Season recap: Ashton Pankey
St. Anthony assistant coach Todd Palmer didn’t see much of Ashton Pankey this season on the Friars’ sideline.
Pankey, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound senior, had good reason for not being around his team that much. The Maryland-bound power forward was busy doing rehab on a stress fracture in his left leg.
“He didn’t have much involvement ... [because] he was getting his rehab done,” Palmer said. “According to him, everything’s going on schedule. He’s supposedly going to be enrolled in summer school [at Maryland]. He’s on track for that.”
Pankey wasn’t able to play a minute of his senior season, but Palmer said he did rejoin his teammates for the Friars’ state-playoff run. St. Anthony finished the season 26-3 with a loss to Trenton Catholic in the New Jersey Non-Public B championship.
Palmer said St. Anthony was able to fill roles that Pankey would have played. With a runner-up finish in the state championship, the Friars managed just fine without him. But Palmer said they could certainly have used his size and athleticism.
“He’s a very athletic player,” Palmer said. “He’s going to be an active, athletic type. A tip-dunk type of guy. He’s active on the glass. He’s a 4-man probably in the ACC. He has to work on developing his overall game with the ball handling, facing the basket, shooting. That stuff he has to work on, but his athleticism is very good. He’s exceptionally long.”
Maryland fans shouldn’t expect Pankey to make a “major impact” for the Terps as a freshman, Palmer said. Those types of big men are “few and far between.” But Palmer does think Pankey should be healthy by the start of his freshman season, and ready to see minutes as a role player.
“I think he’s back to being able to do basketball-related activities right now,” Palmer said. “As far as full strength, I don’t think he’s 100 percent yet. I think he’s in a progression, going along with his physical therapist. I’m not positive of his timeline. Obviously, I think he’ll be ready for the fall.”
Comments
A four-man who is active on the glass wearing a Terps uniform? Imagine that. Hopefully he can develop a face-up game too.
Posted by: Shas | May 13, 2010 11:42 AM
What I think the Terps will be satisfied with, and what I believe we'll probably see from him this season, is a Padgett-like contribution from his just completed freshman season.
Posted by: Terp'nTexas | May 13, 2010 1:22 PM
don't forget pankey had surgery because his injury wasn't healing. jerome burney, steve goins, oden from ohio st. the oklahoma player who went 1 or 2 in the nba draft a couple of yrs ago. big guys with stress fracture problems that always seem to come back. i wouldn't count on pankey at all his freshman year. i hope gets and stays healthy but....don't have expectations with him
Posted by: freddy from boca | May 13, 2010 3:20 PM
from the little bit i saw of pankey on film i wasn't thinking he was going to make an impact beyond being a career bench player. this article seems to be hyping him up alot. so what's his real story?
Posted by: space | May 13, 2010 4:36 PM
space is pretty good to form an 18 yr olds potential on a 20 sec rivals clip.....he should apply for the assistant opening
Posted by: scott | May 13, 2010 10:10 PM