Tarleton State @ Stanford preview
Maples Pavilion
The Harrison Ingram era at Stanford tips off Tuesday night when the Cardinal host Tarleton State in a non-conference game.
Ingram, a freshman point forward whose game is compared to that of Golden State Warriors standout Draymond Green, steps immediately into the big shoes filled last year by another prize recruit, Ziaire Williams.
Williams struggled with injuries and a COVID-related absence when he averaged 10.7 points last season for the Cardinal (14-13, 10-10 Pac-12). He became a one-and-done, selected 10th overall to the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA draft.
Ingram, a five-star recruit like Williams, was rated as high as No. 12 nationally in the 2021 prep rankings. Before playing his first game for Stanford, the Dallas native was named to the 20-player 2022 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award watch list.
"Harrison is extremely skilled and savvy," Stanford coach Jerod Haase observed. "(He) has the tools that should translate to the college game. His ball-handling and playmaking skills for someone his size (6-foot-7) is a rarity."
Stanford also lost Oscar da Silva to graduation. He led the Cardinal in scoring with 18.5 points per game, leaving forwards Jaiden Delaire (12.5) and Spencer Jones (8.2) as the top returning scorers.
Highly recruited guard Isa Silva, a product of Prolific Prep in Arizona, also joins the mix.
Tarleton (10-10, 5-7 Western Athletic Conference) prepped for its visit to Stanford with a 73-50 home win over Central Christian of Kansas in an exhibition. Jonathan Jackson Jr. had 13 points and four steals in the win.
Things get a lot tougher in a hurry for the Texans, who will face three preseason Top 25 teams -- Kansas, Michigan and Gonzaga -- among their first seven opponents.
"It's probably the hardest schedule in the country," insisted coach Billy Gillispie, whose debut season with the Texans last year was their first at the Division I level.
The former Texas A&M, Kentucky and Texas Tech coach returns WAC Freshman of the Year Freddy Hicks (8.2) and preseason All-WAC first-team selection Montre' Gipson (15.3).
--Field Level Media