The Newcomers:
SG Stephen Tyree – 6-3, 190 lbs – Strake Jesuit (Woodlands, TX)
Also a star wide receiver in high school, Tyree chose a basketball scholarship with Bucknell over Division 1-A football. Tyree has experience all over the floor at high school, but is expected to focus on playing a wing position for Pat Flannery. Scouting reports praise his athleticism, passing and energy.

SG Zach Evans – 6-5, 195 lbs – Chaminade (Encino, CA)
A veteran of ABCD Camp and a McDonalds All-America nominee, Evans brings size (he’s occasionally listed at 6-6) and strong defense to the off-guard position. Evans is thought of as a fairly good shooter but not overwhelmingly quick on the court. Evans averaged 14.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game his senior year.

PF Patrick Behan – 6-8, 225 lbs – Notre Dame Academy (Leesburg, VA)
Behan is the biggest of Flannery’s recruits, choosing Bucknell over George Mason, Kent State and other big name mid-majors. Behan’s scouting report highlights his shooting range, which is exceptional for his size.

The Fit:
By far the two biggest losses Bucknell suffered coming into this year were Charles Lee and Kevin Bettencourt. While no one from this group is going to step in and pick up the departing seniors’ minutes, Tyree and Evans are players that can fill Lee’s and Bettencourt’s roles down the road.

In the short term, Tyree and Evans will only get regular playing time this year if major problems arise in Lewisberg. Abe Badmus, Jason Vegotsky, John Griffin, Rob Thomas and Justin Castleberry are all ahead of the freshmen on the backcourt depth chart. If either of them are needed this year, it will likely be Tyree, whose athleticism immediately makes him a better fit for Bucknell’s defensive scheme than Evans.

The Bison frontcourt is not as deep, though, and Behan has a chance to play a bit this year if he impresses Flannery in practice. Many Patriot League squads needed to double-team Chris McNaughton last season to neutralize him; playing Behan alongside McNaughton could spread interior defenses and let McNaughton dominate.

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