REPORTS: Two Flyers sidelined after offseason surgeries but are expected to be 100% in fall

Grant pleased with Dayton’s progress in summer practices

Dayton Flyers coach Anthony Grant opens up a practice session at the Cronin Center to local media once each summer.

The latest opportunity for the Dayton Daily News, along with local TV and radio stations, occurred on Monday. Grant was joined by redshirt junior guard Malachi Smith, junior forward Jacob Conner (a transfer from Marshall), and 7-foot-1 freshman forward Amaël L’Etang from France.

As Dayton wraps up its summer practice phase, the program is gearing up for Grant’s eighth season at the helm.

“We get eight weeks in the summer,” Grant noted. “Many of the guys have been here, and the freshmen just arrived about a week ago. We’re working on integrating the group, and I’m pleased with what we’ve accomplished so far.”

During the practice, Dayton had 10 scholarship players in attendance, including fifth-year forward Zed Key (coming from Ohio State), fifth-year guard Enoch Cheeks, fifth-year guard Brady Uhl, Smith, junior guard Javon Bennett, junior forward Isaac Jack, redshirt freshman forward Jaiun Simon, freshman guard/forward Hamad Mousa, and L’Etang.

Walk-ons Makai Grant, Evan Dickey, and Will Maxwell also took part in the session, along with CJ Napier, who was a walk-on last year but is now a graduate assistant on Grant’s staff.

Two other scholarship players watched from the sidelines: senior forward Nate Santos; and redshirt freshman guard Marvel Allen.

Santos underwent surgery in April to repair a bone spur in his hip. He’s now running and shooting and expects to be 100% in the fall.

Allen underwent a procedure to clean up an issue in his right knee in June. He said then he expected to return to the court in August. He was shooting around before practice.

“We expect them both to be ready to go once we get back here in the fall,” Grant said.

Posh Alexander, a fifth-year guard who played last season at Butler, was the only player not at the practice. He’s been on campus for most of the summer but went home for personal reasons and will be back.