No problems for CCSF

That pre-season poll (8th place overall, fifth in Nor Cal) indicating City College of San Francisco would drop back this season might need some revising, especially if the Rams keep on keeping on.

Coach Justin Labagh's squad is undefeated thus far:

* 11/09/12 Santa Rosa 76 San Francisco 83 
   
* 11/10/12 Yuba 71 San Francisco 72  
  
* 11/11/12 Fresno 65 San Francisco 83
    
* 11/16/12 San Francisco 88 Sierra 51
    
* 11/17/12 San Francisco 91 Lassen 73
   
* 11/18/12 San Francisco 82 Fresno 73

Meet City College of San Francisco basketball, 2011-12

 

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

A look at the City College of San Francisco players moving on

Fresh off a California state championship, City College of San Francisco Coach Justin Labagh has seen a number of his current players recently enjoy the fruits of their labors -- earning basketball scholarships.

Previously announced was De'End (Lincoln High) Parker heading to UCLA. With junior backcourter Malcolm Lee situating himself in the NBA draft, the opportunity for playing time will certainly be present for Parker and he possesses the skills set and the body to do well immediately.

But before all that plays out, it's important to both understand and appreciate that we are talking about someone coming out of the AAA basketball ranks and from San Francisco to boot, nabbing a scholarship to play in one of very top programs in the country. For anyone unimpressed about such an accomplishment, well, hopefully someone will check for your pulse and soon.

For the old-timers and the not-so-old who read this: has anyone else with these so-called 'bloodlines' accomplished something similar?

Jonathan (Kennedy High - Richmond) Williams elected to cross the country and play at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. But that leaves out the story behind the story, or the backstory if you prefer. At a basketball camp back east long ago, Williams connected with the Hurley family of New Jersey hoops fame and, per Labagh, actually came close to attending St. Anthony High (Jersey City, NJ) and playing for now Hall of Fame Coach Bob Hurley. Williams now will be mentored by brothers Dan (head coach) and Bob Hurley (assistant coach and the former Dookie) who run the Wagner basketball program. The Seahawks play in the Northeast Conference.

Collin (Archbishop Mitty High) Chiverton is still undecided as recruiting interest in him has been displayed by Nebraska, Texas Tech, Eastern Washington and Gardner Webb.

High-flying Fred Sturdivant was born in The City, left just before high school for Tennessee but came back here to play JC ball as a sophomore and now is headed to Coach Tony Harvey's Texas Southern hoops program in Houston. He was the CCSF fan favorite and one of very few players ever who was on a championship team both years of his community college tenure (he also won one while at Walters State College in Tennessee as a freshman).

Darryl (Sacred Heart Cathedral) Cooper looks set to be at Lethbridge College, in Alberta, Canada, next season. He'll be playing for Coach Skouson Harker.

That's a ton of talent departing but rebuild isn't in the CCSF basketball vocabulary. Reload, yes. In a few months, we should know the 2011-2012 roster for the Rams.