2001-2002 CUNY Men's Basketball Preview

Staten Island & John Jay Tabbed As Favorites

Everyone wants to know if there will be parity in the CUNY Athletic Conference this year. Is that the right term for a conference that had its eighth-seeded team win the tournament last season and advance to the NCAA Championship? It may be that others will begin to notice an overall strength in the conference, one that no longer looks to the same two or three teams as the cream of the crop. In any case, the CUNYAC men's basketball league may well be the strongest it has been in over a decade as the battle for the NCAA automatic berth has already begun - albeit a bit prematurely - in November.

Defending champion CCNY should only get better. As good as Staten Island usually is, the Dolphins haven't been this good since Rob Roesch ruled the paint in the late 1980s. And those Cougars at Medgar Evers? Yes, the Cougars - on the prowl and extremely dangerous. The York Cardinals and their domination of the 1990s will be put to a severe test despite the return of several big men, including Quincy Oudkerk. What about the John Jay Bloodhounds? Are they ready to jump over the top? Let's get to it, starting with the South Division.

College of Staten Island coach Tony Petosa knows that his team is the one everyone is pointing to as the preseason favorite and for all the right reasons. The Dolphins (18-10), who lost in the CUNYAC title game last season to upstart CCNY, return six of their top seven players and add a very talented recruiting class to the mix, making them a marked team. Preseason All-American and returning CUNYAC Player of the Year David Paul (Lafayette / Brooklyn, NY) and his 19.2 ppg and 63% shooting percentage, leads the charge in his final campaign with a stellar supporting cast that includes guards Kassim Nesbitt (New Utrecht / Brooklyn, NY) and Champ Albano (St. Peter's / Staten Island, NY), forwards Eric Andres (St. Peter's Prep / Clifton, NJ) and Stanley Etheridge (St. Peter's / Staten Island, NY), and center Mike Alfieri (Tottenville / Staten Island, NY). Throw in talented newcomers in guard Michael Stewart (Westinghouse / Brooklyn, NY), forward Mike Nebevlakis (F.D. Roosevelt / Brooklyn, NY), and center John Smith (Bayside / Queens, NY), and it's hard to overlook the loaded Dolphins. But it's defense that wins games for CSI and of huge importance to coach Petosa.

"Any success we have will be because our defense will be as good or better than it was last year," said Petosa of a team that held opponents to just 62.6 points per game. But the veteran coach is keenly aware of the hazards on the road. "The other CUNY teams are very talented. They always have a chance of beating you, but I'd be a little disappointed if we didn't feel we have unfinished business."

York College was a CUNYAC Tournament finalist for six straight years before falling victim to the CCNY "Cinderella" story in last season's semifinals. Nevertheless, talented squads have been a staple of coach Ron St. John and his Cardinals for years. This season is no different, especially in the frontcourt where the Cardinals boast five players at 6'6" or taller, a rarity on the Division III level. Leading the way will be senior center Quincy Oudkerk (Jamaica / Queens, NY) along with the backcourt of Jason Daniel (Wingate / Brooklyn, NY) and Roberto Tapia (Campus Magnet / Queens Village, NY). Kenneth Newton (Wareham / Queens, NY), a 6'8" center, will lend his experience to the squad while sophomore cousins Michael (Albany / Jamaica, NY) and Khama Thompson (John Bowne / Jamaica, NY) will see plenty of time at the forward slots. Coach's son Brandon St. John (Bergtraum / Brooklyn, NY) is an all-around presence who brings intensity and excellent defense. Still, York will rely on Oudkerk to lead the way.

"I think he has the fire," said St. John, now in his 14th year coaching his alma mater. "He realizes there is no tomorrow and he's been more intense recently than he has been in three years, combined." York (14-12) hopes that the fire will be there from the beginning as the Cardinals traditionally start off slow and get rolling in January.

Medgar Evers College has been a huge enigma over the years, but the puzzle has been solved this year with another stellar recruiting class by coach Robert Holford. Sullivan CC Malik Copeland (Mabel Dean Bacon / Brooklyn, NY), a 6'1" junior, headlines the newcomers with his explosive scoring ability. He is supplemented by two other transfers in 6'3 Jebah Clayton from FIT (Robeson / Brooklyn, NY) and 6'7" senior Khalil Nixon from Xavier University (Boys & Girls / Brooklyn, NY). Freshman import Alex Colon (Agustin Zamora / Caracas, Venezuela) adds sharp shooting to a team that seems to have everything else. The Cougars (10-14) also return plenty of size with 6'7" Henry Jamison (M.L. King / Brooklyn, NY), 6'6 Marcus Benjamin (Vessigny / Port of Spain, Trinidad), and 6'0" guard Steven Chase (Middle College / Brooklyn, NY).

Clearly the hard work is paying off on Carroll Street with the Cougars seeking a trip to the CUNYAC final for the first time since 1991 when they went on to capture the ECAC title.

Brooklyn College (4-21) is hopeful that a youth movement will lead to success after a tough year. Although Daniel Weismuller (Madison / Brooklyn, NY) returns in the frontcourt, the remainder of the squad will be new, led by point guard T.J. Byrnes (Moore Catholic / Staten Island, NY) and 6'5 forward Shakespeare Thomas (Midwood / Brooklyn, NY). Sean Wallace (Holy Cross / Queens, NY) is expected to complement Byrnes in the backcourt. The uptempo Bridges, coached by Steve Podias, will use their youth to full advantage with pressing defense and transition offense.

New York City Tech (6-18) looks to improve in the win column this year with a more seasoned group of players, which includes CUNYAC Rookie of the Year Sam Deadwyler (Sarah J. Hale / Brooklyn, NY). The explosive sophomore led the conference in scoring last season at 20.6 ppg, although he is expected to get some help this year. Junior guard Jeff Thomas (Canarsie / Brooklyn, NY) returns after a year off while sophomore center Kwesi Joseph (Truman / Bronx, NY) shores up the middle. The Yellow Jackets are looking to turn the corner, and nothing less is expected under coach Ray Amalbert.

It's a good thing that conference coaches vote in the preseason poll as the selections get harder each year, particularly in the North Division. Baruch has been the perennial power and won the division again last year That all went out the window, though, when the fifth-place finisher, CCNY won the conference tournament. In 2001-02 however, it is the John Jay Bloodhounds that were tabbed as the preseason winners.

John Jay College has been a team on the rise in each of the first two years under coach Guy Rancourt. Now may be a good time to get them over the hump. In his rookie campaign the team lost in the CUNYAC quarterfinals, then followed up with a semifinal exit last season. What will be different this time around? Will they take the next step?

The Bloodhounds return four starters from last year's 14-12 team, including senior point guard Marcos Duran (Roosevelt / New York, NY), who will orchestrate the offense. His classmates, 6'4" Howard Hutchinson (Hillcrest / St. Albans, NY) and 6'7" centers Vyne Johnson (Hempstead / New Orleans, LA) and Asher Matthews (South Shore / Brooklyn, NY) are expected to lead by example and get John Jay to its first CUNYAC final since 1990. Returnees David Barry (Molloy / Queens, NY) and David Myrie (Phillips Academy / Queens, NY) will also figure in the scoring mix.

"We want to make progress each and every season, and the next step forward is to make it to the final," said Rancourt. "Having a senior-heavy class for the first time, I fully expect us to make the postseason." Despite his confidence, and that of his peers, Rancourt is aware of the pitfalls which include Ray Rankis' ability to mold a winner at Baruch each year and Andy Stampfel's achievements at CCNY that have turned his team into an instant contender.

Baruch College has the one intangible that other CUNY schools often wished they had - a stable and consistent winner. That in large part falls in the hands of their mentor Ray Rankis who, in his 19th season, could be described in the same manner. But the Rankis magic will be put to a severe test with the graduation of two vital cogs in the Statesmen machine - forward Dave Thomas and point guard Oliver Verzosa.

Although grad student and CUNYAC All-Star forward Lou Pento (New Dorp / Staten Island, NY) is expected to join the team mid-year, Baruch has many new faces that it needs to count upon immediately. Frontcourt duo of 6'5" Shaun Appelbaum (Xaverian / Brooklyn, NY) and 6'7" Sime Marnika (Molloy / Queens, NY) are expected to start immediately while sophomore guard Ernie Capello (Adelphi Academy / Brooklyn, NY) gets the point guard responsibilities and veteran John Alesi (Xaverian / Staten Island, NY) should fill the scoring void after averaging 10.3 points per game last year. Senior Jameek Morris (Grady / Brooklyn, NY) should round out the starting five with sophomore Gary Etienne (Holy Cross / South Ozone Park, NY) getting quality minutes.

The CCNY Beavers won't be able to sneak up on anyone this year. After an incredible run that saw CCNY win their first CUNYAC title since 1980 as the #8 seed, everyone is on guard and ready to face the defending champions. Coach Andy Stampfel returns four starters from that squad, including the backcourt of Vernon Danzler (Richmond Hill / Queens, NY) and Aki Trent (Colorado NW / Mt. Vernon, NY) and the frontcourt of Neil Harewood (Foundation / Bridgetown, Barbados) and Obinna Efobi (Stuyvesant / Far Rockaway, NY). Missing is the heart and soul of that team, Ralph Perez, who graduated after earning CUNYAC Tournament MVP honors.

The four returnees are expected to fill the scoring void along with versatile 6'4" freshman Darryl France (Van Buren / Queens, NY) and guard Avain Guardine (Manhattan Center / New York, NY). St. Francis College transfer Eddie Caceres is expected to join the team mid-year and take over the reins of the team with his scoring and leadership."We are relying on some freshmen to contribute, with their success largely dictating our overall success," said third-year coach Stampfel.

Lehman College (17-8) comes off a very successful season in terms of number of victories, but certainly lacked the quality wins - those that count that much more in the playoffs. The relatively young 2001-02 version of the Lightning features juniors Jonathan Rojas (Walton / Bronx, NY) and his team-leading 13.2 points per game at guard, forward Mike Patrick (J.F. Kennedy / Bronx, NY) along with sophomore Marc Domin (Clinton / Bronx, NY) and talented newcomer Luis Chavez (San Gabriel, Dominican Republic). In seeking to build a consistent winner, coach Steve Schulman has scores of talented newcomers, including 6'6" sophomore forward Clayton Smith (B-H Path, South Carolina) and 5'10" guard Max Colin (Newtown / Queens, NY).

Hunter College (7-18) had a rough go of it last season, but the Hawks are ready to rebound. The optimism stems from the return of senior forward Darryl Munroe (16.3 points per game), a two-time CUNYAC All-Star. Hunter also returns guard Samir Pepic (Bryant / Long Island City, NY), swingman Jeremy Asgari (Hudson / Weehawken, NJ) and forward Volkan Eryaman (American / Tokyo, Japan) while adding several impact players. Junior forward Daniel Wuebben (Creighton Prep / Omaha, NE) leads the way after transferring from Saint Louis University along with sophomore point guard Lorcan Precious (Staples / Westport, CT) for Vermont. Coach Bill Healy is seeking a big turnaround in his third campaign, just in time for the Hawks to make some noise on the home floor during the 37th Annual CUNYAC / Con Edison Basketball Championships.