Cook, players back from injury bolster Fairfield’s depth

It’s a landmark year for Fairfield basketball, with a new on-campus arena just weeks away from its debut. And fourth-year men’s basketball coach Jay Young is hopeful it’s a bit of a landmark year on the court of that building, too.

“Going into Year 4, this is the most depth we’ve had and certainly the most talent we’ve had,” Young said.

Young thinks the Stags’ rotation could go 10 or 11 players deep without seeing much of a dropoff.

Part of that feeling comes from the program’s newcomers. Part comes from players’ natural progression as they grow. And part comes from the return to full strength of a few players who had injuries hamper their 2021-22 seasons.

“I think this year we’ve certainly got more offensive answers than we ever had,” Young said.

Of the 16 students who played for the Stags last year, 11 are on the roster this season. That can start with 6-foot-9 junior forward Supreme Cook, chosen to the MAAC’s preseason all-conference first team, and Young agreed with that pick without reservation.

Cook is the Stags’ leading returning scorer, averaging 10.1 points, and had a teambest 8.3 rebounds a game and 25 blocks last year.

“I think he can be special,” Young said.

Senior guard Jake Wojcik, picked for the All-MAAC third team, scored 9.5 points a game last season.

Returning from injuryplagued seasons and looking good, Young said, are sophomore forward Makai Willis and junior guard Jalen Leach.

And the team picked up a couple of transfer guards. Graduate student Caleb Fields missed last season injured at Bowling Green but saw regular action the previous three years. Senior Brycen Goodine came off the bench for Providence’s Sweet Sixteen team last year.

The Stags got a chance to put it all together in an exhibition game on Oct. 30 at Rutgers, where Young was an assistant coach for three years. The game was a benefit for Team LeGrand, founded by Eric LeGrand, the Rutgers lineman who suffered a spinal cord injury in a 2010 football game.

“It was really cool for me personally. I had three really good years there. (Scarlet Knights coach) Steve Pikiell is one of my closest friends,” Young said. “It’s a great cause, Team LeGrand. That part is great.

“For us, it was an unbelievable dress rehearsal. We’ve got to go to Wake Forest (on Monday) to open the season. We got to put the uniform on, had real refs, we were on the road.”

Rutgers’ size and strength, Young thought, was good preparation for what the Stags might see in Winston-Salem, N.C., when the season opens for real.

And once it does, the Stags will be under four weeks away from a program milestone. Leo D. Mahoney Arena opens on campus this month, with the women’s basketball team playing two games there the weekend before Thanksgiving. After eight out-of-state games to begin the season, the men’s first home game is Dec. 3 against St. Peter’s.

“A couple of screwdrivers left, a hammer, and it should be good to go,” Young said with a laugh.

“It’s really what we’ve been missing here with no home court advantage. With COVID, the new building, we’ve been a little all over the place.”

The Stags had a long run at Bridgeport’s Total Mortgage Arena, though small crowds didn’t often register in the 9,000-seat arena.

Young praised the gameday experience at the new building, which replaced Alumni Hall, with modern amenities and scoreboards.