DREXEL UNIVERSITY

Mike Kouser 6'7 230 F

HISTORY

1999-00: The team’s leader in scoring (15.9 ppg) and rebounding (9.2) as a starter in all 28 games. Kouser earned his second straight America East Conference Second Team distinction after leading the league in rebounding, ranking sixth in scoring and listing among the conference leaders in field-goal percentage (.413) and three-point shooting (.397). His three-point shooting percentage for the season ranks ninth all-time. He had a league-high 13 double-double outings and managed a double-figure scoring output in 24 of his 28 appearances, six times pouring in 20 or more. With 961 career points, Kouser is on target to become the 22nd 1,000-point scorer in Drexel Basketball history, and his 117 treys rank 7th all-time.

1998-99: The most improved player on the Drexel roster, he emerged as team scoring leader seven times, rebounding leader a team-best 17 times and assist leader twice. Nineteen of his 29 games were double-figure outings. He notched 10 or more rebounds on 12 occasions and established new personal standards in every category but rebounding. Kouser led team with 8.1 rpg average and was among league’s top rebounders. He was third in team scoring (12.8 ppg), he put down 43 treys, second-highest total on team and recorded a team-high nine double-double outings. Eight of his last 17 outings were double-doubles. He averaged 14.6 points and 8.6 rebounds versus league opposition while shooting 48.9 percent and was named to the America East Conference Second Team.

1997-98: A starter in six of the 27 games. Kouser tallied his first career double-double versus Maine , with season highs of 14 points and 14 rebounds. He finished among rebounding leaders three times, he recorded two double-digit scoring outings and tied for second on the squad in rebounding (4.5 rpg). Kouser made the most of his 18.0 minutes of action per game and knocked down 12 three-point field goals while tallying 21 assists, four blocked shots and nine steals. He averaged 5.4 points-per-game.

High School: Kouser starred at St. Augustine Prep High School where he averaged 23.0 points and 12.0 rebounds-per-game. Mike was a two-time first team all conference and All-Parochial selection and a First Team All-South Jersey pick.

EVALUATION:

Though many people may not recognize his importance to a team, because he does not put up mind boggling numbers, he is as solid a player as there is in the American East. On no team in this conference will you find someone who could lead the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists except for Kouser. Not only does he have tremendous perimeter skills, but he likes to go inside and play physical in the low post. If a team in the IBA, IBL. ABA 2000, or overseas is looking for a tremendous all-arounf player this is the guy.

Joe Linderman 6'9 240 C

HISTORY

1999-00: Co-captain, Joe Linderman led Drexel in its season-opener with 18 points against Seton Hall. Joe has scored 1,388 points (16.1 ppg) and grabbed 639 rebounds (7.4 rpg) at Drexel. He ranks 11th in all-time scoring, seventh in career field goals (532),13th in career free throws (321), 14th in career rebounding (639) and second in career field-goal percentage (532-959/.555). Linderman was recently named to the Drexel Basketball All-Millennium Team.

1998-99: Top scorer in team-best 11 games, he was the squad’s top rebounder 12 times and assist leader once. He led team with 17.2 ppg scoring average and tallied double figures in 23 of his 25 appearances this season. He poured in 20 or more points eight times and had six double-figure rebounding efforts with five double-double outputs on season. Linderman shot 50 percent or better from the floor in every game but three on the season, leading the America East Conference in field goal percentage (168-295/.569) and ranking fourth among league scoring leaders (17.2) and fifth in rebounding (7.6). He averaged 17.8 points-per-game against America East opposition and scored season and career-high 30 points in a win over Northeastern. He was named to America East First Team and America East All-Championship Team.

1997-98: An America East First Team and All-Tournament selection, Linderman completed his sophomore season as the Dragons’ leading scorer (18.4 ppg) and rebounder (8.5 rpg). His 516 points established a record single-season scoring total by a sophomore and was recorded as the 10th-highest single-season point total in school history. He also paced his team in field goal percentage (200-382/.524) and blocked shots (13). Linderman tallied 12 double-double outings on the season. He averaged 35.1 minutes of action, and was among league leaders in scoring, rebounding and field-goal percentage. He scored a career-high 30 points versus Boston University, with a career-high 13 field goals in that contest.

1996-97: The 1996-97 America East Rookie of the Year and a 1997 America East All-Tournament pick, Linderman posted veteran numbers all season long in distinguishing himself as the most recognized newcomer in the league while a four-time rookie of the week in the regular season. A 30-game starter, Joe ranked second in team scoring with a 13.7 points-per-game average and pulled in 6.5 rebounds-per-outing. He ranked as high as 10th among the nation's leaders in field goal percentage as AMERICA EAST's frontrunner in that category. He shot .587 from the field on the season. He was the high scorer in nine games, including all three postseason conference contests. He recorded three double-doubles on the year and shot 50 percent or better in every game but eight on the season. He poured in a personal-best 23 points in Drexel's quarterfinal win over Towson.

High School: Excelled as a pivotal member of Reading Central Catholic’s 1995-96 District 3 championship squad that finished with a 32-1 record as an Eastern state finalist. Berks County’s leading scorer who averaged 18.7 points and 11.0 rebounds-per-outing. He was a first team all-state selection and Small School State Player of the Year.

EVALUATION:

Linderman is the premier low post player in the American East. He should finish his career with all the records that were set by San Antonio Spurs player Malik Rose. The left hander has excellent footwork and is able to establish excellent position without having to battle for it. Additionally, he has excellent hands and if he catches the ball down low you might as well just put the points on the scoreboard, because either he is going to score or be fouled or he is going to pass it out to a shooter who will hit the shot. A strong position post defender he will be an excellent pro player whether it be in the IBA, IBL, ABA 2000, or overseas. Linderman is a player that should be taken if a solid all-around low post player is neede

Stephen Starks 6'5 200 G

HISTORY:

1999-00: Established nine new statistical highs on the season, finishing third in team scoring (10.6 ppg) while also averaging 3.6 rebounds-per-game as a 16-game starter. He saw action in all 30 games and converted 44.2 percent of his shots from the floor (121-274) and 37.1 percent of his shots from behind the arc (26-70). Starks set a personal scoring high with 25 points in quarterfinal win over Vermont and played a full 40 minutes versus both Maine and Hofstra. The team leader in scoring on nine occasions, Stephen was high rebounder once and assist leader twice. He had 18 double-figure efforts, six with 20 or more. Starks scored 319 of his 523 career points this season and carried 7.1 ppg and 2.7 rpg averages.

1998-99: Starks played in 18 games with three starts in limited role this season. He averaged 1.6 points in 7.2 minutes of play and put down 14 field goals and collected 18 rebounds on season.

1997-98: Started 13 of the 26 contests in which he appeared, Starks posted nine double-digit scoring outings on the season and finished fourth on the team in scoring (6.8 ppg). Named America East Rookie of the Week once in the regular season, he pulled in 71 rebounds (2.7 rpg) and tallied 10 treys on the season. Starks posted a season-high 17 points in a win over Maine.

High School: Averaged 24.3 points per game as the SAC Conference scoring leader as a senior. A first team All-Metro and All-SAC Conference selection, he served as team captain, earned three varsity letters and achieved status as a Five Star All-Star. Among a number of local accolades, Starks was honored as a Kentucky Prep Classic All-Star and as the Prep Sports and 21-Alive News Player of the Week.

EVALUATION:

Over the course of his four years at Drexel there has not been a player in the Philadelphia Big 5, let alone the American East the has improved as mush as Starks has. He has come a long way from his freshman year, and is now recognized as one of the top guards in the conference. He is a solid defender who can get it done on the offensive end of the floor. On a team that has two other talented players it is Stark who leads the team in scoring. In addition, he is also a solid ballhandler who will get the ball to the proper player. He can play in either the IBA, IBL, ABA 2000, or overseas. He is not as well known player outside of the American East and Philadelphia, so whovere gets him will be getting one of the great unknown players in the New York metro area.