Welcome to A10 Talk’s Top Pre-Season Top 25 Player Countdown for the 2016-17 season. Each day, we’ll be publishing a new article counting down our best 25 players for the coming season. Today, we feature #15 Kendall Pollard of Dayton.
What He’s Done
Entering his final year as a Flyer, Kendall Pollard has seen a lot of wins in his time at Dayton. Along with fellow seniors Kyle Davis and Scoochie Smith, Pollard looks to become a member of Dayton’s all-time winningest class this season. Coming off a share of the A-10 regular season title, Pollard tells me the team is focused on repeating as conference champs.
Despite battling injuries for the second half of the year, Pollard produced consistently for the Flyers whenever he played. Over the course of last season, Pollard averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. In nine games last year Pollard scored in double figures while also pulling down five or more rebounds. If Pollard can stay healthy throughout the course of this season, expect him to do big things and help Dayton achieve further success.
What He’ll Do
With his senior season quickly approaching, Pollard will look to save his best for last. Picked to finish either first or second in the A-10 this season, Pollard is a major part of the Flyer’s success. If Pollard can stay healthy, his strength and athletic ability, combined with his scoring and rebounding, bring a lot to Dayton. Even though he only stands at 6’6″, Pollard always has the potential to change the game on the defensive end by blocking shots. Assuming Pollard continues to do what makes him special, watch for the Flyer’s senior forward to wind up on one of the All A-10 teams at the end of this season.
Along with Davis and Smith, Pollard is the only player remaining from Dayton’s 2013-14 Elite Eight team. Entering this season with extremely high expectations, the Flyers will look to rekindle some of that magic for another thrilling run. With Pollard anchoring the post, the True Team just might make this year another one to remember.
Previously: #16 Donte Clark
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