Meet The Lumberjack Basketball Newcomers
11/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 2, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - When the Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team takes the floor this season, Lumberjack fans might notice a few new faces in uniform -- nine, to be exact. The nine newcomers for 2007-08 tie two previous years for the most SFA rookies to start a season under eighth-year head coach Danny Kaspar. The class includes five prep recruits and four collegiate transfers. Following is the fourth in a series of question-and-answer sessions that will help SFA fans get to know the newest Lumberjacks. Today's featured 'Jack is freshman Dean Pele.
Pele is a 6-4, 190-pound small forward from Austin, Texas. He was a three-year starter at Lake Travis High, earning the district MVP award all three seasons. Pele was also a three-time all-state selection who averaged 25 points and seven rebounds per game during his high school career. Pele was honored by his teammates as well, earning the squad's Offensive Player of the Year in both 2005 and 2007 and taking team MVP accolades in 2006. Pele was an academic all-district selection as a senior in 2007.
Part of a signing class that includes 26-year-old Benson Akpan, Pele is the youngest Lumberjack on the squad at age 17. His age hasn't proven to be a problem, so far. "Dean is the youngest player I've ever signed," Kaspar said, "but he is already showing good maturity in our workouts."
Pele will major in kinesiology at Stephen F. Austin.
Below are Pele's responses to the Lumberjack newcomer survey:
Q: What is your favorite professional sports team?
A: Dallas Cowboys.
Q: Who is your favorite athlete?
A: J.J. Redick.
Q: What is your biggest hobby other than basketball?
A: Playing Halo.
Q: What was the biggest factor in your decision to come to Stephen F. Austin?
A: The location.
Q: What has been your biggest surprise about college life at SFA?:
A: How easy it's been to adapt to a schedule.
Q: What do you think is your best attribute on the court?
A: Shooting.
Q: What has been the toughest part of preseason practice, so far?
A: The running.
Q: If you had to sum up this year's team in one word, what would it be?
A: Work.
Q: What position, besides your natural position, would you like to play and why?
A: Point guard, because I like being in charge.
Q: What's your most prized possession?
A: My car.
• Fans have the chance to see Dean Pele and the rest of the Lumberjacks in action for the first time Monday night, when they host Abilene Christian in a season-opening exhibition game. The contest is set to tip off at 7 p.m. in the William R. Johnson Coliseum. SFA opens the regular season on Friday, Nov. 9, when the Lumberjacks host UT-Tyler in a 7 p.m. tilt.
-- SFA --
