“We run a ball-screen offense,” Donlon said. “He’s smaller coming off those ball screens, which can be an advantage for him. You have to try to take advantage of what every player does best.”
Arceneaux is the sixth and final member of the recruiting class that will replace four departing seniors and two transfers. His high school coach, Ty Baumgardner, stressed that his lack of more height was the only reason he was available this late in the recruiting process, as he helped Olympic to a school-record 28 wins this season while averaging 15.6 points and 6.9 assists per game.
Donlon was first alerted to Arceneaux by former WSU coach Brad Brownell, Donlon’s former boss who now coaches Clemson. Brownell was scouting another Olympic player in the fall when he texted Donlon and encouraged him to check out Arceneaux.
Donlon couldn’t find the time to travel to North Carolina to see the guard in person, but he saw aspects on tape that he liked.
“I saw him win a game with a 3 at the buzzer,” Donlon said. “I saw him win a game with two free throws with no time on the clock and no one else at the line. That’s a very difficult thing to do.”
Donlon noted that WSU has good size in its other guards, so Arceneaux’s speed is valuable in filling a gap on the roster.
“It’s not about size,” Donlon said. “He still has those leadership abilities, and his greatest strength is something we need.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel @DaytonDailyNews.com.
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