Garfield Turner, the Senior center for the Drexel men’s basketball team, will miss the season with a knee injury, the team announced on Oct. 16.
The announcement throws a curveball at what was already a murky season for the Dragons. After losing three-time CAA Defensive Player Amari Williams to the University of Kentucky, Drexel men’s basketball head coach Zach Spiker was relying on Williams’ longtime backup, Turner, to fill the starting role.
In a backup capacity, Turner provided energy and grit to the Dragons. The Maryland native averaged 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, boasting a polished post-game and strong defensive effort. Perhaps even more importantly, Turner had the most minutes per game of any returning player.
“Garfield has been a tremendous leader for us in just about every way the last two seasons,” said Spiker. “I’m disappointed for him that he won’t be able to be on the floor this year. He will still be around our guys and influence our team in a positive manner. We are hoping he makes a full and quick recovery.”
Where do the Dragons go from here?
Now without Garfield Turner, there is a dearth of experience in the Drexel frontcourt, and there are virtually no proven commodities for the Dragons to insert into the starting lineup. The depth behind Turner includes third-year Cole Hargrove, and true freshmen Ralph Akuta and Clemson Edomwonyin.
Hargrove, the presumptive candidate to fill the void created by Turner, has appeared in a very limited capacity at Drexel, tallying just 68 minutes last season. According to a scouting report released on the Drexel Basketball blog and podcast Dragonscast, Hargrove is profiled as a defensive standout who can be a complimentary offensive piece. Due to his lack of playing experience at the Division I level, it is difficult to discern what his potential impact on the court will be.
Akuta brings tremendous size to the roster, standing at a hulking 7 feet 1 inch. Akuta has tantalizing tools, but his game likely needs polish before he is ready to take on a large share of minutes.
Edomwonyin, a 6 foot 10 inch project from London, brings incredible upside and athleticism to West Philadelphia. Edomwonyin only began playing basketball in 2020 so his game remains raw by all accounts. However, the big man has been developing at a rapid rate, and if he can find his way within Coach Spiker’s systems he may find a role to play sooner than later.