How USI men's basketball's returning core provides leadership, stability on depth chart

EVANSVILLE, Ind. − Isaiah Swope’s freshman season was one to remember.

The Castle graduate hit big shots late in games, earning a starting role halfway through the year. It didn’t take long for him to earn respect from his teammates and fans of the University of Southern Indiana.

Only a year later, he's gone from the new man on campus to a veteran who will provide leadership for nine newcomers on the roster this season.

Swope, along with seniors Jacob Polakovich and Jelani Simmons, junior Tyler Henry and sophomore Jack Mielke are the lone holdovers from last season. The quintet will help guide the Screaming Eagles in their transition to Division I athletics and the Ohio Valley Conference — a challenge they are embracing.

“I know we have to become way more athletic. We’ve been in the weight room going hard each and every day – just looking forward to the transition,” Swope said. “I’m just waiting to get back out there on the court.”

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Here's a look at how they're fostering stability within a new-look program.

Veterans begin to set the pace

There isn’t anyone more familiar with the current coaching staff than Jacob Polakovich. He’s worked with head coach Stan Gouard and assistant coach John Spruance since he was a freshman at the University of Indianapolis five years ago.

When Gouard returned to his alma mater, the 2021-22 First-Team All-GLVC selection followed. He helped players learn to play for this staff, and he’ll once again have that responsibility with an abundance of new faces on the roster.

“I think being able to have all of this extra time on the court has really helped us bond together and learn each other’s tendencies,” Polakovich said. “I just try my best to teach where I can and sometimes it helps when it comes from another player.”

Polakovich (26 starts), Simmons (26) and Henry (22) all return valuable experience while Swope also appeared in every game. That could prove to be fruitful in a year full of firsts.

While Jack Mielke (14 games, 5.8 minutes per game) didn't see as much time as the others, he learned lessons as a freshman. He saw USI go through highs and lows. Perhaps most importantly, he knows the expectations on and off the court.

“I think we’re slowly starting to see everything come together,” Mielke said. “We’ve been playing a lot and we can tell that we’re starting to jell and figure each other out. It’s really exciting.”

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Summer session created stronger bonds, especially on the court

Simmons has been through this before. He knows what the grind of D-I basketball is like. It was how he began his college career at Youngstown State in the Horizon League.

While Simmons isn’t the only player on the roster with experience at this level – there are five newcomers joining USI from the D-I ranks – he’s the only returner who has played games of that nature. For the rest who haven’t, he doesn’t want them to stress. He's told them not much will change.

“There’s not really much of a talent difference,” Simmons said. “It’s just about how hard you practice. That’s why we’ve been just going hard every day. That will pay off.”

All nine newbies come from a variety of backgrounds, from D-I to junior colleges and incoming freshmen.

Swope believes he can learn from each of them. The Eagles have been on the court more this summer than past years because D-I practice rules differ from D-II. It’s provided a greater chance to bond and pick each other’s brains over plays and schemes.

“Everybody has come from different programs with different coaches and philosophies. But everybody has been buying in,” Swope said. “A lot of the transfers we have, they’re older than me so I’ve been asking questions. We’ve all been leaning on each other in practice.”

This offseason has been all about preparing for a historic step in the program’s history. A strong summer has them excited for what’s to come.

“We’ve done a great job of pushing each other every day to get better,” Polakovich said. “I think in terms of a competitive standpoint, this summer has been off the charts.”

Preview of the potential depth chart

With summer in the books, let's take a look at what the depth chart could resemble when they take the floor in November. It's broken down by position, but in the era of seemingly "positionless" basketball, many of them will switch between multiple spots on the court.

➤ Point guard: Gary Solomon, Isaiah Swope, Jack Campion, Sam Mervis

Solomon, a JUCO transfer from Henry Ford College, was one of the best passers in the NJCAA last season. Expect Swope to once again receive a lot of playing time as well at potentially both guard positions.

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➤ Shooting guard: Jeremiah Hernandez, Tyler Henry, Ryan Hall

This may be the deepest position on USI's roster. Hernandez saw a lot of minutes as a freshman at Kent State, Henry has been a staple of the Eagles the past few seasons and Hall has received a lot of praise for his play this summer.

➤ Small forward: Jelani Simmons, AJ Smith

An All-GLVC selection a year ago, Simmons has been one USI's leaders since transferring from Youngstown State in 2020. Smith, a freshman, also has the chance to earn minutes right away at a wing position.

➤ Power forward: Trevor Lakes, Jack Mielke

As long as he's healthy, Lakes, a Big Ten transfer from Nebraska, figures to enter the starting lineup as a stretch-four. Lakes played for Gouard at Indianapolis prior to making the jump to the D-I ranks.

➤ Center: Jacob Polakovich, Peter Nwoke, Nick Hittle

Another deep position. Polakovich is one of the most experienced players on USI's roster while Nwoke, a transfer from Michigan State, provides plenty of intrigue at either the forward or center position. Hittle, who spent time at Indiana State, is the tallest player on USI's roster at 6-foot-10.

Contact Courier & Press sports reporter Hendrix Magley via email at hendrix.magley@courierpress.com or via Twitter @TweetsOfHendrix.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: USI basketball: 2022 roster will have five returners to add leadership