Liberty basketball is set to start the 2021-22 season when they face Regent at Liberty Arena on Thursday, Nov. 11. Get ready for this upcoming year with our season preview that covers the team from all angles – position previews, schedule review, roster, breakout candidates, who makes the rotation and much more.
The Flames finished the 2020-21 season at 23-6 and 11-2 in the ASUN, winning the program’s third straight regular season conference title and third straight ASUN Tournament title. Liberty qualified for its third consecutive NCAA Tournament, falling to Oklahoma State, 69-60, in Indianapolis in the first round game played at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
Liberty returns most of its production from last season’s team, but under ninth year head coach (7th consecutive) Ritchie McKay the Flames must find replacements for starting point guard Chris Parker and the program’s all-time winningest player and ASUN Defensive Player of the Year Elijah Cuffee.
Newcomers for the Flames include four class of 2021 recruiting cycle signees. Guard Brody Peebles and wing Joseph Venzant are expected to be part of the rotation and a big part of this year’s team. Point guard DJ Moore reclassified to join the team a year early, and forward Bryson Spell switched his commitment from Cincinnati to Liberty in the spring.
LIBERTY BASKETBALL ROSTER AND BIOS
#24 Micaiah Abii – Forward – 6-7: Freshman Year – Abii played in 24 games and started seven during his first year at Liberty. He averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game. Abii made a splash in his first two games, making all seven of his field goal attempts in the first game of the year against Purdue and scored 19 points. His 29 points in the first two games of the season are the most by a Liberty freshman since Seth Curry in 2008.
#4 Stephen Burggraf – Guard – 6-0: Burggraf, a former team manager joins the team as a walk- on this season.
#0 Drake Dobbs – Guard – 6-3: Freshman Year – Dobbs played in all 29 games while making one start as one of the team’s top reserves on the bench. He made his first career start on Feb. 12, 2021 against North Florida. The freshman point guard averaged 3.9 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 rebounds per game. Dobbs scored a season high 11 points in the ASUN Quarterfinals against Kennesaw State.
#11 Jonathan Jackson – Guard – 6-4: Freshman Year – After fighting through an illness at the beginning of the season, Jackson came on to play in 16 games where he averaged 3.1 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. The younger brother of current NBA player Justin Jackson, Jonathan has a strong reputation for being able to shoot the three-pointer.
#20 Keegan McDowell – Wing – 6-6: Junior Year – McDowell entered the transfer portal but opted to return to Liberty last season where he scored a career-high 21 points in the first game ever played at Liberty Arena against St. Francis (PA). He was named the ASUN Player of the Week following that performance. McDowell was one of the top reserves off the bench for the Flames last season, and finished the year averaging 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. He shot 40.2% from three-point range, which ranked No. 7 in the ASUN.
#2 Darius McGhee – Guard – 5-9: Junior Year – Last season was a coming out party for the explosive scoring guard. McGhee was named the ASUN Player of the Year, ASUN Tournament MVP, and named to the Lou Henson All-American team. He averaged 15.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 40.8% from three. He made 95 threes last season, which ranked No. 4 in the country. McGhee scored a career high 34 points in the regular season finale, at Bellarmine, to help the Flames claim the ASUN Regular Season championship. He was twice named ASUN Player of the Week and finished No. 4 in the ASUN in scoring as he surpassed the 1,000 career scoring mark during his time with the Flames.
#21 Gabriel McKay – Guard – 6-2: The son of head coach Ritchie McKay, Gabriel joins Liberty after two seasons at Division II Trevecca Nazarene. He played in 45 games over the past two years, including six starts, while averaging 2.0 points and shooting 65.6% from the field.
#13 DJ Moore – Guard – 6-3: This past spring, Moore elected to enroll a year early at Liberty. He finished his career No. 5 in Worthington Christian history with 1,323 career points, doing so in just three seasons. He was named a first-team all-state, all-district, and all-conference selection during his final season. He helped lead Worthington Christian to the Division III State Championship game this past season.
#1 Brody Peebles – Guard – 6-2: One of the more highly regarded recruits in school history, Peebles was ranked as the No. 2 prospect from the state of Alabama in his class by PrepHoops.com and was named a 2021 Alabama Class 5A All-State selection. Peebles scored over 3,000 career points at Hartselle High School and helped lead them to the Alabama 6A Regional finals in 2020. He was named the 2021 Alabama 6A Player of the Year after being named a finalist in 2020.
#32 Blake Preston – Forward – 6-9: Sophomore Year – It was a breakout season for Preston who played in all 29 games and made 21 starts. He averaged 9.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while finishing the year with four double-doubles. Preston scored a season-high 17 points against Lancaster Bible and Kennesaw State while grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds against Lipscomb and South Carolina State.
#33 Shiloh Robinson – Forward – 6-7: Sophomore Year – Robinson played in 29 games and made his first career start on Dec. 12 against Columbia International. As one of the top subs off the bench, he averaged 4.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. Robinson recorded a career-high 11 points and eight rebounds at Bellarmine to help the Flames win its third straight ASUN Regular Season title.
#22 Kyle Rode – Forward – 6-7: Sophomore Year – Rode emerged a solid contributor and starter for the Flames, as he got the start in all 29 games. Rode was named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team and averaged 7.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He scored a career-high 18 points against South Carolina and shot 49.4% from the field during the season.
#5 Bryson Spell – Forward – 6-9: Spell played for Cape Henry Collegiate School in Virginia Beach where he averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game last season. He was originally committed to Cincinnati but switched his pledge during the spring. Spell helped lead Cape Henry to an undefeated season and state championship during his senior year. He was a four-year letter winner and starter at Cape Henry and was named second-team All-TCIS and honorable mention all-state DI VISAA.
#23 Joseph Venzant – Guard – 6-3: Alongside Peebles, Venzant was a very early commitment for the Flames in this class and the two are one of the more decorated pairs of incoming freshmen in program history. Venzant was ranked as the No. 51 shooting guard in America and a three-star rated prospect by Rivals. He was a 2021 Texas 6A all-state selection and scored over 2,700 points in his career at Midland Christian in Midland, Texas. This past season, he averaged 21 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Venzant was a three-year starter and two-year captain at Midland Christian and was a first-team all-state selection and district MVP.
#3 Isiah Warfield – Guard – 6-5: Freshman Year – The highest rated recruit in program history, Warfield played in 20 games last season. He averaged 1.1 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game and scored a season-high 10 points against Columbia International.
2021-22 SCHEDULE
November 11, 2021: Regent 7:00 p.m.
November 15, 2021: at LSU 7:00 p.m. ESPNU
November 19, 2021: vs Iona (Orlando, FL) 5:00 p.m. ESPNU
November 20, 2021: vs Manhattan (Orlando, FL) 6:00 p.m. ESPN3
November 23, 2021: vs Bethune-Cookman (Daytona Beach, FL)
November 27, 2021: Maryland Eastern-Shore 7:00 p.m.
December 2, 2021: Missouri 7:00 p.m.
December 6, 2021: Delaware State 7:00 p.m.
December 11, 2021: vs Stephen F Austin (Fort Worth, TX) 7:00 p.m. FloSports
December 13, 2021: Kentucky Christian 7:00 p.m.
December 17, 2021: vs East Carolina (Charlotte, NC) 1:30 p.m. ESPN+
December 22, 2021: vs Northern Iowa (Diamond Head Classic, Honolulu, Hawaii) 4:00 p.m. ESPNU
December 23, 2021: TBD (Diamond Head Classic, Honolulu, Hawaii) ESPN2/ESPNU
December 25, 2021: TBD (Diamond Head Classic, Honolulu, Hawaii) ESPN2/ESPNU
December 31, 2021: Carver 1:00 p.m.
January 4, 2022: at Stetson
January 8, 2022: Kennesaw State 7:00 p.m.
January 11, 2022: North Florida 7:00 p.m.
January 15, 2022: at FGCU
January 18, 2022: Jacksonville 7:00 p.m.
January 22, 2022: at Central Arkansas
January 27, 2022: North Alabama 7:00 p.m.
January 29, 2022: Jacksonville State 7:00 p.m.
February 3, 2022: at Bellarmine
February 5, 2022: at Eastern Kentucky
February 9, 2022: Lipscomb 7:00 p.m.
February 12, 2022: at Jacksonville
February 15, 2022: at North Florida 7:00 p.m.
February 19, 2022: Stetson 7:00 p.m.
February 23, 2022: FGCU 7:00 p.m.
February 26, 2022: at Kennesaw State
March 1, 2022: ASUN Tournament First Round
March 3, 2022: ASUN Tournament Quarterfinals
March 5, 2022: ASUN Tournament Semifinals
March 8, 2022: ASUN Tournament Championship
LIBERTY BASKETBALL SCHEDULE REVIEW
The Non-Conference
Liberty’s home schedule leaves much to be desired outside of the home date against Missouri on Dec. 2, but the neutral site games McKay and the Flames have scheduled is equally challenging and exciting. There’s only one true road game and that comes in the first test of the season for Liberty on Nov. 15 at LSU in a game that will be televised on ESPNU. Iona, East Carolina, SF Austin, Manhattan, and the Diamond Head Classic all provide great opportunities for Liberty to build a strong resume when March arrives.
Toughest Stretch
Liberty’s most difficult stretch may be the week leading into Christmas. After a glorified scrimmage on Dec. 13 against Kentucky Christian, the Flames hit the road for four straight games on neutral sites beginning on Dec. 17 against East Carolina in Charlotte. Following that game, Liberty travels to Honolulu, Hawaii with the potential of playing three top 100 teams beginning with Northern Iowa. Other teams that could be played in Hawaii include Stanford and BYU.
5 Most Difficult Games
At LSU (November 9). Under Will Wade, the Tigers have been one of the best teams in the SEC in the past few seasons, and they are once again expected to compete in that league and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Vs Missouri (December 2). The SEC’s other Tigers are the second of two Power Five teams on Liberty’s schedule to begin the season, a number that could increase depending on how the Diamond Head Classic pans out.
Vs Northern Iowa (December 22). UNI has been one of the better mid-major programs out of the Missouri Valley over the past couple of decades. They have made noise in March before and are hoping to get back to that level.
At Bellarmine (February 3). First-team all-conference selection Pedro Bradshaw is gone, but don’t count out the Knights under Scott Davenport. His offensive system isn’t going anywhere, and he proved last year that Bellarmine can compete in the ASUN with a roster full of Division II talent.
At Eastern Kentucky (February 5). The Colonels join the ASUN this season, and they will come in looking to steal the conference championship Liberty has claimed the past three seasons. Head coach A.W. Hamilton plays the exact opposite of McKay’s Flames as the Colonels feature an up-tempo offensive team.
POSITION PREVIEW: GUARDS
Projected Starters
Drake Dobbs: The presumptive starter at point guard to begin the season, Dobbs is the only true point guard on the roster with any previous playing experience. The sophomore guard from Minnesota played in all 29 games a season ago while making one start as a true freshman. He showed flashes of his ability to be a pass-first point guard for the team while also being able to knock down the open three pointers he had available.
Darius McGhee: The returning ASUN Player of the Year, McGhee has a chance to make a splash nationally this season. He’s already being found on certain national lists previewing the season following his junior campaign where he made 95 three pointers while shooting 40.8% from behind the arc while leading the team in scoring at 15.5 points per game.
Key Reserves
Keegan McDowell: McDowell has been around the program longer than anyone else on the current roster as he provides a veteran voice in the locker room. He proved his value last season providing a scoring punch off the bench with the ability to score double figures any night.
Brody Peebles: One of two highly touted true freshmen, Peebles will likely find himself in a starting lineup on several occasions throughout the seasons. He has the offensive ability to lead the team in scoring any given night, even as a freshman. The main question with Peebles is whether or not he can handle a point guard role and how quickly his defense can catch up to his playmaking abilities.
Joseph Venzant: The other true freshman that is expected to play a big role this season, Venzant can be a lock down defender as he looks to replace that role from Elijah Cuffee. Venzant is one of the most athletic players on the team, and he will have his share of rim-rattling dunks during his Liberty career.
Biggest Question
Who will step up and be a starter alongside McGhee? Dobbs will get the first shot, but he will be pushed by the true freshmen, and McKay also has the veteran presence in McDowell he can turn to at any time. We could also see three guards start many nights if the Flames go smaller. Will the Flames suffer from a lack of a true point guard on the floor if Peebles and Venzant push Dobbs for more playing time?
POSITION PREVIEW: FORWARDS
Projected Starters
Kyle Rode: He’s become the team leader after Rode started all 29 games a season ago. Rode always makes the right play and he finds a way to stuff the stat sheet with his impact to the team. He won’t always lead the team in scoring, but there will be many times that he is the most important player on the court for the Flames. We could see his offensive game take another step this season.
Shiloh Robinson: Shiloh might end up being the most improved player on the team, as he began to show flashes towards the end of last season. He has the ability to be a dominant player on defense, and if he is able to improve his offensive game, particularly finding the ability to connect on 30-35% of his three point attempts, Robinson has all-conference potential.
Blake Preston: After having a couple years to develop and learn the system behind Scottie James and Myo Baxter-Bell, Preston took advantage of his opportunity last season as he grew into one of the team’s leaders and should have been an all-conference performer. He has the ability to record a double-double any night and is a force in the paint, especially against ASUN level competition.
Key Reserves
Micaiah Abii: While Abii is the only one listed under the ‘Key Reserves’ section, most nights Liberty will likely only have two of three projected starters at forward on the court at any one time, leaving playing time behind those three limited. Abii is the most likely to step into the rotation behind those other forwards. He popped during his first couple games in a Liberty uniform, but then struggled to remain on the floor throughout the remainder of the season as he adjusted to playing at the Division I level and into Liberty’s packline system.
Biggest Question
Will Abii be able to find a role on the team this year? He started the first seven games of his career and scored 29 points in his first two games of the season, the most by a Liberty freshman since Seth Curry in 2008. He then fell out of the rotation as McKay tightened said rotation going into conference play. He obviously has the potential, he just needs to find the consistency and learn the intricacies of Liberty’s defensive system to earn steady playing time.
BREAKOUT CANDIDATES
Which Liberty players could have breakout seasons this year?
Shiloh Robinson: Robinson became one of Liberty’s top reserves last season, but he could emerge as one of the best players on the team and a starter this season. He has all the tools. With his size and athletic ability, Robinson is already one of the best individual defenders on the team. If he is able to take that next step offensively, McKay won’t be able to take him off the floor.
Brody Peebles: We’ve already stated that Brody has the ability to lead the team in scoring any given night. It will happen at some point this season, and it may become more of a common occurrence than any of us expect. He will carve out a role on the team this year as a true freshman and could threaten for ASUN Freshman of the Year.
Joseph Venzant: Peebles will get all the fanfare for his scoring ability, but don’t forget about Venzant. As big of an impact as Brody will make from an offensive standpoint, Venzant will make just as large of an impact on the defensive end of the floor. And that doesn’t mean he is a liability on offense. Venzant can get to the rim and attack it with a vengeance. He also has improved his jump shot considerably since he first jumped onto Liberty’s radar as a prospect out of Midland Christian in Texas.
HOW MANY PLAYERS WILL LIBERTY PLAY THIS SEASON?
Under head coach Ritchie McKay, the Flames have typically had a rather loose rotation during the non-conference portion of the season before he finalizes it and goes no more than eight deep in the rotation during the conference season and into the postseason. Will this trend continue this season?
This team is much deeper and the talent level from top to bottom on the roster is higher than we have likely ever seen under McKay. Darius McGhee, Kyle Rode, Blake Preston, Shiloh Robinson, and Keegan McDowell are all but locks to be included as part of the rotation. Drake Dobbs, Brody Peebles, and Joseph Venzant are all likely to see some playing time, as well. That’s already eight.
That leaves Micaiah Abii, Isiah Warfield, Jonathan Jackson, DJ Moore, and Bryson Spell as the remaining scholarship players fighting for playing time, if any remains after those first eight. Abii could certainly carve out a role as a big man behind Preston and Robinson, if he can earn McKay’s trust. The true freshman DJ Moore might be the next most likely to break into the every day rotation as he brings something to the team that nobody else on the roster does with his point guard play and defensive ability.
Warfield and Jackson are both talented and were on the borderline of getting playing time as true freshman last year. Spell is the most likely choice to redshirt this season as he is playing behind a pretty deep post position with Preston, Robinson, Abii, and even Rode able to provide minutes before burning Spell’s season of eligibility.
