A look at the Bobcats’ roster moving forward
Despite its recent loss in the NCAA Tournament, Ohio already seems organized for another run in the Mid-American Conference for at least the next two seasons.
The Bobcats, with a relatively youthful roster, finished with a program-best 27-5 record and were the 14-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Their leading scorer Kiyanna Black and integral pieces such as Kat Yelle, Quiera Lampkins and Lexie Baldwin will return for another year.
The Bobcats will only lose one starter: senior Mariah Byard, who averaged 9.7 points per game and was named to the All-MAC Honoree team.
Coach Bob Boldon, who helped orchestrate the Bobcats’ turnaround in his first two seasons, recruited multiple players above six feet, which in turn, will bolster the Bobcats’ lack of length.
After having 10 active players on the roster this season, the return of redshirted forwards Kelly Karlis and Destini Cooper could add depth to the already talented Ohio team.
The following are some potential lineups Ohio could utilize in the near future:
Starting lineup:
G — Redshirt senior Kat Yelle (32 games; 205 points; 86 assists; 24 steals)
Yelle will most likely be Ohio’s primary ball handler next year. She committed 47 turnovers and led the team in assists this season.
G — Senior Kiyanna Black (32 games; 512 points; 127 rebounds; 55 steals)
Black will remain the main cog in Boldon’s motion offense; her shooting percentages have increased every year. With more depth, Black could use isolation situations to utilize her offensive repertoire.
G/F — Junior Quiera Lampkins (32 games; 399 points; 214 rebounds; 83 assists)
Lampkins could be used as a flex player her junior season. She’s arguably Ohio’s best driver and most well-rounded player.
F — Sophomore Kelly Karlis (eight games; 52 points; 22 rebounds; 17 blocks)
Karlis is a potential starter for Boldon. Her length inside the paint is valuable (two blocks per game), and she showed impeccable range with her jump shot.
F — Senior Lexie Baldwin (31 games; 266 points; 184 rebounds; 16 blocks)
Baldwin should hold down the paint in her final season. She’s one of the Bobcats best defenders and, like Karlis, she can space the floor.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="2bbc36f8-d271-11e4-84af-13396ce1f6ea"}}
Role Players:
G — Junior Yamonie Jenkins (31 games; 95 points; 69 assists; 27 steals)
Jenkins should receive more minutes during her third year with Boldon. Her quickness and on-ball defense are two of her strongest traits.
G/F — Redshirt senior Mariah Harris (25 games; 80 points; 43 rebounds; 34 turnovers)
An oddity for Ohio, as Harris could be used as a forward because of her size, but her playing style replicates a guard. She has good vision, 3-point shooting and play making abilities, but her turnovers can sometimes be momentum stoppers.
F — Junior Hannah Boesinger (32 games; 188 points; 87 rebounds; 27 steals)
Boesinger’s craft is crashing the boards and scrapping for 50-50 balls. She saved numerous offensive possessions due to her hustle. Her jump shot, though it’s not her first offensive option, improved over the season, too.
F — Freshman Olivia Bower (N/A)
On paper, Bower could make an immediate impact. In her senior season at Conotton Valley High School, she averaged 26 points and 12.7 rebounds on 45 percent shooting. She’s listed as a 6-foot-1 forward and could add length to an already strong second unit.
F — Junior Jasmine Weatherspoon (29 games; 149 rebounds; 102 points; 26 blocks)
Weatherspoon, who played valuable minutes in the MAC Tournament, could share some minutes with Baldwin. Listed at 6-foot-2, her height will be valuable off the bench especially as the regular season drags on during late January.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="062c3344-d275-11e4-8b52-df74cae81023"}}
Other Players:
G — Junior Tmisht Stimson (24 games; 30 rebounds; 20 points; seven steals)
Will probably interchange with Harris and Jenkins, Stimson brings energy on defense. Despite some pedestrian numbers on offense, Stimson could be used to guard an opponent’s flex player.
F — Junior Destini Cooper (N/A)
It’s difficult to determine what Cooper’s future looks like. She played one game for Ohio this season and was then redshirted for the rest of the year. Unlike Karlis, Cooper didn’t participate much in practice towards the end of the year.
During her freshman season, she led the Bobcats in rebounding in six games and averaged 6.9 points.
@Lukeoroark
lr514812@ohio.edu
