LU Basketball Notebook: Flames sign three, still have a spot left

A year ago, Liberty basketball coach Dale Layer was in full scramble mode, trying to snap up any available recruit who showed interest in the Flames’ program.

Considering Layer wasn’t hired until the second week of April in 2009, the recruiting panic was understandable. Now heading into his first full offseason, Layer’s Liberty program has a sense of stability that was missing last spring.

“There were so many things going on,” Layer said. “You’re trying to figure out your current players, and getting them on the right track, then hiring a staff and recruiting, all at the same time. (This year) we’ve had much more of an opportunity to get to know guys throughout the course of the year and recruit guys for the long term, rather than just seeing what’s out there and trying to get some names.

“It was a lot more secure process, a lot better this time. But it’s always a challenge.”

Layer signed three players during the spring period, which began last week, and he has one scholarship still available. The final contact period of the season ended Wednesday. A “quiet period” continues through July 5, meaning coaches cannot have any in-person off-campus contact with recruits, though recruits may still visit campuses.

Layer said he wanted to fill the last available scholarship with the best player possible.

“I think we’ve got a lot of our needs met,” Layer said. “I feel really good about the roster and about the character of guys coming in.”

Joining guard John Caleb Sanders and forward Stephen Baird, who signed in the fall, are 6-foot-7 forward Sommy Ogukwe, 6-5 combo guard Chris Johnson and 6-4 wing John Brown. Johnson and Brown are both junior college transfers. Brown played his freshman season at The Citadel before transferring to Roane State CC in Tennessee, where he earned second-team JUCO All-America honors.

Layer said Ogukwe has a college-ready body and has the ability to play inside immediately at a high level. Johnson can score off the bounce and is a capable outside shooter, giving the Flames a threat similar to what they had with graduating senior Kyle Ohman. Brown averaged more than six rebounds per game as a freshman at The Citadel.

Moving on

Four players left the Liberty program after the season ended to pursue other options.

Forwards Patrick Konan and Bill Weaver and guards Johnny Stephene and Chris Perez will transfer. Layer said none of the four have nailed down a destination yet.

Konan started 24 games for the Flames, including most Big South games, averaging 6.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Perez, who originally committed to former Liberty coach Ritchie McKay, showed flashes of being a strong defensive player last season and averaged 5.5 points per game.

Neither Weaver nor Stephene averaged more than five minutes per game.

“They’re all looking for greater roles,” Layer said. “I think if you were to generalize it, that was a large factor in all four of them.”

Schedule talk

Layer said the 2010-11 schedule is about “95 percent done,” but he’s waiting on several contracts to come in so he can finalize it.

The highlights next season are home games with CAA teams William & Mary and George Mason. The Flames will travel to UNC Wilmington and participate in the South Padre Island Invitational in Texas.

The South Padre tournament is similar to the multi-team events the Flames participated in the last two seasons in Chicago and Las Vegas. Liberty will open with games at Texas Tech and at South Florida before convening in Texas with three other teams to be determined for the final two games on Thanksgiving weekend.

Layer said he expects there to be three non-Division I home games on schedule, down from four last year.