Three seniors, including two 1,000-point career scorers, have completed their
eligibility with the men’s basketball team which was 16-16 overall and 9-7 in
the Mid-American Conference.
Scott Thomas and Dee Brown both played four years for the Falcons and combined for
2,326 points. Torian Oglesby was a junior college transfer who played for two
years at Bowling Green.
"Losing those three guys, that’s a big part of the foundation, but you still
have a big chunk of the foundation coming back," BG head coach Louis Orr
said.
The Falcons have three starters returning for next season – A’uston Calhoun, Jordon
Crawford and Cam Black.
Orr said Calhoun and Crawford have the potential to be two of the best at their
positions in the MAC.
"With a guy like A’uston, it’s his challenge to impact the game not only on the
offensive end, but in more areas because he’s so talented," Orr said.
The 6-foot-7 Calhoun will be a redshirt senior next season. Last season he led the
Falcons in scoring at 13.6 ppg and was second in rebounding at 5.9 per game,
"From Jordon’s perspective as a point guard, he’s a dynamic guy," Orr said,
adding the 5-6 Crawford became more consistent as the season progressed.
Crawford, who will be a senior in 2012-13, was third on the team in scoring at 11.3
ppg and was second in the MAC in assists, averaging 4.8 per game. Crawford
averaged 3.4 turnovers per game.
The 6-10 Black blocked 51 shots last season, but was the fifth offensive option,
averaging 3.7 ppg. He also averaged 3.9 rebounds per game.
"Cam, especially on the defensive end made big strides and was probably one of
the better defensive post men. I thought Cam was a big presence for us,"
Orr said.
Other veterans returning are Luke Kraus and James Erger, who both will be seniors,
and Craig Sealey, who will be a junior. Kraus missed the final 18 games last
season with a broken foot.
"There is potential for great leadership in Jordon, Luke, James and
A’uston," Orr said. "Luke, gives you that defensive toughness and
leadership … James is a guy who made the most of the minutes he got, and he’s
a guy you can trust to put in any time in the game."
Sealey scored in double figures three times last season, but only once after the
first two games of the season.
"During the MAC his minutes weren’t as consistent, but when he did get a chance
to get on the court, he always made things happen," Orr said about Sealey.

Other scholarship players returning are Anthony Henderson, 6-1, who will be a
redshirt junior; Chauncey Orr, 6-4, and Jehvon Clarke, 6-1, both of whom will be
sophomores; and Desmond Rorie, 6-9, who will be a redshirt freshman.
"They’ll make a big jump. They are workers and they are talented," coach
Orr said about the four young players. "Potential doesn’t help you until
you develop it and that’s the work that you have to put in.
"Anthony, Chauncey, and Jehvon will help to take up the slack of the
seniors," coach Orr continued. "They won’t have the weight of the
world on their shoulders, but the big thing is, we are going to have to generate
points that you lose from Dee and Scott. Scott did everything on the court; one
guy won’t replace all that he did."
The Falcons have two incoming recruits and still have one scholarship to give.
Spencer Parker, currently at Fishburne Military School in Virginia, and Richaun
Holmes, currently at Moraine (Ill.) Community College, have signed with the
Falcons.
Parker and Holmes will enhance BG’s talent and size, coach Orr said, and he expects
both to make an impact right away. Parker will have four years of eligibility
and Holmes will have three.
"Spencer is really a multi-purpose guy," coach Orr said. "He can play
multiple positions and he’s 6-7, 6-8. He’s part of the same high school class as
Chauncey and Jehvon, but with a year of prep school he will probably be more
developed than most freshmen who came in. He’s just a very skilled basketball
player with size."
Holmes was a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II first-team
All-American. Holmes was the top shot blocker in the country and ranked fourth
in field goal percentage at .623.
"In his conference … he was the most valuable player," coach Orr said
about Holmes. "He almost averaged a double-double. He definitely had more
double-doubles than any player, and he had triple-doubles between scoring,
rebounding, blocks.
"He’s 6-8, 6-9 with long arms and is athletic and a shot-blocker."
With the one remaining scholarship, coach Orr said, the Falcons are actively
recruiting "and we want to use it wisely if we do use it."