Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Stetson University Athletics

Scoreboard

Tickets, donate, shop

Sport schedule
University logo on load main University logo on scroll
Rob Perry

Men's Basketball Athletic Communications

Positional Preview: The Guards

This is the third in a series of three previews highlighting 2020-21 position players for Stetson men's basketball. Today's focus is on the guards.
 
Basketball is a guard's game now, and nowhere are the 2020-21 Stetson Hatters deeper than in the backcourt. The Hatters boast eight guards on their roster. Two of Stetson's top three scorers from last season are returning guards. And, of course, one of those guards was the top freshman in the ASUN Conference a year ago.
 
You can't talk about Stetson Basketball in the present without talking about sophomore Rob Perry. A dead-eye shooter with swagger and fearlessness, Perry took the ASUN by storm last season, helping the Hatters to a third-place finish and a 9-win improvement by averaging 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds a game, while leading the conference in 3-point shooting at 42.6 percent.
 
Perry announced his presence with authority by scoring 34 points in his second collegiate game, helping Stetson to a 77-75 win at Western Illinois. He went on to score 20 points or more eight times and reached double figures 25 times overall.
 
Perry received notice outside of the ASUN as well, earning national Freshman All-American honors and landing a spot on the NABC All-District first team.
 
Senior Christian Jones provided a solid second scoring option in the backcourt last year. Stetson's most experienced player and the only senior on the roster this year, Jones averaged 10.2 points per game in starting 23 of 33 games. He earned a spot on the ASUN All-Tournament team after averaging 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in Stetson's two tournament games. His most impressive effort of the season came when he scored 18 points in return to his hometown as Stetson defeated South Carolina, 63-56, in December.
 
Terry Ivery gives the Hatters depth at the point. As a freshman last season, Ivery appeared in 28 games. He scored a season-high 11 points at home against Longwood, dishing a season-best five assists to boot.
 
Several newcomers are poised to make an impact in the backcourt, starting with a pair of former high school teammates.
 
Purdue-Fort Wayne transfer Chase Johnston should prove to be a strong complement to Perry on the perimeter. The redshirt freshman set the national high school career 3-point field goal record during his career at Florida's Westminster Academy, finishing with 546 three-pointers. The 2019 4A state player of the year, Johnston averaged 26.8 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a senior when he helped lead Westminster to its third straight state title.
 
Johnston's former high school backcourt mate, Stephan Swenson, gives the Hatters a true 'pass first' point guard. Swenson enjoyed a dynamite senior season at Westminster, averaging 14.3 points, 9.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds. His 257 total assists last season ranked eighth nationally. As a junior, Swenson averaged over 10 assists per game, and had 17 during Johnston's 52-point scoring explosion against The Villages in 2018-19.
 
Another freshman, Giancarlo Valdez, provides even more options for head coach Donnie Jones and the Hatters. Long, lanky and athletic, Valdez can play either guard position.
 
A native of the Dominican Republic, Valdez prepped at Alabama's Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, leading the Eagles to a state championship as a junior. During his senior campaign, Valdez averaged 21.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, finishing as a finalist for Alabama 1A Player of the Year.
 
Additional freshmen Keith Lamar and Davante Robinson give Stetson even more depth. Lamar, who is expected to also see playing time at the small forward spot, averaged 19 points per game as a senior at Georgia's Eagle's Landing High. Robinson, a former team manager, joined the active roster as a walk-on in September.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Chase Johnston

#11 Chase Johnston

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Rob Perry

#2 Rob Perry

G
6' 4"
Sophomore
Keith Lamar

#4 Keith Lamar

G
6' 6"
Freshman
Giancarlo Valdez

#5 Giancarlo Valdez

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Davante Robinson

#22 Davante Robinson

G
6' 0"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Chase Johnston

#11 Chase Johnston

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
G
Rob Perry

#2 Rob Perry

6' 4"
Sophomore
G
Keith Lamar

#4 Keith Lamar

6' 6"
Freshman
G
Giancarlo Valdez

#5 Giancarlo Valdez

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Davante Robinson

#22 Davante Robinson

6' 0"
Sophomore
G