Ben Beran

[1bunnies]

Re: Ben Beran

My sources tell me that Mo has been cleared to play also. Things are starting to brighten up for the Jacks.

[Jackrabbit1999]

Re: Ben Beran

Because of his immigration status, Mo has to be enrolled in school or he has to return to the Ivory Coast. Bascially, SDSU is willing to allow him to enroll this semester (take this year as a red-shirt year) and then play next year. So SDSU may be his only option to stay in the States. Apparently other programs have expressed interest, but none will give him the money necessary to pay for tuition this semester.

Perhaps this will all work out for him. He can stay in the US, get his degree, and contribute for the Jacks next year.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Ben Beran

Thanks for the information. I too hope this works for everyone and Mo can get his degree and contribute to the Jacks in our inagural year of the Mid-Cont. I like the idea of getting the veteran services of Berte and Beran in 2008 and also add a couple of Junior College Players this year that will be with us for the next 2 years.

[jackmd]

Re: Ben Beran

Thanks for the information. I too hope this works for everyone and Mo can get his degree and contribute to the Jacks in our inagural year of the Mid-Cont. I like the idea of getting the veteran services of Berte and Beran in 2008 and also add a couple of Junior College Players this year that will be with us for the next 2 years.

I expect Mo is grateful for the opportunity provided by the coaches and admin at SDSU. I hope things work out well for all parties involved. Life is a continous process of challenges, setbacks, triumphs, tragedy, etc... as long as you learn everyday, its well worth it. Good luck to Ben and Mo.

[Jacked_Up]

Re: Ben Beran

This is great news, for once. Getting Ben back for next season will be great. It would be nice to get Mo back, too. Add Moss, Sargent, Hoogeveen, possibly Cordova and a couple jucos to the mix, and the team could be significantly better next year, from top to bottom. Signs of progress, at last.

[Jacks15]

Re: Ben Beran

I hope we can find a high schooler or two that we can redshirt. Lets use Mo and Ben essentially as JUCO's. Lets build for our first chance at the Mid Con tourney. If we can't find some more out of the prep ranks then find JUCO's.

[thebluehatman]

Re: Ben Beran

Plain and simple we need 13 kids that can come and play right a way and give us some depth and grow the team from there. I'm sick of watching a short bench. We need the depth ASAP.

[Jacked_Up]

Re: Ben Beran

The team has been rebuilding for three years, mostly with freshmen, and still lacks experience because of departures. Half the team is made up of freshmen right, and at least two new freshmen will be coming in next season. We're a season and a half from tourney eligibility. Blending in some veteran toughness for the next two seasons would be a big plus. At some point, the team will get into the flow of bringing in a few new recruits each year. Right now, we seem to be filling holes. Ben and Mo can help a lot.

[SD-STATE]

Re: Ben Beran

I've never been a big fan of JUCO players. It is sometimes hard to mold and shape kids into what you want them to be out of high school. After two years at Junior college it becomes even harder to break habits and attitude. Any JUCO player with their weight in gold will be snapped up by bigger name programs, even though I still think there are always players that slip through the cracks. I guess I would like the team to stick with the guys we have and if need be rely on quality minutes from more freshmen.

[89rabbit]

Re: Ben Beran

Even with the addition of Mo and Ben this team could use a couple of big men right away. I wouldn't mind if one or both of the remaining scholarships were used on JUCO kids. Keep in mind that we need to have some balance between the classes.

I have faith that Coach Nagy will do the right thing with the scholarships he has left to offer.

Go State!

[Jacks99]

Re: Ben Beran

I agree with 89 and would like ot see them take a chance at a few JUCO's, the experience would help as well. Also they would be here for the first conference tourney and would help keep a full bench rotation for a few years.

[NightHawk78]

Re: Ben Beran

Terry has a story on Ben's return:

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...05/1002/SPORTS

The return of a Jackrabbit

Ben Beran planning return for 2007-08
By Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com
Published: January 23, 2007

After a long string of personnel losses, the South Dakota State men's basketball team got one back.

Ben Beran, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward, is practicing with the team that he quit at the end of last season - one of 10 early departures since the end of 2004-05 - and plans to use his final year of eligibility in 2007-08.

"It's always been juggling in my head," Beran said. "This is what I'm supposed to be doing." (read more)

The end of the article updates our scholarship status for next year, as well as Berte's status:

Beran will be on scholarship, leaving two yet unclaimed for 2007-08, and it's possible that SDSU could regain the services of another post: Mo Berte.

The 6-8 center averaged a team-high 7.2 rebounds plus 8.5 points in 20 games as a junior transfer last season before being suspended due to implications in an alleged rape. Legal charges were dropped last month and, according to Nagy, Berte - who is from the Ivory Coast - has returned to school this semester.

But getting Berte reinstated - if that's what he and Nagy decide they will attempt to do - would be more difficult than it was for Beran.

"There's just so many issues to deal with," Nagy said. "It's not real cut and dried. It's not simple for anybody. We'll just have to wait and see what happens with him and with us."

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: Ben Beran

Well that is certainly some great news for the team but I am even more happy for Ben. He has had to deal with a lot of tough things and hopefully this means that he is able to get out there and have some fun his senior year.

Glad to have you back Ben!!!

SUPERBUNNY

[Jacked_Up]

Re: Ben Beran

It will be great to have Ben back. A couple jucos still would be great, even if Mo comes back. Three years of building and rebuilding with youth is long enough. It's time to compete.

[89rabbit]

Re: Ben Beran

From Terry's Blog:

http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/sports/category/sdsu/

A source (Steve Imming) tells me there was an epic pick-up game here this afternoon starring Ben Beran, Mo Berte and Anthony Cordova. Me thinks Scott Nagy would give his right Nike to have those three playing right now. . . . (read more)


Go State!