By Michael Kelley ’14

With the signing of center Nathaniel Musters ’16 from Padstow, Australia, the Lafayette Men’s Basketball team could boast an Australian frontcourt for years to come.

Paired alongside Dan Trist ’15, a Sydney native, the 6’10, 240-pound center will add much needed size for the Leopards, who welcomed five new recruits to complete the Class of 2016.

“Nathaniel is a load,” Head Coach Fran O’Hanlon said. “He’s going to need some development and some work but he has a lot of potential. He runs the floor well, sets huge screens, and is a decent rebounder.”

The Lafayette-Australia connection began in O’Hanlon’s playing days there and has developed ever since. Through new Assistant Coach John O’Connor’s contacts in Australia, O’Hanlon began running clinics and practices for players from the Australian Institute of Sports. Both Trist and Musters were recommended to Lafayette due to their high academic performance and basketball ability.

“He will help us a lot this year with defense and rebounding,” Trist said. “I know he will represent our country well and I am excited to have him as a teammate.”

Adding additional size for the Leopards is Ben Freeland ’16, a 6’10, 215-pound center and Billy Murphy ’16, a 6’9, 205-pound forward.

Freeland, from Santa Rosa, Calif., spent a post-graduate year at Suffield Academy in Connecticut and averaged 11 points per game last season, receiving All-New England Prep School Athletic Conference Third-team honors.

Murphy, from Greenwich, Conn., averaged 14.7 points and 7.3 rebounds as a senior for the Brunswick School, picking up All-Fairchester Athletic Association honors and an All-New England Class A honorable mention.

O’Hanlon says both players will need to add strength heading into the season.

Rounding out the Class of 2016 are combo guards Zach Rufer ’16 and Bryce Scott ’16.

Rufer, a 6’3, 180-pound Bloomingburg, N.Y. native, averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game last season for Burke Catholic. He was the Times Herald Record Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011.

Scott is from El Dorado Hills, Calif., and measures at 6’2, 185 pounds. Securing All-Tri City Athletic League awards in three straight years, Scott averaged 23.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as a senior.

“Sometimes the term combo guard can have a negative connotation because people say they’re not really a point guard,” O’Hanlon said. “But these guys are basketball players and have good size for a point guard. They can play the two spot as well.”

The five freshmen join a young Leopards squad. With Jack Detmer ’14 injured, Lafayette has just three healthy upperclassmen, team captain Tony Johnson ’13, Levi Giese ’13, and Les Smith ’14. Trist, Seth Hinrichs ’15, Joey Ptasinki’15, and Alan Flannigan ‘15 complete the roster.

Johnson is excited about the class and the talent they possess.

“I look forward to seeing what they can provide this year,” Johnson said. “I think they are all great additions and it will definitely be an exciting year.”

Playing time for the freshmen will depend largely upon opportunity, which was the case last season. When Johnson and Giese were out for long stretches early last season, Ptasinki, Hinrichs, and Trist stepped in to contribute.

“These young guys have to be like the guys last year getting where they have learned a lot heading into February,”O’Hanlon said. “Hopefully they’re helping us a lot by that time.”

Individual workouts are underway with the first official practice scheduled for October 12. The season tips off at home against the St. Francis Terriers on November 9.