Both ACU basketball teams are a few games into their inaugural Div. I season and it is already clear that this is a golden age of ACU guard-play in Moody Coliseum.
Offensively, head coaches Joe Golding and Julie Goodenough have players that can score from anywhere on the court, which means ACU fans will get to enjoy an exciting brand of basketball.
Parker Wentz, Harrison Hawkins and LaDarrien Williams are combining for 30 of ACU’s 55 points per game. That’s impressive considering the murderer’s row that the Wildcats have faced off against early on this year.
Not to mention that sixth man Julian Edmonson is also averaging 11.5 points per contest off the bench, giving Golding another weapon from the guard spot.
It is important to remember that the scoring numbers are only going to continue to rise as the season goes on. ACU has taken on three ultra-talented basketball teams, including ACC member Maryland.
The Terps have seen Stevie Francis, Steven Blake and John Lucas come through their program and win a national title 11 years ago. ACU won’t see storied programs like that all season.
By the end of the year, those four players could be averaging 50 points per game by themselves. Williams, Edmonson and Hawkins are all talented scorers who can get their own shot. Meanwhile, Parker Wentz is one of the best sharpshooters in the Southland Conference and is dangerous from the time he crosses half-court.
Goodenough’s team also has plenty of talent to burn on the outside. ACU’s starting point guard Whitney West was the Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year last season. She is even better this year.
West is averaging 19.5 points per game in her first two contests to leads the Wildcats, despite only knocking down 30 percent of her shots behind the arc. Last season, West shot 42 percent from behind the arc and should start knocking down threes at a higher clip soon.
Although Renata Marquez is technically a small forward because of her defensive ability and rebounding skills, her offensive game resembles a shooting guard.
Marquez is Mamba-like at times with her ability to take over games and score at will. She is shooting 47 percent from distance this season and her ability to get to the hoop is outstanding as well.
Look for Marquez, the lone senior on the roster, to lead the team in scoring and serve as a calming influence to a young team.
Back-up point guards Chelsea Ngo and Cemetra Jenkins have also made a splash early going. Ngo had the play of the year so far last week when she went behind-the-back to dodge a defender in the open court before she knocked down the transition three.
Meanwhile, Jenkins dropped 18 points on Wayland Baptist in the second half to help ACU run away with their second win of the year.
The biggest problem for ACU on the perimeter may be the limit of five players on the court at a time.
Both ACU basketball teams have talent to burn on the outside, which will make for some exciting trips to Moody Coliseum in the next few months.
