Who is going where -- an update on Merritt College basketball

Merritt College is coming off a 19-11 overall record and a ledger of 8-5 in Bay Valley Conference play. Coach Keenan McMiller, a Merritt alumnus and also a former Thunderbird player, has the program headed in a positive direction and his sophomores are locating new destinations.

McMiller has quintet of student-athletes moving on:

* Joshua Hatcher, guard, 6-foot-5, 205 (Berkeley High)

A First Team All Bay Valley Conference honoree this past season, Hatcher is checking out Washburn University in Kansas City. Coach Bob Chipman has offered Hatcher, who is coming off his best academic semester in college. McMiller calls this "a huge accomplishment." Hatcher has two more classes to take in order to earn his degree.

* Saajid Polite, guard, 6-foot3, 190 (Grant High, Sacramento)

Polite looks like he is headed to the University of Indianapolis, a D-2 school. What's interesting is that Coach Stan Gouard's Greyhounds beat then #23 Tennessee 79-64 last November 8 and that Gouard also has overseas ties that benefit players wishing to eventually play professionally across the pond.

* Roman Robinson, guard, 6-foot-3, 175 (Rodriguez High, Fairfield)

He has very strong interest from NAIA member Oklahoma City and Coach Dionne Phelps, plus nearby Dominican University and newly-hired mentor Booker Harris. Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana is also in the mix, the 2009 NAIA basketball champion.

* Richard Walker, forward, 6-foot-7, 190 (Atlanta, GA) to Texas A&M Prairie View

Walker finished as the third-leading rebounder on the team and 10th in the Bay Valley Conference with 7.1 boards per game. He shot 46% from the field and tallied 26 blocked shots.

* William Tolfree, forward, 6-foot-7, 195 (Atlanta, GA)

He has visited University of West Alabama but may land at Texas A&M Prairie View if a scholarship comes open. Tolfree also has three or four D-2 colleges wanting him and will have earned his degree after three more classes.