Introducing Kyle Hieb

When a successful team is being constructed, the makeup usually consists of a top talent or two surrounded by solid colleagues. The latter are the guys who perform well in their respective roles and are nightly plus contributors.

6-foot-2 Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) sophomore Kyle Hieb is someone whose statistical analysis at game's end tends to fall into the positive category regardless of whether he scores 12 points or two. He'll nab the 50/50 loose ball, battle those bigger than him inside and spark his team when the momentum needs turning.

"My best basketball skills are getting to the basket, being a vocal leader to get the guys going, being efficient without the ball and being everywhere at the right time," Hieb explained.

He came to MPC out of Seaside High as a 17-and-a-half year old and battled through the transition. Being both an all-league and all-county honoree meant nothing in his new basketball universe. "It's tough physically and mentally. You have to be confident and push yourself against guys who are so much more smarter, speedier and stronger than high school. It takes maturity."

Hieb continued, "I learned how to be efficient without the ball in my hands because you have to be effective whether you shoot 7-10 or 1-9. In high school, you get caught up in scoring."

He recalled a challenge that proved his mettle from back in his prep days. "It was against Christopher [High] in my junior year. It was a tie game and I got fouled with 1.8 seconds left. I missed the first one and was asking myself 'am I going to crumble?''' But he buried the second, finishing with 27 points.

Looking to major in psychology at the next level, he offered his reasoning: "it's interesting to learn how people change and it's everywhere, whether it be with kids or old people. I want to be helping as a counselor for children." He owns a 3.5 grade point average -- "I stay on top of that."

To date, Cal Maritime and Notre Dame de Namur have expressed interest.

As to positioning come his next move, "I'll probably play off guard, shooting guard. But I can play the three, even the four because I can play physical and guard guys who are 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6."

Even with four Lobo sophomores from last season's squad having transitioned to the four-year level, Hieb still sees MPC in a solid position for 2015-16. "We have a strong backcourt in Isaac Clark and DeOndre Otis. We're undersized but we play hard and fast. We can rebound and get out into transition."

Coach Blake Spiering's guys open the season on November 5 at the San Jose City College Tip Off Tournament against Foothill College.