8 p.m.: Don’t be misled by the modest statistics Creighton’s new commitment, Keithrick Denson, compiled in his first season of junior-college basketball and his potential value to the Bluejays.
As a backup at Navarro Junior College last season, the 6-foot-8 Denson averaged about 4 points and 4 rebounds a game. Hardly the stuff that gets you all kinds of stars from those fancy-Dan recruiting services.
But getting Denson to sign on is big for the Bluejays, who were looking to bring a big man with some experience to back up Kenny Lawson next season. Lawson will be a senior, and he’ll get the bulk of the playing time in the middle.
If Denson pans out, he also could allow the coaches the possible luxury of redshirting Creighton’s other early commitment, 6-11 Will Artino. The coaches love Artino’s upside, his ability to run the floor as a big man and knock down shots.
But Artino needs time to bulk up — he weighs about 200 pounds — and he’s young for a senior in high school. He was 16 when he committed in August, and a redshirt season would allow him time to catch up chronologically with the guys he’ll be competing with throughout college.
Denson says he likes to play defense, rebound and bang inside. Those are attributes that Creighton can utilize. He also could prove invaluable if he can give Artino time to grow up.
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