Boot camp on horizon, other news and notes from SFA basketball

It's been awhile since we've seen basketball in William R. Johnson Coliseum. Honestly, with players literally scattered all over the world this summer, it has been hard to really gauge just where everyone stands as the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks inch toward the beginning of the 2017-18 season.

With TJ Holyfield spending time with Athletes in Action in China, Samuli Nieminen in his native Finland, Jovan Grujic in Serbia, Leon Gilmore III rehabbing in Houston, Ty Charles recovering from shoulder surgery, and Nathan Bain nursing an injured knee, there hasn't been much of a summer basketball team in Nacogdoches.

What there was, however, was an opportunity to work closely with newcomers in basketball fundamentals. Freshmen Cameron Mack and Stefon Fisher and junior college transfers Jon Comeaux and Shannon Bogues have worked closely with head coach Kyle Keller's staff as they've focused on instilling the philosophies of Lumberjacks basketball.

"[Sophomore point guard] Aaron Augustin was our summer leader," Keller told The Sawmill. "That tells you all you need to know about who was available."

But as the hot months have drawn to a close and the Lumberjacks have returned from far and wide to the Oldest Town in Texas, here are some updates as program festivities begin once again:

Basketball boot camp starts next week -

There will be no ball used in practice for a little while as the Lumberjacks begin formal team activities in William R. Johnson Coliseum next week. For the next little bit, Keller will be working with his crew on conditioning and basketball theory.

The intensive program is designed to snap the group into playing shape quickly as the opener with Longwood looms. Keller will be largely adjusting his team's offensive philosophies this year and plans to begin implementing those principles shortly.

"[Duke University head coach] Mike Krzyzewski is one of the best in the country because he changes his offense every year," Keller says. "It's all about knowing your personnel, their strengths, and knowing how to put them in the best position to score."

SFA was weak at the guard position a year ago and lacked depth with dominant scoring ability. "We have playmakers now," says Keller. "We need to make sure we're using them right."

Keller contends that instituting offense before defense is sometimes necessary even on a defense-first unit. "Defense is so much easier to grasp," he explains. "If you start there, they'll never be able to score in practice."

When boot camp concludes, actual practices, with an actual ball, will start early next month.

Ty Charles could miss the beginning of the season again -

Although not in the dire straights of a year ago, the player Keller has often referred to as his team's "heart and soul" seems likely to miss the opening month of the coming season. Ty Charles had surgery on his shoulder shortly after the last season concluded, aiming to finally play at 100% for the first time in a couple years. He continues rehabbing as summer has turned into fall.

"It could be a similar timetable as when he came back last year," Keller said. "The difference is, this time he'll actually be healthy and able to practice."

It has been an off-season full of unfortunate distractions for Charles. He has battled legal issues as well as ones with his shoulder as he's tried to work his way back for a successful senior season at SFA.

Gilmore, who has battled a sore back since early last season, should be ready by the time the Lumberjacks tip off the season. Bain may be another who won't see the court before the conference schedule begins in January.

So far the issues seem manageable, but there is still reason to be concerned. What is the number one thing that could derail this season for SFA? "Health," says Keller, without a moment of hesitation.

The scariest team in the SLC for the Lumberjacks? Not who you may think -

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ended SFA's season in the Southland Conference Tournament. Northwestern State prevented the 'Jacks from claiming a league title. New Orleans walks into the new season as the defending champs. Those may not be the teams that have SFA's coaches the most concerned, though.

That honor may go to Central Arkansas.

Led by Russ Pennell, who Keller called last season among the best offensive minds in the country, the Bears return superstar guard Jordan Howard. They've run a ridiculously small lineup over the last couple years, sometimes starting five guards, but size adjustments this offseason to shore up their defense may make them downright scary.

It isn't like UCA has been a dominant team over the past years. Despite the gaudy scoring numbers, the Bears haven't been able to buy stops on the defensive end. It doesn't really matter to SFA's coaches. "I hate playing them," Keller says.

As fans look at the potential spoilers in the league this season, there are plenty of reasons to think UCA might be making a move to the upper-tier in 2017-18.

SFA remains a mystery to everyone, including the coaching staff -

Many basketball programs had the opportunity to travel this summer to exhibition games. Although early and meaningless, those coaches know something about their team before formal activities begin for the fall semester.

Keller hopes that someday that can be SFA. This season, with players scattered about and dealing with various health concerns, the Lumberjacks didn't have that luxury. "Honestly, I have no idea what we have yet," he says. "We won't know until we see them all on the court."

On paper, this is a really good team. The Lumberjacks return nearly all of their meaningful scoring from a season ago and have upgraded at the wing. There is a lot of youth at point guard and that position will likely continue to be a work in progress through much of the non-conference season. Right now, though, the team is only on paper. What the unit looks like together won't be clear for likely another month.

Until that time, fans can dream. The coaches, however, have a lot of work to do.