NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - When Ryann Abraham and Eduardo Bermudez are on the court at the same time, the two Appalachian State basketball players have a lot in common. For starters, they're both from Puerto Rico, having arrived in Boone last season. Abraham used a medical redshirt, while Bermudez played the entire year. Both players are also guards, though Abraham is a point guard and Bermudez is a shooting guard. Both come off the bench and both can shoot well from the outside. But there is something bigger that the two provide for the Mountaineers, who at 25-7 are waiting for word about a postseason berth. They figure to be key pieces into the Mountaineers' future. "I think it's developing before our eyes and I think it's getting better and better," Fancher said. "It's hard to display yourself as a backup because your minutes are limited playing behind those seniors. So, what you've seen are those flashes of what they're capable of doing once they get into the flow of the game. They're getting better and better and playing with more and more confidence. And they're getting used to playing the way we want to play." Bermudez walked away from the Southern Conference Tournament with a bruised eye suffered in the Mountaineers' win over Western Carolina Friday. Both he and Abraham can be physical players who don't mind taking some physical shots from opponents if it means winning games. "I really don't know what happened," Bermudez said of his shiner, which he got trying to rebound the ball. "I turned around and I felt like a hard hit in the back of my head and in my eye. I think he just threw his hands in the air and got me." Bermudez sees himself and Abraham getting plenty of playing time next year. Shooting guards Demetrius Scott and Nate Cranford both graduate, leaving Bermudez, current freshman Kellen Brand and redshirt freshman Jeremi Booth fighting for playing time. Bermudez had his best tournament game against Western Carolina, scoring 11 points in 21 minutes. He hit all six of his free throws and knocked down a 3-pointer. He was also part of a deep Appalachian State bench that outscored Western 49-14. "I definitely think we are the future of the team," Bermudez said. "We have to play hard this year and then next year we have to step up and be the next Demetrius, Nate and D.J." Their numbers aren't staggering by any account. Bermudez averages 4.5 points per game and has hit 19-of-57 3-point baskets. Abraham, a redshirt freshman, averages just 2.5 points per game and has only recently seen his playing time increase as he becomes more effective running the Appalachian offense. Then again, it's tough to blame Abraham for not seeing the court that much, especially since he is the backup to All-SoCon point guard D.J. Thompson. However, Abraham is the prime candidate to take over the point guard duties next season after Thompson graduates. Thompson has left quite a tough act to follow. Appalachian State's all-time steals leader, he averaged 15.7 points per game scoring this year and is one of the fastest players in the SoCon with the basketball. Oh, and by the way: Mountaineers coach Houston Fancher has, on more than one occasion, called Thompson the best player to wear a Mountaineers uniform. "We're ready to run the team," Abraham said. "I know D.J. is about to leave and he has been doing a great job here. I want to take care of business and do my thing whenever he leaves." Against Western Carolina, Abraham scored six points, dished out an assist and had two steals in just 13 minutes of playing time. Though not as fast as Thompson, Abraham has improved his perimeter shooting this season and can also find the open man on the low post. Abraham said lining up against Thompson during practice has helped him develop as a player. "We're similar in that we share the ball," Abraham said of himself and Thompson. "We get along together a lot. Either on the court or off the court, we are like brothers. He's a guy who likes to work hard every day and I've learn a lot from him." Abraham was just happy to get to play this year. A foot injury knocked the Starmount High graduate out of last year, limiting him to a cheering role on the sideline. This year, Abraham's goal was to get into the NCAA Tournament. Those plans may have been derailed with the Mountaineers' loss to College of Charleston last Saturday, but an NIT bid is still realistic. "Thank God I didn't get hurt this year," Abraham said. "Last year I had to redshirt and this year, I'm just focused. I'm living my dream right now in this tournament." Both players got to fulfill a dream by returning to Puerto Rico to play in the San Juan Shootout. Not only did they get to play in front of their families, but the Mountaineers knocked off Virginia, Central Florida and Vanderbilt to win the event. "Oh, wow, it was a great experience,?˘?&sbquo¬? Bermudez said. ?˘?&sbquo¬?“My family and Ryann's family were there. They watched us play NCAA and that's a big dream in Puerto Rico that everybody has. We don't get a lot of TV games, so the opportunity to let our families watch us play, it was great. "And we won, which made it double great." Bermudez added that he is getting used to being in America. He's picking up English better and he's getting used to the cold weather Boone can bring during the winter. "I'm getting used to the language and the people," he said. "I think it's great. I feel a lot more comfortable than last year and basketball-wise I'm feeling more comfortable."