How does SJS basketball save itself?

The Spartan’s biggest one-two punch of the 2018-2019 season is no more. 6’10” junior forward Michael Steadman and 6’5” sophomore guard Noah Baumann announced their intent to transfer. Steadman averaged 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds a game with 11 double-doubles in his junior year; his only season with SJS. Baumann was the 3-point field goal percentage leader in the Mountain West.

On the market

Both should be highly marketable D1 players well-capable to contribute to another program. Steadman’s a steady and strong low-post player with solid moves. Baumann is basically a sharpshooter, who started to mix up his game driving to the basket more, as the problematic season went on. Often teams could double-up on them to take them away, but more often, the Spartans could not capitalize or adjust to it.

Not again

It’s also the second year in a row head coach Jean Prioleau has lost his top players. Last year forward Ryan Wellage left for Xavier and Jaycee Hillsman and Keith Fisher went to Illinois State. The year before that Brandon Clarke headed to Gonzaga and continues to thrive and is headed to the NCAA tournament.

The trend of departing players is certainly disconcerting that must have people looking inward. It also doesn’t take much guessing that Prioleau’s job is that much tougher and the program is in trouble. The team was already young and rebuilding and it completely struggled to be consistent and competitive in nearly every game the last two seasons.