The Athletic Department announced Wednesday another addition to the basketball team for next year. No, it’s not the heralded prospect we have been writing about the past couple weeks, but another walk-on guard in Steven Gambles. Gambles, who is from Indianapolis and from the same high school as former Hoosiers A.J. Ratliff and Eric Gordon, brings another guard with size to the 2008-2009 team.
Gambles, listed at 6-4 or 6-5, depending on who you ask, brings some experience to an already young team. He will have Junior eligibility for the coming year after making stops at IUPUI and Lambuth University, a NAIA school in Tennessee. With a solid frame, he is listed in the 205 to 210 lb. range and should be able to bang down low right along with Nick Williams and Malik Story.
Gambles still hasn’t been cleared to play by the NCAA to be officially added to the roster, but even if he does, I just don’t see Gambles having a big impact on this team this year, if any at all. Already stacked with guards just like him in Williams and Story, Gambles won't see a lot of playing time. I see him primarily as a practice guy who is capable of banging with Story, Williams, and some of the other big guys.
I also see him as the backup plan when injuries occur. I don’t see Gambles getting major minutes this year, even though we may be the youngest team in the nation. We just have too many talented guards in the way for him to see significant time on the court.
But hey, it’s been a wild season so far - you never know.
Some fun facts: Assuming that Gambles gets added to the roster, this brings the tally for the 2008-08 basketball team to seven scholarship freshman, one returning scholarship (who is hurt), one scholarship who will be sitting this year out due to transfer rules, and five walk-ons! Looks like a roller coaster season guys- I hope you don’t get motion sickness.
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