#12 TONY STANLEY, 6-4 200LB, SR, ARLINGTON, VA

If it seems that Tony Stanley has been around forever, in some respects he has. The senior guard was first introduced to Flyers fans in 1996. By passing on Virginia Tech — a program nationally ranked at the time — the heralded Stanley took a chance on a struggling Dayton program. Likewise, UD took a chance on him.
After failing to secure sufficient entrance scores, Stanley opted to play ball at Milford Academy, a prep school in Connecticut. Fans had to wait until the following season to see what the 6-4 shooting guard from Arlington, VA, could do. They would not be disappointed. Stanley introduced himself to the Flyer Faithful by dumping in 30 points during the first exhibition game prior to the start of his freshman season.

Tony Stanley made an immediate impact, starting all 33 games and setting a new freshman scoring record. Although he earned a spot in the starting rotation, Coach Purnell had no qualms about pulling the young star from the game. Stanley was a scoring threat from day one, without question, but sometimes lacked the same intensity and was green in other aspects of the game.

While some players are content to be offensive specialists — a codeword for one-dimensional — Stanley has turned himself into one of the finest all-around players in the conference. While his scoring average remained steady last year, he tallied nearly as many assists as his first two seasons combined. Defensive stats and rebounds have also climbed significantly since his freshman season. On last year’s NCAA team, Stanley averaged 14.7ppg, 5.6rpg, and 2.0apg — good enough for tops in scoring, third in rebounding, and third in assists for the Flyers. Stanley made the most treys of anyone (71) while converting on a .368% clip. Stanley played well in the big games, scoring 23 against Kentucky, 23 against St. Boanventure, and 19 against Temple. While he topped 20 points on just four occasions all year, Stanley was held below 10 just three times. On most nights he’d score his average and shine elsewhere.

Aside from scoring, Stanley must continue to make everyone around him better. With Mark Ashman gone, defenses can now focus on Dayton’s perimeter attack, at least until someone steps up in the post. Stanley, Hall, and Morris must work together to free each other up for open looks at the basket.Look for Stanley to have a breakout season, as he continues to take his game to the next level. This Dayton team is as young as any in recent memory, and most of the “senior” leadership will fall on Tony Stanley’s shoulders. After three years at the college level, Stanley should be able react quickly to a wide variety of situations. His experience is his greatest asset. If there’s ever been a knock against Tony Stanley however, it’s his disappearance in some games, especially on the road. Last year was a step in the right direction and consistency should be a top priority for Stanley this year. Dayton’s success will depend on it.Flyer fans have a lot to be excited about these days. But with thoughts of Top-25 rankings, the Faithful should not lose sight of the contributions of one particular player who has helped shape the program — through rebirth and resurgence.