Pirates Hold First Practice Of The 2018-19 Season

The return of coach Joe Dooley to the helm of the ECU basketball program has invigorated the fan base during the offseason. His passion and energy have also spread to the Pirate players as evident by their gains throughout the summer.

Saturday ECU held its first practice of the fall — 39 days before its regular-season opener against Delaware State inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

"This time of year, everyone is excited," Dooley said. "The guys had a really good preseason, we got through it relatively healthy and made improvements in the strength and conditioning part of it. We did some testing [earlier this week], guys really tested well and are ready to get after it."

Dooley led a high-energy two-hour session inside the Smith-Williams Center with the players and coaches constantly communicating, encouraging and teaching.

The day began with the team assembled at midcourt for pre-practice instruction before breaking off into groups for shooting drills to start the day.

Assembled at half-court were the new faces Pirate fans will come to know.

Freshmen Tyler Foster, Jayden Gardner, Tae Hardy, Rico Quinton and DeShaun Wade went through their first fall practice with their new coach.

"I think all of freshmen will make their imprints at some point during the season," Dooley said. "We're very young. Nine of our scholarship players are underclassmen. That's the good news and the bad news."

The returning group of underclassmen on scholarship features sophomores K.J. Davis, Dimitrije Spasojevic, Justin Whatley and 2018 American Athletic Conference Rookie-of-the-Year Shawn Williams.

"We've been working so hard, we don't have a choice, but to be ready for [the season]," Williams said. "It's serious now. We've been getting ready for it, but now we really have to be focused and ready for this ride."

Williams led The American in free throw shooting last season and returns as one of its top perimeter threats after finishing third in the conference in 3-point field goals made per game.

Suiting up beside Williams in the backcourt will be the Pirates' lone scholarship senior, Isaac Fleming, who was lost more than 20 pounds since the end of last season.

"Isaac has been very good through the summer and the fall," Dooley stated. "He's made a lot of gains shooting the ball. His conditioning has improved. He's made some great strides.

He knows the interest around the program has increased with the arrival of Coach Dooley. He also knows there is a different level of expectations and standards with his new coach.

"We're doing everything at a fast pace with a high motor," Fleming said. "There is no playing around. It's strictly business."

Virginia Tech transfer Seth LeDay, who sat out the 2017-18 campaign in accordance with NCAA rules, is the lone scholarship junior on the squad, but hasn't played in a game in more than two years.

Walk-ons Addison Hill, Justice Obasohan, Samson Strickland and John Whitley were also circled up at center court as practice began.

"This is 31 years of doing this and it's still the same," Dooley stated. "It's a great time of the year. Everyone is fired up and ready to practice."

Players Mentioned

K.J. Davis

Isaac Fleming

Tyler Foster

Jayden Gardner

Tae Hardy

Addison Hill

Seth LeDay

Justice Obasohan

Rico Quinton

Dimitrije Spasojevic

Samson Strickland

DeShaun Wade

Justin Whatley

John Whitley

Shawn Williams

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