April 2009 Archives

Darren Stewart

6-4, 200LB SF

Monsignor Pace

Miami, FL

 

 

Above The Rim

 

Food:           Shrimp Pasta

Peeves:        Chewing with the mouth open

Model:          Parents

Playing:        Seven years

Pride:           Scholarship at FAU

Considered:   FSU, SMU, UNF, Charleston Southern

Faith:           Christian

Principle:       Leadership

 

 

 

 

 

FAU Head Coach Mike Jarvis and his staff have been methodically assembling this upcoming season's recruiting class with poised specifics in mind:  a highly skilled and talented player at every position. Jarvis believes this has been accomplished. "As good a class I have ever been part of recruiting and that includes some pretty good classes at Boston University, George Washington and St. John's".

 

The roster for a championship run sometime in the near future is apparently complete; only lacking time to mature and form needed chemistry to make the next post-season run.

 

Since the departure of Brent Crews back in 2006-2007, FAU coaches have sorely missed the presence of a player on the roster who had the cherished skill set of a defensive specialist.  Someone they could stick on the other team's best scorer, at the point guard through small forward position, and count on to shut them down.

 

Jarvis seems to have found his man in the last signee of the 2009 class with the recent addition of Darren Stewart, a combination guard/forward, out of Miami's Monsignor Pace High School.  "He plays defense with reckless abandonment", said Jarvis in regards to Stewart's defensive prowess.  Stewart averaged nearly four steals a game last season for Pace.

 

While he may be known as a tenacious "lock-down" defender, Stewart also has a compliment of other skills including the ability to slash to the basket, and knock to down the long ball. Ready to meet the defensive challenge presented to him, he says he is "ready to set records".

 

Like all of the other signees, Stewart was impressed by Jarvis' character: "He's a man of Faith. He's not the type to jump ship on any body.  He cares about what you have to say.  He's a real good teacher.  Can make you a better player.  Really nice.  Every time we talked on the phone, every time we met in person, that's what I noticed about him."

 

Stewart says he loves to compete and was recruited by the FAU staff for that trait.  He hopes that this trait will set an example for the rest of the team from a leadership perspective - as he is self described as an "intense and vocal presence" while on the floor.

 

Planning to become a Pharmacist, he has academics as his first and foremost priority.  "I would love to play in the NBA, but student-athlete comes first.  Basketball may not be here forever.  Academics come first." 

 

With the class being talented across the board, he was not alone in having played against some of the best high school competition local areas had to offer last year. He went up against Sunshine State signees Ray Taylor, in regular games, and Greg Gantt during camp sessions, and likes the class FAU has coming in: "We have a very good class coming in. Raymond's a very good point guard.  Greg is like one of the best shooters I have ever seen.  Jordan, he's a ferocious rebounder.  I'm really liking my class right now."

 

Prior to signing day, Stewart had the opportunity to enjoy Spring Break in Jamaica.  For him, it was quality time well spent.  "Unbelievable.  My family is from there you know, so I love going there. I've been there a lot. It's like a homecoming."

 

We hope he enjoys his new found family and friends at Florida Atlantic as well.

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Hard work and dedication moves Paul Muse one step closer

It has been anything but a pleasant ride for Paul Muse during his time in Owl Country, since he transferred to FAU from Clemson back in 2006 - the same year Rusty Smith started his first collegiate game against the Tigers.  Back injuries have kept him sidelined for most of his time as an Owl. 

Staying focused and his willingness to work hard has moved him closer to realizing once again the passion for a game he was told he may never play again.  The drive to play was strong enough to offset the pain and anguish he had to endure during his rehabilitation of his back injury.  

The time away from the field allowed Muse to work with the coaches on all facets of the game, easing the transition form playing tight-end to the defensive line. His hard work has been rewarded with playing time this spring, and Muse has made the most this opportunity. 

Muse has been part of a the defensive group that have generated a much better pass rush during the scrimmages this spring.
 




Paul Muse had been a forgotten player lost in the mix of injuries, and his renewed health and presence should give the Owls much needed depth on a line that lost two starters. 

Here are a few comments from Coach Howard Schnellenberger on the play of Paul Muse and the pass rush.

Crowd of 2,011 watch the Owls Spring Game on April18

Not long ago, a few bleachers and a handful of die hard fans would gather to watch a Spring Game. On Saturday, Howard Schnellenberger took notice of the larger than usual crowd and mentioned that this was the "largest crowd to ever assemble for a Spring Game," after taking a few moments at halftime to acknowledge the 2,011 Owls fans on Saturday at the Oxley Center.

After having been embarrassed in the previous scrimmage games during the spring sessions, the defense started out strong, but eventually fell short.

Erick McIntosh intercepted a Rusty Smith pass on the third play of the game, followed by a  fumble recovery by the defense on the next play.

The offense did find life after a series of miscues on their first two possessions, assembling a nine-play, 60-yard drive, sealed with a three-yard touchdown run by Alfred Morris. 

Morris finished the day with 131 yards on 18 carries, leaving a good impression on Owls fans in attendance.  Jason Harmon made a huge grab to convert an early third down to keep the drive alive, the type of clutch plays Owls fans came to expect of Harmon after the 2007 season.

The defense did mange to put some pressure on the quarterbacks, recording a couple of sacks during the course of the game. The defense also forced one more interception, this time by Marcus Bartels, who continues to show the same type of playing qualities of his older brother Chris Bartels.

The strong play of the defense continued for most of the day, even though they got edged-out by the offense on the scoreboard 35-25. Schnellenberger was pleased by the overall performance of the scrimmage.

 

Talented Big Man Adds Needed Size, Skill & Depth

 

 

Photo: tricities.com

 

The upcoming season's roster just got notably bigger, better, and stronger with the verbal commitment of DeMonte "D-Simp" Simpson, a true 6'-9", 260LB power forward out of Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Simpson said he will join the team for the 2009-10 season and confirmed that he will sign an official letter of intent this Wednesday when contacted Monday afternoon.

 

It's obvious that Owl's Head Coach Mike Jarvis continues to pluck big time winners for existing roster vacancies, as Bearden was the Class 3A Champion this season.

 

Simpson, who visited the FAU campus with American Heritage FAU signee Ray Taylor, while being hosted by Owl's center Justin Davis and others, was impressed with Coach Jarvis: "Really family oriented.  I think he will get the team to the next level.  Want to be a part of the process.  It feels comfortable."

 

He will enroll for the fall with a major in Sports Management.

 

According to Bearden Head Coach Mark Blevins, FAU has been recruiting the 3A All District forward diligently for the past year.  This, coupled with the strong support he received from his mother, who is a big influence in his life, was pivotal in his decision.  During his visit over Easter weekend, the two were in close contact with Coach Blevins, offering updates on the progress of the visit. 

 

It went very well.  Scheduled for an official visit to the University of Alabama-Birmingham this week, but having already found his place with FAU, he cancelled the trip.

 

Simpson also received scholarship offers to play for Auburn, and Virginia Tech, which he walked away from.  Additionally, he received solid interest from Minnesota, Chattanooga, and the College of Charleston.

 

"His strengths are rebounding, scoring around the basket, and he has a nice mid range jumper.  He's a big body.  If he puts his nose to the grindstone, he'll contribute immediately", said Blevins.

Blevins also added that Simpson has played against upper echelon talent his entire high school career; most notably matching South Florida Monsignor Pace's, and four-star University of Louisville signee, Rakeem Buckles toe to toe during their on court meeting.

Bearden employed a platoon system based on the overall team talent they had this year to be respectful of opposing teams and to avoid running up the score.  During his junior year, Simpson averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game.  Last season he posted 8 points and 6 rebounds, but given the platoon, only played 10 minutes per contest on average - which is under 1/3 of total game time played at the high school level.

Simpson comes in having been ranked as high as the 9th prospect statewide in Tennessee by local recruiting analysts and rates as a three-star prospect according to the rivals.com recruiting network.

 

Given what he brings to the table, he should flourish under Jarvis, who has a track record of developing players into their fullest potential.

Along side Owl's big men Brett Royster, and Justin Davis, his playing time will likely be split at both center and power forward.

 

In his spare time, while not hitting the books or playing basketball, Simpson said he enjoys listening to music.