Glenside, PA (November 14, 2012) - The Arcadia University men's basketball team is set to get the 2012-13 season underway on Friday as they travel to the Scotty Wood Invitational at Muhlenberg to face Randolph and then either Mulhenberg or Drew. First year head coach Justin Scott has a good mix of veterans and newcomers and will look to be playoff contenders in the Commonwealth Conference of the MAC.
 
"There are three goals that will be a mainstay in the Arcadia Men's Basketball program under my leadership,” said Scott. “The first goal is to maintain academic integrity and graduate all players that play four years for us. Next, we will always look to qualify for the MAC Commonwealth Conference Tournament on a yearly basis. Lastly, we will strive to get better everyday in all aspects of basketball, academics and life."
 
Colin McCarthy (Langhorne, PA/Holy Ghost) and Khalief Trawick (Philadelphia, PA/FLC) will be the leaders on and off the court for the Knights an will be the team captains. Trawick was the team's leading scorer last season with 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. McCarthy added 8.8 points per game last season for Arcadia.
 
"We will rely heavily upon team captains Colin McCarthy and Khalief Trawick,” said Scott. “We look for them to be extensions of our coaching staff and set the tone and example for how Arcadia Men's Basketball will conduct themselves on the court, in the classroom and in the community."
 
Also returning to the team is Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year Travis Saltus (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck). Saltus averaged 8.4 points and over three rebounds a game last season. He also led the team with 63 assists.
 
The Knights also brought in three new faces. Two forwards Alex Cohen (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) and Khalil Curtis (Philadelphia, PA/Murrell Dobbins) and guard John Landro (Cornwall on Hudson, NY/Don Bosco Prep), will be added to the mix of a team that showed good flashes and made strides to become consistently competitive in the MAC Commonwealth Conference.
 
Alex Cohen joins the Knights after two stand-out seasons at Ridgewood High School. As a junior, Cohen averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds while being names Big North Freedom Division 1^st Team All-League, 2^nd Team All-Suburban and Honorable Mention All-Bergen County. Last year, Cohen missed a good portion of the beginning of the season due to injuries but still managed to have a productive senior campaign. Cohen averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds for a team that went 15-8 and lost in the Bergen County Jamboree Quarterfinals.  Cohen garnered Big North Freedom Division 2^nd Team All-League and 2^nd Team All-Suburban honors as a senior.
 
“Alex is a very skilled forward who has the potential to be an inside-out presence for us”, states Scott. He has a great feel for the game and has shown a very good work ethic. I look forward to coaching Alex and witnessing his development over the next four years.”
 
Khalil Curtis transferred to Arcadia after spending a year at NAIA Allen College in South Carolina. Prior to Allen College, Curtis played his scholastics ball at nearby Murrell Dobbins Tech. A Mathematics/Engineering major, Curtis will be looked upon to provide depth and toughness in the frontcourt.
 
“We recruited Khalil out of high school and were very excited when he contacted us at the end of last season about transferring to Arcadia”, states Scott. “Khalil will give us another post presence and help us out significantly on the boards. Khalil's character will be a tremendous addition to our Basketball Program, but more importantly to our University and campus community.”
 
John Landro arrives to Glenside, Pa via Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. Landro was a starter and key member of a team that went 22-6 and won the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League Championship. A deadly shooter, Landro's scholastic team competed in two consecutive Bergen County Jamboree Championship games, losing to Teaneck High School both times.
 
“We are very happy and excited about the addition of John”, states Scott. “We struggled tremendously from behind the 3pt arc last year and desperately needed to add someone to stretch the defense. Adding a quality shooting guard was one of our top priorities with the 2012 recruiting class. John has not only showed the ability to shoot the ball, he has impressed our staff with his overall ability and basketball savvy. John will be a key piece to our future as we look to grow our program.”
 
Good guard play will be crucial to the success of the Knights this season. Their up-tempo style will rely on great defense and then offensive transition by the guards. The Knights have a plethora of guards that can play either position and lead the break.
 
“Offensively, we will play up-tempo and look to get out and make plays in transition and the open floor,” remarked Scott. “Guards Saltus, Aaron Lee-Webb (Norristown, PA/Norristown), Trawick, Malcom Still, (Lawnside, NJ/Living Faith), Rashon Brock (Atlantic City, NJ/Buena Regional) and Jermaine Clarke (Philadelphia, PA/Crefield) should all flourish in this style of play."
 
In the frontcourt, the Knights have a good mix of inside/outside players who will crash the boards and provide second chance points. They all can start the break by crashing the defensive glass and providing fast brake opportunities in the up-tempo style.
 
"Joe Brown (Glenside, PA/La Salle College), McCarthy, Jose Figueroa (Philadelphia, PA/Plumstead Christian), Curtis and Cohen will make up our front court rotation,” commented Scott. “They all bring something different to the mix and should compliment each other well in our up-tempo style. Joe, Colin and Alex have the ability to play inside-out, while Jose and Khalil give us inside presences that allow us to throw the ball inside to for high percentage opportunities. Both Jose and Khalil have also shown a knack for rebounding and providing second chance points."
 
Shooting the three in transition will also be a key to the success of the Knights. Being able the kick the ball out and get consistent shooting will keep the defenses guessing.
 
"Three point shooting was an area that we struggled in last year. Mike Fitzpatrick (Towson, MD/Loyola Blakefield) and Landro should both help significantly by stretching the defense and keeping them honest. Thus far, the two have consistently shown the ability to shoot the deep ball."
 
The Knights will play their home opener against Drew on Tuesday, November 20^th at 7pm and then open Commonwealth Conference play on Wednesday, November 28^th as they host Albright at 8pm.
 
"The energy, excitement and enthusiasm for this upcoming season has been very evident by the response our player's have shown to our coaching and the system we are trying to implement."