FWD: Profile Of Future First-Rounder Cyrus Caswell

[wayray@ix.netcom.com (Way Of The Ray)]

He may be the next James Bailey.



  Tuesday, November 10, 1998               

  Ex-Fleming star an NBA hopeful                  
                                                  
    By TONY MARASCHIELLO, TORONTO SUN             
    Caswell Cyrus has put his incredible         
  36-inch vertical jump to good use.                
                                                   
  The Toronto native has made the                    
  improbable leap from long-shot high              
  school prospect to potential NBA draft          
  pick in less than three years.                  
                                                  
  Cyrus, a 6-foot-9 starting centre for            
  the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, enters               
  his junior season as one of the top             
  big men in the Atlantic 10 conference
  and one of the NCAA's premier                  
  shot-blockers.                                   
                                                  
  "By the end of the season, he could be        
  the best post player in the                      
  conference," Bonnies associate coach             
  Joe Lombardi said. "And we're talking           
  about a tough conference with a lot of         
  solid post players."                            
                                                
  Cyrus went from a skinny high school          
  star at Fleming Secondary to a                
  dominating physical presence for the           
  Olean, N.Y., school on the strength of         
  his leaping ability and work ethic.        
                                                  
  Cyrus was seventh in the NCAA last             
  season with 99 blocks and this past                
  summer was named MVP of the Bill                 
  Walton Big Man camp for NBA prospects.          
                                                 
  However, Lombardi said that in order
  for NBA scouts to take notice, Cyrus          
  has to improve on his rebounding -- he
  averaged six a game last season -- and       
  become a more consistent scorer. Cyrus          
  averaged close to 10 points last                 
  season, but was hampered by a sore              
  finger on his shooting hand that               
  required off-season surgery.                   
                                                 
  Off the court, Cyrus has gone from                 
  bench-pressing 170 pounds as a
  freshman to more than 300 pounds this
  season.

  "He has developed into a physical
  presence on the court," Lombardi said.
  "Caswell has to take that next step.
  If he does, there's no doubt he will
  be a legitimate pro prospect down the
  road."

  Cyrus had 10 points and six rebounds
  in an exhibition game this past
  weekend against a club team. The
  Bonnies open the regular season Nov.
  17 against Liberty.
  <Snip>

                Copyright © 1998, Canoe Limited Partnership.


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