Cane Strong: UMBB in the Weight Room

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team is getting bigger, faster and stronger in time to start the 2013-14 season, according to strength coach Steve Felde.

“Based on what I’ve seen from these guys this off-season, they are strong and they are fast and they are ready to play,” said Felde.

Junior transfer James Kelly and freshman Davon Reed each improved their bench press max by 80 pounds from June to October, as Kelly started at 235 and is up to 315 while Reed improved from 170 to 250.

Senior Erik Swoope pressed a team-best 365, up 35 pounds since June, followed by Kelly’s 315, senior Raphael Akpejiori at 310 and senior Donnavan Kirk at 300. Of the guards, senior Rion Brown leads the way at 275, closely followed by classmate Garrius Adams (265).

Junior transfer Sheldon McClellan touts the highest standing vertical, with his 41-inch leap. Kirk boasts a 35.5 jump while Swoope is at 35 inches and freshman Deandre Burnett jumps 34 inches with no step. Over the summer, Swoope improved his standing vertical from 27 to 35 inches, the best on the team, followed by a five-inch increase by Kirk and a 4.5-inch improvement from sophomore Steve Sorenson.

McClellan also has the highest approach vertical with 45 inches, followed by Burnett’s 42.5 inches, which he improved from 37 inches in June. Reed is third with 40.5 inches, a 4.5-inch improvement) and Swoope rounds out the top four with a 40-inch approach vertical.

In the pro agility test, McClellan topped out at 3.9 seconds, while freshman Manu Lecomte turned in a time of 3.97 seconds.

Miami opens the season on Oct. 30 with an exhibition game against Florida Tech, then the regular season begins Nov. 8 against St. Francis (N.Y.) at 10 p.m.