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Is this the end or a new beginning?
The most successful class in school history in terms of wins and consecutive NCAA tournament appearances graduated from Boston College this summer.
That "class" - really two players: Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall - was the heart and soul of the Eagles.
Some believe their graduation signaled the end of a magnificent run of success for the men's basketball program.
Just don't tell that to the incoming freshman class.
There is a consensus among the five new players that this season may hinge on how well they adjust to the college game.
It is head coach Al Skinner's most highly touted recruiting class in 11 years, which poses two questions this season: How will he handle them? And who will rise to the top?
With Skinner's reputation for developing diamonds out of the rough, the excitement lies in the uncertainty of how good the class will play.
Junior guard Tyrese Rice, however, has an idea.
"The difference in this class is, I think, that they came out like they had some things to prove," Rice said. "They came out a lot more aggressive than a lot of classes I've seen in the past. I just think they're going to be more game-ready to play, like a little bit faster, than in other years."
For Corey Raji, Josh Southern, Biko Paris, Rakim Sanders, and Cortney Dunn, being "game-ready" may be of utmost importance, for all will play a role in determining the outcome of the season, starting on Saturday afternoon.
Corey Raji
You may recognize the last name. Yes, he is the brother of football defensive tackle B.J. Raji. But Corey, the younger Raji, was blessed with the size of a small forward at 6-foot-5 and the jumping ability of a basketball player, as opposed to his shorter, but frighteningly stronger older brother.
"It's great to have him up here," Corey said. "He can guide me around, keep me rooted and grounded, and just tell me the obstacles I have to go through playing college sports."
He may also hear how to avoid some of B.J.'s mistakes.
This season, B.J. was ruled academically ineligible before the first game of the season. It's been hard for Corey to watch his older brother sit out during what has turned out to be a historic football season.
"It's real frustrating. He says it happened for a reason so I'm hoping that's what it is, and he can come back next year an have a good season," Corey said.
But it's thanks to B.J. that Corey is here in the first place. The younger Raji has been familiar with BC since his freshman year in high school.
"My freshman year, I [first] came for a football game," Corey said. "But I've just been coming up constantly after that. I enjoyed my visits when I came up here my freshman year. I met all the basketball guys. They were real cool guys, down to earth, no big egos, and that's what really drew me closer."
BC was drawn to Corey, who finished his career at Westwood High in Washington Township, N.J., as the school's career scoring leader, averaging close to 29 points and 17 rebounds per game his senior year.
"In high school, I could score when I wanted, but now I'm at college I'm just trying to fit in where I can, do what I have to do, do what my team needs me to win games," Corey said.
And winning is what Corey believes the team can do right away.
"Coming up over the summer, getting to know these guys was just great," he said. "I think we'll have a good season this year. The chemistry we have from the summer now is real good, we all got closer. It's going to be a good season."
Tyrese's Take
"Raji's coming along real well. He's real athletic. He brings a different dimension to our team on the offensive and defensive end. He's got to be a little more aggressive. If he's a little more aggressive, then he's definitely going to help us."
Josh Southern
Taking a first look on paper at a list of incoming freshmen, it is hard not to get excited about a player who is 6-foot-10-inches tall and averaged just as many rebounds (16) per game as he did points during his senior year of high school.
Josh Southern, a power forward from Saginaw, Mich., is that player.
"I try to do whatever I can to help my team out," Southern said. "If rebounding is that, then I'm going to stick to it. I love rebounding. It makes me feel good."
Southern was sought after by schools much more local than BC and in the Big 10, among others. But he ultimately chose BC for a variety of reasons, including the fact that his cousin is BC director of basketball operations Preston Murphy.
"It was basically after I saw how successful they were in the Big East before with Craig Smith, and then going to the Sweet 16 and having a great year," he said. "I just thought I could go [here] I actually checked into class sizes and stuff like that, and asked people around here, 'How's the school?' The whole coaching staff is unbelievable. They're down to earth. They're here to make you better."
Southern is the type of player Skinner has recruited in the past at BC, an imposing front-court player with the strength to out-muscle competition in the paint. But for now, the freshman is just looking to contribute any way he can.
"Anything I can do to help the team I'll be willing to do it. Rebounding, low block scoring, I can bring that too, but I mean for now, I'll do whatever I can," he said.
Like his classmates, Southern believes that this season can be another good one for BC.
"We're looking to turn some heads this year," he said.
Tyrese's Take
"Josh has been coming along real well. He's been scoring a lot in the post. He's definitely going to help us a lot, like when our big men get in foul trouble. When we need a bucket in the post, you can pretty much go to him and get one."
Biko Paris
He was named after a man who went through plenty of adversity, the anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, portrayed famously by Denzel Washington in the movie Cry Freedom.
Biko Paris, a 6-foot-1 guard from the heart of New Orleans, La. has been through his fair share of adversity as well.
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall, devastating New Orleans and the surrounding area.
"My old home it got [damaged] a little bit, but not too bad," Paris said.
Yet the Paris family still had to relocate, moving to Houston, Texas where Biko enrolled in Cypress Community Christian School for his junior and senior year in high school.
"At first, it was kind of tough, adjusting to a new school, and new kids," he said. "I mean, playing basketball, it wasn't that bad. Kids accepted me, and we went from there."
Paris and his new teammates took off, winning back-to-back Texas Association of Private and Parocial Schools 4A state titles and compiling a record of 74-9 in his two years at Cypress Christian.
With a list of schools to choose from, Biko surprisingly signed with BC. Though he had always wanted to stay close to home, Paris admired BC's winning tradition.
"Ever since real young, I always watched them. When there were in the Big East, a long time ago I watched them," he said. "Coach Skinner always wins. That's one of the reasons I came here, because the program is real successful."
With his old home fully repaired, his parents were finally able to move back to New Orleans six months ago.As for Biko, he's looking forward to getting the season started in his new home.
"I like it [here]," he said. "The [coaches] work with us a lot. I like the coaching staff. All the coaches are nice. Everything's good."
Tyrese's Take:
"I think Biko's going to be a nice complement to me. A lot of people, when we're together, they probably focus on me a lot. I think he can knock down open jumpers. He's real smart with the ball. He's not going to force anything. I think he can definitely be a good guy on the team."
Rakim Sanders
He is a recruit that was sought after nationally, but chose to stay close to home, much to the delight of BC.
Rakim Sanders, a 6-foot-5 guard from Pawtucket, R.I., is the type of rangy guard/forward that is becoming chic in the NBA.
This 2006-07 Gatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year is one of BC's most highly touted recruits in the freshman class.
His connection to the school came from Murphy as well, who coached in nearby Woonsocket from 2003-2006 before coming to BC.
"With Preston, I had a long relationship, known him for a few years, and then when he came here that probably topped it of," Sanders said.
There were other reasons, of course, that he chose to come to BC.
"A lot of kids graduate out of here, so it's not only basketball but the educational part too," he said.
Rice believes Sanders could be a starter this season and, if the preseason game against Carleton University is any indication, the captain's prediction might hold true. Either way, starting or not, Sanders will have the support of a close-knit family nearby to come watch his games.
"It's a good advantage, because I've got a small family, not a big family but we're all close," he said. "So being close to home is good for me."
Tyrese's Take
"I think Rakim will probably be a starter. He's coming along in the offense well. He fits well into our [system] because he's a bigger guard. He's definitely going to excel a lot this year."
Cortney Dunn
As one of BC's late recruits, Cortney Dunn is happy to be playing for the Eagles this season.
"I was really excited to be recruited by a school like BC," Dunn said.
Dunn was noticed at a Las Vegas summer league basketball tournament in late July 2006. The 6-foot-8 forward from Dallas, Texas, averaged 14 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks during his senior year in high school. At BC, the adjustment to being at the bottom of the food chain far away from his hometown has been a little easier than expected.
"It's kind of easy, because I came here during the summer and got to know people in the campus. It's been going pretty well. I get a little homesick every now and then, but it's cool," he said. "I chill a lot with Shamari [Spears] and Tyrese [Rice]. They're always giving us words of wisdom, just helping us become more familiar with the campus."
Dunn's freshman classmates have also helped with the adjustment to a part of the country he is not entirely familiar with.
"We spend a lot of time together just chilling and hanging out," he said. "That's helped, along with me being from Dallas, being away from home. I've gotten close with all my freshman friends."
And just like the rest of his teammates, Dunn can't wait for the season to begin.
"It's a lot of anticipation. I know there's a lot expected, maybe not expected, with us being freshmen," he said. "I'm just excited to see how it's going to turn out on the court."
Tyrese's Take:
"I think Cortney's coming along real good. He's getting a lot stronger so he's starting to finish a lot better on the post. He brings a little bit of energy out there and he always plays hard."
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