Meet the new guys: USI men's basketball signees all bring something different to table

EVANSVILLE — Stan Gouard is excited. About the process. About the team. About his players.

The University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball coach knows there’s work to be done. There are players who departed who he wishes were still part of the fold. But in terms of who and what he brought in through the transfer portal, well, he’s excited.

“Year 2 of the Division I realm, that’s exciting. I hope to be better than we were last year,” Gouard said. “I’m excited about getting back on the court, teaching.”

The Screaming Eagles, like most other teams, were hit by the transfer portal and graduation. Replacing Isaiah Swope’s scoring or Jacob Polakovich’s rebounding is no easy task on paper, let alone in practice. The names on the loose leaf, though, look like they can be an immediate help. Former commit Taelon Martin did not sign with the program due to waiver issues, meaning USI has one more scholarship spot to fill.

“Everybody brings something a little different to the table,” Gouard said. “We’ve been hard at work this summer trying to fill the voids of what we lost last year. It was a lot of phone calls, a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of meetings, a lot of film sessions and doing background checks.

“I think the biggest thing is us coming together and trying to get on the same page early so we cna put our best foot forward and compete in the (Ohio Valley Conference).”

Here’s a look back on the list of USI’s departures:

• Jacob Polakovich, graduation

• Trevor Lakes, graduation

• Jelani Simmons, graduation

• Isaiah Swope, committed to Indiana State

• Peter Nwoke, committed to Lake Superior State

• Tyler Henry, committed to Louisiana Tech

• Gary Solomon, uncommitted

Now, let’s get into the recent batch of signees.

Yarin Hasson

Year: Sophomore Position: Forward Previous school: Connecticut Height: 6-foot-9

Yes, the Courier & Press has already reported on Hasson’s signing. However, whenever a national champion transfers in, you tend to write a bit more about them.

More on Hasson: USI men's basketball lands transfer from national champion UConn

Gouard is excited about the Israeli big man’s potential. The Screaming Eagles didn’t recruit him based on his limited role at UConn, but for his film with the national team. Hasson played in 11 games for the Huskies this season, picking up spare seconds when the likes of Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clingan put the game out of reach for their opponents. His FIBA clips, though, show a player with the stretch four capabilities to be a contributor.

“He brings the winning pedigree,” Gouard said. “He brings experience. He’s been playing, gosh, with pros his whole life over in Israel.”

As for where he fits into USI’s lineup, Hasson could fit into the four spot or potentially as a small-ball five. He’s a versatile forward who can fill both spots, but his handles and shooting lend themselves more to the four. Hasson can get to the rim and play around the basket and his off-ball play and IQ are some of his best attributes.

Hasson will join the team after he returns from Israel. He is weighed playing in the FIBA U20 championships — "that's an amazing accomplishment for him," Gouard said — but ultimately decided against it.

“His ability to handle the ball, the ability to cut, his athleticism,” Gouard said, “will give him the opportunity to do a couple different things for us.”

Xavier McCord

Year: Junior Position: Guard Previous school: Laramie County Community College Height: 6-foot-5

McCord joins the Eagles after averaging 18.2 points for Laramie County in his final junior college season. His athleticism and handle make him an asset for USI coming into the season.

He said he thought over 100 schools across the college basketball landscape reached out to him and that the JUCO region he was in, playing against the likes of Salt Lake Community College and College of Souothern Idaho, prepared him for the Division I jump.

“With our style of play, I think it’s gonna benefit him very well,” Gouard said. “His ability to score the basketball, his ability to use his athleticism, it’s really gonna be beneficial to what we can do.”

Gouard said USI will use him at the shooting forward and guard roles. McCord is a two-way player who shot 53% from the field last season and excels in the midrange.

“I’m really just excited to meet all the guys, continue to bond with the coaches, grow individually as a player and as a person,” McCord said. “And then obviously just compete to win with the guys and trying to win as many basketball games and try and hopefully win a championship.”

Nolan Causwell

Year: Graduate Position: Forward Previous school: Tennessee Tech Height: 6-foot-10

USI recrtuited Causwell out of Laramie County, where he was teammates with McCord, before he ultimately decided to join Tennessee Tech. When he entered the portal this season, Causwell said Gouard “wasted no time” in reaching out and offered him a spot “within minutes.” That relationship that’s been building for years ultimately brought him to Evansville’s West Side for his final collegiate season with a personal message heading into it.

“This is personal for me,” he said.

Causwell is a strong rim protector who can get up and block shots. He is a post player who can also step out and hit a 3-pointer from time to time but excels in finishing at the rim. He’s a physical presence who can stretch the floor.

“I just remembered how much (USI) showed love when they came out to my junior college games and how much they recruited me,” Causwell said. “I really take note of that.”

He will join the team after finishing summer courses and graduating from Tennessee Tech.

“He’s got the size, he’s got the ability to play at the next level,” Gouard said. “That makes it all the more exciting for us because he should be able to help us right away. He has the experience in the OVC to come in right away.”

Jodan Tillmon

Year: Junior Position: Guard Previous school: Florida A&M Height: 6-foot-2

USI needed quality experience at the guard spot and brought Tillmon in from Florida A&M after he averaged 10.6 points this season. Gouard said Tillmon was a “big get” for the Eagles because of his ability to create and post-up smaller guards.

“He checked off pretty much every box we needed him to do,” Gouard said. “He’s proven himself at FAMU that he’s a Division I guy that can score the ball.”

Gouard said Tillmon may be expected to score more because of what the Eagles lost from last season.

Tillmon is another player USI assistant coach Jon Aldridge recruited while he was in the JUCO ranks. He said he feels he fits the offensive style the Eagles will play more than the one he’s leaving from the Rattlers.

Tillmon is a three-level scorer who gets downhill, moves quickly and can play across the different guard roles. He operates well in pick-and-roll situations and gets teammates involved in the offense.

“They want to score quick and that’s how my game is,” Tillmon said. “That was the main thing I was focused on. When we sat down and watched the film, everything was there.”

Luther Smith Jr.

Year: Freshman Position: Guard Previous school: Hamilton High School (WI) Height: 5-foot-11

The lone freshman on the roster, Smith comes to USI after averaging 27.8 points in his senior year of high school and earned first team all-conference honors as both a junior and senior. Gouard’s current plan, which has been discussed with Smith, is to redshirt him this season to get him used to the speed of play at the D-I level.

Smith is a high-volume scorer who can play at pace. The goal of redshirting him — “unless he comes in and sets the world on fire,” Gouard said — is to get him stronger and increase his foot speed.

Gouard said his biggest mistake last season was not redshirting AJ Smith, who entered the transfer portal before returning to USI. He said he didn’t want to repeat that with this season’s incoming freshman.

“He shoots the ball at a high clip,” Gouard said. We want to get him quicker from an agility standpoint.”

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles: Meet new men's basketball signees