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The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia
The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia
The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia
Billy's fight: Sophomore Billy Garrett Jr. of DePaul men's basketball lives with sickle cell disease

Billy’s fight: Sophomore Billy Garrett Jr. of DePaul men’s basketball lives with sickle cell disease

Matthew Paras, Editor-in-Chief • November 9, 2014

Pride can be a funny thing. The pain Billy Garrett Jr. felt in his knee on a bus ride to the charter plane for an away game in January of last season was a feeling that he hadn’t felt in nearly two...

Breaking out: A thinner Tommy Hamilton of DePaul men's basketball could be a force

Breaking out: A thinner Tommy Hamilton of DePaul men’s basketball could be a force

Matthew Paras, Editor-in-Chief • November 9, 2014

Sacrifice. That’s the word a noticeably slimmer Tommy Hamilton used to describe his journey in losing more than 30 pounds over the course of six months.  The 6-foot-10 forward was 285 pounds at...

DePaul men’s basketball avoids upset against Lewis with 72-68 victory

Matthew Paras, Editor-in-Chief • November 6, 2014

A dress rehearsal for DePaul men’s basketball team not only showed the amount of work that lies ahead, but also where the team can capitalize further. In an exhibition opener against Lewis University,...

DePaul guard Billy Garrett Jr. dribbles the ball. (Maggie Gallagher / The DePaulia)

ePaul: ‘D’ needed after inter-squad scrimmages

Matthew Paras, Editor-in-Chief • October 26, 2014

There are 12 days until DePaul men and women’s basketball teams take the floor at McGrath-Phillips Arena for their first exhibition game.  In that time frame, head coaches Oliver Purnell and Doug...

Sophomore guard Darrick Wood. (Photo courtesy of DePaul Athletics)

From a family of athletes, Derrick Wood is ready for DePaul men’s basketball

Matthew Paras, Editor-in-Chief • October 26, 2014

By the time Darrick Wood committed to DePaul in April, Wood didn’t need any more selling from the program. From the instant he visited the Chicago campus, his roots with assistant head coach Renard...

DePaul forward Myke Henry shoots a free throw at Saturday’s scrimmage between the men’s basketball team at McGrath-Phillips Arena. (Maggie Gallagher / The DePaulia)

DePaul men’s basketball shifts to defensive attitude

Matthew Paras, Editor-in-Chief • October 19, 2014

After a scrimmage between DePaul men’s basketball team at McGrath-Phillips Arena Saturday, Aaron Simpson sat on the bleachers and reflected on his game. All things considered, Simpson had a successful...

Aaron Simpson will join the DePaul depth chart as a guard this upcoming season, a position not particularly hurting for players. The transfer junior, however, expects to be part of the team that contributes off the bench. “I’m here to fill in, give them a couple of breathers, coming in to help the team,” he said. “But if I have an open shot, I’m going to knock it down.” DePaul head coach Oliver Purnell recruited Simpson for his natural scoring ability. Simpson committed to DePaul in March, a day after recruit and Washington D.C. guard Jon Davis backed away from a verbal commitment by reclassfying to the class of 2015. “Aaron is obviously going to be a big threat for us offensively,” Purnell said. “He’s a natural scorer.” For the first few weeks, he’s been working with his fellow guards as he adjusts to Division I basketball. “I’m working out with (Billy Garrett Jr.) and Durell (McDonald) since they’ve been here,” he said. “I’m just trying to fill in with these guys to see how it is, how the Big East is, what to work on and what to look for.” Simpson also said he already has a familarity with Garrett from his days in high shcool. “Billy and I together is fantastic,” Simpson said. “We’ve got ball movement and are creating offense for our team. He knows my game and I know his. We’re just trying to evolve and get better every day.” Simpson comes from Lincoln College, a junior college in Lincoln, Illinois where he averaged 20.2 points per game in his two seasons with the Lynx. He had originally signed with Illinois State coming out of high school but did not qualify academically. He averaged 26.2 points per game in high school at North Chicago, which led the state. He finished third in the voting for Illinois’ 2012 Mr. Basketball, behind Jabari Parker and Keith Carter. From an in-game standpoint, Simpson looks to bring his prolific scoring ability, as well as some leadership and quickness to the team. “I bring scoring, passing and quickness, which is a big deal here,” he said. “I’m bringing defense too and trying to be a leader.” Simpson also compared his game to former Connecticut standout Kemba Walker, explaining how he is “a small guy who can still fill it up.” “I’m also here to keep the defense honest with my shooting abilities,” he said. But Simpson is still in the process of learning the offense. While he found his teammates in Saturday’s Black-Blue scrimmage, Purnell said that Simpson still needs to master the playbook. “I thought his ball movement was OK,” Purnell said. “He was doing that more off of natural ability, which is good because that’s why you recruit a guy.” Regarding the upcoming season, Simpson said the team is preaching defense in the practices leading up to the Nov. 6 exhibition opener against Lewis. “We’re looking real good right now,” he said. “We have a good team, but if we can’t get stops we won’t win.” (Photo courtesy of DePaul Athletics)

Aaron Simpson: A natural scorer ready for DePaul men’s basketball

Ben Gartland • October 19, 2014

Aaron Simpson will join the DePaul depth chart as a guard this upcoming season, a position not particularly hurting for players. The transfer junior, however, expects to be part of the team that...

Coach Doug Bruno of DePaul women's basketball at the annual Tip-Off Luncheon. (Parker Asmann / The DePaulia)

DePaul basketball’s annual Tip-Off Luncheon brings optimism to upcoming season

Parker Asmann • October 15, 2014

[slideshow_deploy id='4645'] Optimism and positivity filled the air Tuesday afternoon as DePaul basketball’s annual Tip-Off Luncheon took place inside McGrath-Phillips Arena. Men’s basketball head...

Rashaun Stimage will be in contention for the starting power forward spot this year. (Photo courtesy of DePaul Athletics)

Rashaun Stimage of DePaul men’s basketball aims to fill the void at power forward

Ben Gartland • October 12, 2014

Rashaun Stimage came out of one of the first practices of the season with ice on his knee, slowly walked over to a chair where he sat down and let out his breath. “It’s been great for me these...

Former Illinois forward and current Blue Demon Myke Henry (20) has his shot blocked during the Illini's win against Nebraska. (Photo courtesy of Brenton Tse / The Daily Illini)

Myke Henry of DePaul men’s basketball is done waiting

Matthew Paras, Editor-in-Chief • October 5, 2014

Over the course of last year’s college basketball season, DePaul men’s basketball went through many peaks and valleys. There were highs — winning back-to-back Big East games and upsetting Georgetown...

(Photo courtesy of DePaul Athletics)

Peter Ryckbosch to miss DePaul men’s basketball season with ACL tear

Ben Gartland • October 5, 2014

Junior forward Peter Ryckbosch will miss the 2014-2015 men’s basketball season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, the team announced. Ryckbosch said he tore the ACL in...

DePaul men’s basketball adds two walk-ons to roster

Matthew Paras, Editor-in-Chief • October 5, 2014

Tryouts for the men’s basketball team are only an hourlong. After working out all summer, players who want to make the team as a walk-on have a limited time to showcase themselves. For Joe Hanel, that...

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