Shed Haynes leaping into USF hearts

The University of South Florida men's basketball team enters the 2010-11 season stronger than ever, proven by strength and conditioning testing conducted in the Sun Dome during preseason training.

"We had great dedication this offseason and that is reflected in our testing numbers," says Graham Anderson, USF's strength and conditioning coach

The players were first tested last spring, again in July, then were checked a final time on Oct. 4.

Palmetto's Shedrick Haynes, a junior transfer from Lackawanna after a year at State College of Florida, is tied for the team lead with a 42 inch vertical after adding 2.5 inches to his leap since July and is tied for the team lead with a 36 inch no-step vertical.

Senior Jarrid Famous showed the most progress in the bench press, increasing his max weight in the one-rep press by 50 pounds. He also improved his 185-lb bench press to 25 repetitions, which would have been the most reps at the 2010 NBA Combine.

Junior Augustus Gilchrist pumped out 22 reps on the 185-lb press, which would have been in the top three at the NBA Combine and freshman Jordan Heath totaled 19 reps, which would have tied former Bull Dominique Jones for the top guard at the event.

Sophomore Toarlyn Fitzpatrick increased his vertical jump three inches while junior Anthony Crater is tied with Haynes with his 36-inch no-step verticals.

Hugh Robertson is just behind at 35.5 inches and sophomores Mike Burwell and Shaun Noriega are each at 33 inches. Six players have a running vertical jump of over 40 inches.