Friday, September 5, 2014

The 2014-15 Monterey Peninsula College Lobos

Monterey Peninsula College Coach Blake Spiering has assembled his Lobo crew for the 2014-15 season and the roster is looking formidable -- a power game in the paint alongside a number of solid outside shooters. His group consists of a core of sophomores alongside a batch of newcomers.

Any MPC preview has to start with 6-foot-6 sophomore Stephen Dorsey, who played two years ago but redshirted last season while competing in the decathalon for the Lobos track team. Despite being a relative newcomer to the sport, Dorsey won the state title last May but he's now all in with basketball. His appearances at the July Nor Cal JUCO Summer Jamboree (in which the team went 4-0) left the distinct impression that there will be plenty of lob passes into the paint, dunks, foul trouble for opposing bigs and rebounding in the middle this season. Dorsey is strong, a quick jumper and displays good hands on entry passes. According to Spiering, Dorsey "is a great kid, very self-motivated and even bigger, stronger and more athletic than before."

5-foot-9 sophomore point Devin Koeplin also returns. Possessing a 3.8 grade point average, he also leads on the court. "Devin doesn't pass the eye test, but he makes great decisions, is a great outside shooter and was a captain as a freshman," Spiering said. "I call him our best player. He's so underrated and is going to be a steal for someone." Koeplin averaged 4.1 assists a game while shooting 41% from three-point range as well as 78% from the foul line. 

Besides Koeplin, a pair of sophomore outside shooters are on the roster. "Mitch Wood has grown an inch to 6-foot-9 and is shooting well," per Spiering. "He's also very good academically with a 3.9 grade point average." Plus, 6-foot-6 sophomore Will Burkett who possesses the prettiest shooting stroke around. 

These outside shooters are going to make defenders pick their poison: try and smother Dorsey inside but leave open looks outside or play Dorsey one-on-one and pay that price while focusing on limiting shots from distance.

Newcomer and freshman Deondre Otis will also be at the point with Jaskarn BajwaIsaac Clark, Chris Evans, Kyle Hieb, Mark Hinijosa and Ty Peacock competing for backcourt minutes.

Freshmen Shane Suttles, Isaiah Brown and Malik Washington round out the frontcourt.

The roster:

Jaskarn Bajwa, 6-foot-4, freshman, Irvington High

* Isaiah Brown, 6-foot-5, freshman

Will Burkett, 6-foot-6, sophomore, St. Francis High

Isaac Clark, 6-foot-1, freshman, Independence High

Stephen Dorsey, 6-foot-6, sophomore, Monterey High

Chris Evans, 6-foot, freshman, Seaside High

Kyle Hieb, 6-foot-1, freshman, Seaside High

Mark Hinojosa, 6-foot-3, freshman, St. Francis High

Devin Koeplin, 5-foot-8, sophomore, Dublin High

Deondre Otis, 6-foot, freshman, Sacred Heart Cathedral High

* Ty Peacock, 6-foot-4, freshman

Shane Suttles, 6-foot-6, freshman, Christopher High

* Malik Washington, 6-foot-7, freshman

Mitch Wood, 6-foot-9, sophomore, Alvarez High

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