Yes, City College of San Francisco (CCSF) is the reigning California state champion but the opposing coaches, players and fans who thought the Rams would be less of a challenge in 2011-12 may have misunderestimated, to quote a former U. S. President.
Because
Coach Justin Labagh has reloaded.
Coming off a 32-1 season, winning is simply associated with the Rams program as CCSF has won the Coast Conference championship six of the last seven years.
But what Labagh is equally proud of is having graduated all but one student-athlete during his tenure. A total of 23 of his players have garnered D-1 scholarships with seven landing D-2 rides, meaning his program can boast of both on-court and academic success.
As for 2011-12:
The Returnees
6-foot-0
Ivan Dorsey is back for a second season. Labagh describes him as "a stone cold shooter who had a great off season" but he wants his sophomore to increase his defensive effort.
Myron Respress, 6-foot-8, sophomore NY HS
The Newcomers
Delon Wright, 6-foot-5, freshman, Los Angeles HS
The brother of Golden State Warrior Dorell Wright, Delon spent last year at the RISE Academy in Philadelphia. Labagh is quite impressed: "he is really good, a very polished high major basketball player who can play for anybody in the country"
Gabriel Aguirre, 6-foot-10, freshman, Brazil
He played on Brazil's team in July at the FIBA U19 World Championships in Latvia, scoring 18 points in the championship game. Aguirre shot 50% overall, 41% from long distance during the series.
Mckenzie Moore, 6-foot-4, freshman, College Park High
Moore didn't play high school ball last season -- Labagh calls him "another high major talent but without a lot of experience" and says that Moore is adjusting to the everyday demands of community college.
Stuart Wesonga, 6-foot-7, freshman, San Marin High
Wesonga is also making the jump from the prep ranks and in the process of acclimatizing to battling top talents on a daily basis.
Shawn Smith, 6-foot-5, freshman, McClatchy High
Out of the Sacramento area, Smith is an enormously athletic competitor, "a beast" according to Labagh -- Smith is also a relative newcomer to hoops having played more football earlier.
Thomas Cooper, 6-foot-4, sophomore, North Carolina A&T transfer
Joe Slocum, 6-foot-3, freshman (Yuba College redshirt)
Raysean Hairston, 6-foot-6, sophomore, (Lees-McRae College)
Labagh says he will go D-2 after this season.
Garrett Moon, 6-foot-5, sophomore, (Wallenberg High)
Labagh see him as a high D-2 talent.
But talent loaded with potential can turn out to be either a blessing or a curse, as Labagh noted.
"We should do well if we can get these guys to play together," Labagh explained. "They all were the best players on their teams -- 'the man' -- so it's a matter of role acceptance."
The CCSF assistant coaching staff:
Adam D. D'Aquisto
Tom McNichol
Derrick Lott
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