Bucket List for Recruits

Kevin McCarthy
 

It’s generally offered in a context of uber-achievement with maybe a side of envy that certain basketball programs -- the Dukes, the North Carolinas, the Kansas’ and the like -- don’t rebuild, they reload. Within the California community college ranks, Justin Labagh’s basketball program at City College of San Francisco (CCSF) fits within that category. Despite graduating around 20 players to the D-1 ranks and at least 10 more to the D-2 level during his tenure, Labagh’s Rams remain the Big Dog of the north.

Let’s see what happened for CCSF this past season and view at least the inklings of what 2010-2011 looks like -- all through the lens of the bevy of recent local prep basketballers who have donned the Ram uniform.

Departures

Here is who is moving on from a 28-5 overall, 9-3 conference play CCSF squad, one that fell 63-57 in the state championship game against Saddleback.

• Glue guy Calvin Douglas, 6-foot-3 190, (Antioch High) enjoyed a successful season and now is on scholarship at San Jose State University. His shooting ability, defensive effort and steadying influence came through big time despite his season not really starting until January due to blood clots in his lungs. How much did he want to play for Labagh? Try this as a measuring stick: Douglas took BART to CCSF, coming all the way from Antioch on a daily basis. There’s a BART stop just across the street from the school.
• Bennie Rhodes, 6-foot-6, 185, (Castlemont High) recently decided to walk-on at Fresno State, and the Bulldog fans on the various message boards are ecstatic about his arrival. The wing/shooting guard averaged 14.2 points per game last season and he netted 52 treys.
• Da’Ron Sims, 6-foot-4, 210, (McClymonds High) has landed at West Georgia of the Gulf South Conference. He is someone who plays bigger than his actual size and Sims also represents a great story of redemption -- from high school dropout to heralded community college player on his way to earning a degree. His 11.7 points per game will be missed but equally will his fierce court demeanor be hard to replace.
• Tyler Brown, 6-foot-1, 195, (St. Joseph Notre Dame High) is no longer a Ram -- he’s graduated into Gator-hood as new San Francisco State Coach Paul Trevor liked what he saw and offered.
• Chris White, 6-foot-5, 200, (Kennedy High) has just made his decision and will be attending the University of Montevallo a D-2 school just south of Birmingham, Alabama -- one with five appearances in the NCAA tournament in the past seven seasons.
• Steven Brown, 6-foot-7, 190, (Palo Alto High) suffered a violent concussion late in the season and still hasn’t been cleared to play -- the shooter who possesses great length looks to be heading to San Francisco State.

Newcomers

With more to come, here’s the top newbie:

The biggest name is 6-foot-5 Collin Chiverton, the ex-Mitty star who redshirted a season at St. Mary’s and then played last season at Salt Lake Community College. As a Bruin, he played 19.8 minutes a game, averaging 14.7 points a contest (153-392 39% overall shooting, 74-216 34% on treys, 89-107 83% at the foul line). The former West Catholic Athletic league and CCS Player of the Year and first-team All-State selection needs to become more selective/efficient with his shooting as 55% of his attempts came from long distance. Establishing a mid-range and dribble-drive component to his game would enhance his effectiveness and also improve his 2.4 rebounds a game totals.

Returnees

Three big-time talents eventually headed to D-1 are again donning a Ram jersey:

• Jonathan Williams, 6-foot-6, 225, (Kennedy High) provides power and versatility, as can can handle the contact in the paint and also stay on balance with his dribble-drives. He made the 2010 All Tournament Team in the final four of California’s community colleges.
• Deend Parker, 6-foot-5, 210, (Lincoln High) possesses the top ceiling of any of the Rams and can play the most positions -- point, two guard and wing. Extremely athletic, he’s strong and quick -- more proficiency outside will only enhance his list of college suitors.
• Daryl Cooper, 6-0, 185, (Sacred Heart Cathedral) is receiving some D-1 looks as he certainly had his moments last season.

Earlier this month, aided by playing with 6-foot-10 Casey Arent (Del Oro High) and 6-foot-2 Darell Johnson (Burbank High), both of Sierra College, Chiverton, Williams and Parker teamed up to beat junior college teams from Texas and Utah but did fall to Kansas at the Jerry Mullens Top 120 Camp in Tulsa.

A major plus working in Labagh’s favor is the new $84 million Community Health and Wellness Center erected on campus. It has features equaling that of a lot of D-1 programs.

Labagh has a required study hall for his players -- unusual for some in the community college ranks but a D-1 mainstay. He also makes use of videotape: "we watch tape before practice." This is something picked up from his time at Indiana while on Bob Knight’s staff.

Labagh did lose a lot of firepower and athleticism -- that’s par for the course in the community college ranks. But a matter-of-fact ”don’t cry for me Coast Conference North opponents” warning is unnecessary from him because the opposing coaches know Labagh and CCSF will be back up at the top again in 2010-2011.