The 2011-12 Diablo Valley College Vikings

If you went 13-1 in basketball league play and 26-5 overall, what do you do as an encore?

It's not exactly a dilemma though as Diablo Valley College (DVC) Coach Steve Coccimiglio returns the Big 8 Conference Most Valuable Player and also a First Team honoree who stands 6-foot-8.

That pair being 5-10 sharpshooter Brian Goins and Rafael Carter, respectively.

Goins totaled a Big 8 best 19.4 points per game, including 52 treys and Coccimiglio sees Goins at the two guard a lot: "that's his natural position as a scoring guard. Brian can score from outside and he's hard to contain as he'll drive and break down defenses and give up the ball. He creates a lot of problems for defenses."

Carter averaged 8.6 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots per contest, while shooting 56% from the field. According to Coccimiglio, "he'll get a key block and rebound above the rim for us."

But DVC's riches don't end there. Not with what Coccimiglio calls his "Group of Four" comprised of:

* 6-foot-3 Ronnie Baker, sophomore -- "he'll knock down shots for us"

* 6-foot-5 Daniel Zitani, sophomore, is the second tallest DVC player

* 6-foot-3 Greg Holmes, sophomore, also brings experience

* 6-foot-3 Tyrelle Phillips, who redshirted last year, is an excellent athlete

As for the fast approaching season, Coccimiglio commented "It's really unusual to have six guys coming back who played meaningful minutes and a lot of experience is a real advantage because it translates into leadership. It's six guys who know how to build a team."

But ready to prove that youth isn't wasted on the young, Coccimiglio has a freshman quartet expected to contribute:

* 5-foot-9 Bobby Syvanthong out of El Cerrito High has joined the Viking backcourt. A blur on the court, Coccimiglio said "Bobby isn't intimidated by the jump from high school to junior college. He's a pure point who did well in the [summer] Foothill and Las Positas tournaments."

* 6-foot-3 Damon Jones, has come over from St. Elizabeth's: "knocks down shots"

* 6-foot-3 Andrew Gardner out of Freedom High: "is a good perimeter shooter"

* 6-foot-4 Devon Pouncey from Rodriguez High: "I like how he has adjusted and he'll help on the frontline"

"We're really not a deep team," as Coccimiglio explained. He'll have 10 players active this season. "As long as Goins and Carter stay healthy, it will free up others to get more done because they make other players better players."

That's not what Diablo Valley College opponents wanted to read.