting used to playing with him. Right now, we?re trying to get all the pieces to match together."
Mullens? presence in the lineup will be an interesting experiment as Riggs? teams have been guard-oriented.
Meshing Mullens with the Indians? traditional style of play will be an ongoing process.
"B.J. is trying to learn a new system, which is always difficult," Riggs said. "We?re still running a lot of the same offense. We?re still going to try and move the ball around.
"B.J. for his size is pretty versatile. He can move around, and that?s going to be important as he progresses, not only in high school but in college."
Mullens said he was familiar with Riggs? record and coaching methods, particularly his focus on fundamentals.
Mullens said an area of emphasis this season will be moving better without the ball.
"(Riggs) has been here a long time, he knows what he?s talking about," Mullens said. "I?ve been working on the fundamentals and being effective without the ball. That means running from rim to rim."
Mullens, who averaged 18.6 points and 10.8 rebounds last season, will join a Canal Winchester team that was hit hard by graduation.
The Indians lost leading scorer Sean Elliott along with starters Darren Wagner, Joe Klamfoth and Justin Odenthal from a team that went 12-10 overall and 9-5 in the Mid-State League Buckeye Division.
Blake Erwin, a 5-10 junior, is the only returning letterman. He averaged 4 points last season.
"It?s going to be interesting," Erwin said. "We?re still looking at guard play, we have a good point guard in (junior) Aaron Gilbert. But having that big guy down low doesn?t hurt, either."
Riggs said, "I think where (Mullens) is really going to help us is defensively. He?s going to alter shots and just rebound the basketball."
Mullens, who committed to Ohio State before his freshman season, said he?s focused on developing chemistry with his teammates at Canal Winchester.
"Good guard play is what this school has been strong with. I know this is a change," Mullens said. "But we?re going through all that pretty well."
He added, "I know with my background people are going to expect a lot from our team. But we are a young team. We?re going to learn a lot over this season."
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Mullens scored 13 points, pulled down 8 rebounds in only playing limited limits in a 59-36 win this past weekend.
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el mastiff
All-American
I saw him last night at the OSU-Indiana game. Absolutely the tallest human I have ever seen in person.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Rivals.com$ (Brian Snow)
More on Mullen's performance this past weekend.....B.J. has expanded his game and has gotten stronger in the paint. Mullens finished with 18 points on 7-12 shooting, six rebounds, and four blocked shots.
More on Mullen's performance this past weekend.....B.J. has expanded his game and has gotten stronger in the paint. Mullens finished with 18 points on 7-12 shooting, six rebounds, and four blocked shots.
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OSUBasketballJunkie;709627; said:
Man Canal Winchester must really suck this year.
That's more losses than I'm used to seeing for them.
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