Recognizing the Las Positas coaching staff and team

18-9 and 8-4. Sounds like a pretty good run for most Northern California community college basketball teams. For multiple reasons, consider such a great one for Las Positas College which achieved these records this season. When comparing where the Hawks started to where they are now, it's very reasonable to consider Coach James Giacomazzi and his staff, Jonathan James and Jordan Whittenburg, for Coaches of the Year in Northern California.

Here's why:

* Giacomazzi's tallest player is 6-foot-4
* It's his initial year at Las Positas meaning there was a process of getting acquainted between him and each of his players
* Brand new different offensive and defensive systems needed to be learned
* His hire also meant a shortened recruiting period 

Yet his primary players achieved remarkable numbers with a balanced offensive attack as all five starters averaged in double figures:

* Keith Hunter, 6-foot-3 freshman, Oakland High, 13.9 points, 4.7 rebounds
* Kameron Johnson, 6-foot-2, freshman, Granada High, 12.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists
* Cameron Moses, 6-foot sophomore, Dublin High, 12.6 points, 6.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds
* Brandon Eboigbodin, 6-foot-4 sophomore, Shasta High, 11.8 points, 9.6 rebounds
* McKayle Harnell, 6-foot-4 sophomore, Livermore High, 10.0 points, 4.1 rebounds

Plus, though lacking in size, the Hawks out-rebounded opponents on the season 40.6 - 34.9. 

Another community college coach, based in Northern California, recently lauded Giacomazzi about the progress the Hawks made this season.

"For our players, it was a big adjustment having a new coach and new system with a new style of offense and defensive concepts," Giacomazzi offered. "We started from scratch and have been playing catch-up. When other teams were in November, we were in summer. When other teams were in January, we were in November. But now we're even. We asked the players to trust us as a coaching staff and trust the process. They took it upon themselves to buy in and stick together, and our success has a lot to do with that."

He continued, "From the very first day, we were honest with the team. We told them we will teach you some things about basketball that may initially feel new and uncomfortable. The offense will be different and the defense will be different but you'll end up being a better basketball player. Our style is designed to prepare you for a four-year basketball program. We want to get our guys versatile and really well-rounded because it's more than just getting there [the four-year level] - we want you to play immediately and be an impact player. Four-year coaches want to plug you in and have you play right away and that's what we get you ready to do."

However, success was not realized overnight.

"Most of our players struggled in the beginning. They experienced frustration but they stayed together and saw our early failure as an opportunity to learn. It took time, but we focused on developing good habits, playing to our strengths, and playing unselfishly."

Giacomazzi sees lacking size as a weapon to utilize rather than a weakness to be exposed.

"We're small, but our opponents also have to guard us. We look at it as a glass half full situation. We do our best to control what we can control and take advantage of mismatches." 

About the move from the Big 8 Conference to the Coast North, two of the tougher conferences in the state, Giacomazzi acknowledged the challenge ahead. "Some were looking at me as kind of crazy, to move from such a tough conference to another very, very good one. Retired Hall of Fame coach John Wagoner compared it to 'jumping from the frying pan into the fire.' But we embrace the high level of competition and challenge. We want to see our guys compete for championships."

Both leagues are difficult to navigate but they are unique. He explained, "In the Big 8, there's not as much difference in styles as far as teams that press. It's predominantly man-to-man, halfcourt types of teams with not a lot of full court pressure and not much zone. In the Coast North, there are teams with size to go with post-centered offenses, teams running the Princeton offense, teams that want to push the pace and get up and down the court. We have to take one game at a time. It's prepare for one style then prepare for another. Our players have gotten better and better at adapting to what we need to do throughout the season."

Consider this: With all the new pieces in place, Las Positas achieved its best league record in school history this season at 8-4. They also secured the fourth seed in the state tournament. Highest previous level? Seventh. The Hawks have certainly come a long way from the start of the season and all signs point to them continuing in the right direction.