Monday, January 19, 2015

San Joaquin Delta College and Coach Rich Ressa

Many fans probably aren't aware of the association between Stockton and winning basketball. There's obviously University of the Pacific, a member of the West Coast Conference and Bob Thomason's long run there, but it is also important to include San Joaquin Delta College (SJDC) hoops in this affiliation.

Brian Katz got the program on a successful basis and Rich Ressa currently helms the program, having taken over the reigns in spring 2008 after 11 years as an SRJC assistant. And yes, take note that he played at and graduated from Pacific.

In Ressa's tenure, the Mustang accomplishments include a Final Four appearance in 2009 and a 2013 Final Eight showing.

SJDC sports a 13-4 record thus far this season. It's a roster not sprinkled with blue chip recruits but more a bevy of blue collar, 'we-not-me' talents who weren't necessarily even on the lists of prospects to recruit of other community college basketball programs.

Standout Mustang players through the years include Kevin Bland, Chris Walker and Phillip Ricci, with each being honored as State Co-Player of the Year. Now it's:

5-foot-11 Jordan Belasco, a sophomore out of Lodi High, who is averaging 16.0 points and a state best 8.9 assists per game.

Plus, fellow sophomore guard Dwayne Lee, a Bear Creek High grad with a 16.2 points per outing average.

And 6-foot-5 Troy Anderson who came in from Armijo High two years ago and is averaging a 14.8 point, 13.3 rebound double-double. The latter figure currently ranks second in California.

So what's the secret, the formula for succeeding without having a handful of amazingly athletic, high pedigree players?

"We recruit differently from others," Ressa explained. "We want the right guy and I like guys who are overlooked and play with a chip on their shoulder. We get together 15-20 like-minded players and try to get better by playing hard, playing together and being tough minded."

He continued, "Our kids are our best recruiters, they know what a Delta guy looks like."

Ressa explained, "Troy Anderson wasn't being recruited but we aren't interested in whose else is recruiting a guy."

About Belasco: "Jordan looks like he's 12 years old but he's a wolf in sheep's clothing. This guy is a winner and the kind of guy I love to have."

He recalled another unlikely Mustang achiever in 5-foot-8 Eric King who played from 2011-13. "He didn't make his high school team." Now King is at Bethesda University and currently is playing 20 plus minutes a game, primarily as a starter.

Ressa concluded, "It's a lot of fun and very rewarding."

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