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 NJCAA men's headlines
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Mon, 12 May 2008 10:41:00 MST
FORMER SAINT ADAM TANNER SIGNS WITH BRISBANE BULLETS IN NBL
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LIBERAL, Kansas (May 12, 2008) - Former Seward County Community College men's basketball player Adam Tanner has signed a two-year professional contract with the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League in Australia. Tanner, a former Jayhawk West All-Conference selection in 2005-06, completed his collegiate career this season with the Denver University Pioneers, who compete in the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference. Tanner, a 6-foot-9 forward, was a two-year starter for the Saints helping lead SCCC to a 45-18 overall record from 2004-2006. Tanner becomes the 15th Seward County men's basketball player to play professional basketball. Tanner started in 63 games for the Saints in two seasons. He shot .537 percent from the field, .720 percent from the free throw line, and he averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Tanner led the Saints with a 15.1 scoring average during his sophomore season, and he was the team's leading rebounder tallying 5.9 boards per game as a freshman. He began his sophomore season being named an Honorable Mention NJCAA Pre-Season All-American. As a sophomore, Tanner scored in double figures 27 times, grabbed at least five rebounds in 25 contests and posted nine double-doubles. In 2005-2006, Tanner was named First Team Jayhawk West All-Conference and Honorable Mention NJCAA All-Region VI. Tanner started in all 30 games this past season for DU who finished 11-19 overall. He ranked second on the team averaging 10.8 points per game, and he averaged 3.6 rebounds along with 26 three-point field goals. He led the team with 86 assists and averaged 34.2 minutes played per game. The Brisbane Bullets will inherit the multi-talented Tanner next season. The Bullets are currently in third place in the NBL standings with a 30-20 overall record. The NBL has 13 teams which include the Adelaide 36ers, Brisbane Bullets, Cairns Taipans, Gold Coast Blaze, Melbourne Tigers, New Zealand Breakers, Perth Wildcats, Singapore Slingers, South Dragons, Sydney Kings, Townsville Crocodiles, West Sydney Razorbacks and Wollongong Hawks. FORMER SAINTS TO PLAY PROFFESIONAL BASKETBALL:
Player (Career at SCCC)
Alex Adedrian (2001-2003) Donnell Allick (2002-2003) Jamal Brown (1999-2001) Tony Brown (1997-1999) Brandon Carter (2000-2002) Brandon Gay (2002-2003) Devonne Giles (2001-2003) Dennis Harris (1998-2000) Thaydeus Holden (2000-2001) Kevin Houston ((1996-1998) Martin Lewis (1994-1995) Rashon Mickens (1995-1997) Melvin Sanders (1999-2000) Marlon Sears (1996-1998) Adam Tanner (2004-2006) For more information on Saints Basketball check out their official website @ http://athletics.sccc.edu/mbbnews.html SCOTT LACEFIELD
Seward County Community College
Sports Information Director
1801 N. Kansas Ave
Liberal, KS. 67901
Office: (620) 417-1553
Fax: (620) 417-1599 Athletics Website : http://athletics.sccc.edu/
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Tue, 06 May 2008 07:47:00 MST
Boise State gets `Imadimatic'
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Matadors' NJCAA All-American forward Imadiyi signs letter of intent with Broncos
Yuma, Arizona - May 5, 2008 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that AWC Men's Basketball player Sean Imadiyi has signed an official letter of intent to attend Boise State University and play basketball for the Broncos this fall. Imadiyi is the second Matador sophomore men's basketball player to sign with a 4-year college this season after Mehdi Cheriet signed with San Diego State University in November. The announcement comes just under two months after Imadiyi finished his Matador Basketball career.
While it is always a joy for Matador fans to see their favorite players achieve the ultimate goal of completing their college education and their basketball careers at a top NCAA Division I school, this has to be a little bittersweet for diehard fans, since they only enjoyed watching Imadiyi for one season. After spending his freshman season playing sparingly at the University of New Mexico , Imadiyi decided to return to his home state of Arizona and attend AWC. From there, Imadiyi's game took off and made him the focus of the Matadors' offense all season long. Nicknamed `Imadimatic' because of his uncanny ability to finish plays, Sean easily won the ACCAC Field Goal Shooting title-leading that category from start to finish this past season, finishing with a field goal percentage of 71%. That mark was nearly 8 percentage points higher than anyone else despite putting up more shots (279) than any other player in the ACCAC Top 5 in that category. The Mesa , Arizona native's 16.8-points-per-game average put him 8 th -best in the conference in scoring, and he was among the league leaders in rebounding (6.1 per game) and blocked shots (1.2 per game). "Sean has been a pleasure to coach this year and exceeded all of our expectations," said AWC Men's Head Basketball Coach Kelly Green. "His character and maturity-on and off the floor-were keys to our team's success this season. His game is based on efficiency. His 71% field goal accuracy is astonishing, especially considering he led us in scoring and minutes played. I only wish that we could have him for another year." Imadiyi's last appearance as a Matador happens 11 days from now when he participates in AWC Commencement activities May 16 th at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Imadiyi picks a perfect time to join the Boise State University men's basketball program, since the Broncos come off their finest season ever. Boise State won 25 games-the most in school history, and win #25 was possibly the most exciting Western Athletic Conference Championship Game in the WAC's history: a triple-overtime 107-102 win over New Mexico State . That victory propelled them to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 14 years. The Broncos' 5 th -year head coach expects Imadiyi to make an immediate impact in several ways. "Sean is a long athletic four-man who runs the floor very well and can really finish around the basket," said Boise State Men's Head Basketball Coach Greg Graham said in a BSU press release. "He is also a very good defender who understands how to play and will fit into our system very well."
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Tue, 06 May 2008 07:46:00 MST
Marcelo `Pioneers' his way to Texas
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Matadors' 3-year center signs letter of intent with NAIA power Wayland Baptist
Yuma, Arizona - May 5, 2008 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that AWC Men's Basketball player Marcelo Da Silva has signed an official letter of intent to attend Wayland Baptist University and play basketball for the Pioneers this fall. Da Silva is the 3 rd Matador sophomore frontliner to determine his four-year future this season, following the leads of Mehdi Cheriet (San Diego State University) and Sean Imadiyi (Boise State University).
A program like Wayland Baptist-which just secured its 14 th NAIA Tournament berth two months ago-looks for battle-tested players to continue that winning tradition, and they'll certainly be getting that with the signing of Da Silva. The native of Miguelopolis , Brazil , has been a part of three postseason teams while at AWC-including seeing significant playing time in Hutchinson , Kansas during the Matadors' last NJCAA Tournament appearance in 2006. Da Silva arrived in Yuma in August of 2005 ready to battle it out with fellow Brazilian Edvaldo Lima for the Matadors' vacant starting center spot. They wound up both splitting time in that spot, with Da Silva starting 18 of the Matadors' 35 contests during the 2005-06 season. Marcelo's seven-foot presence in the middle was a huge difference for AWC as they reached the national tournament for the 2 nd straight season as he averaged 3.7 rebounds per contest.
Knowing that both centers were returning in 2006-07 and both were potential starters, AWC Men's Head Basketball Coach Kelly Green thought Da Silva would benefit the most from a redshirt season. He was right. The sophomore 7-footer worked hard during his redshirt season last year on the practice floor and in the classroom, and the improvement was obvious to Matador fans when Da Silva first stepped on the floor this past November. Da Silva started many of the Matadors' early-season games this season before a shoulder injury forced him to the sideline for two weeks. However, Marcelo still played in 23 of the Matadors' 29 games this season, getting 7 starts overall. Da Silva's bench presence was a big help down the stretch this season in helping lead the Matadors to their fifth straight Region I Championship appearance. "Marcelo has been a very important part of the Matador program the last 3 years," remarked Green. "From where he started to where he is today is amazing. We are very excited for Marcelo to have this opportunity to continue his education at one of the top NAIA programs in the country. Wayland will be getting a tough minded competitor who only knows how to give it his all."
Da Silva officially becomes a Wayland Baptist Pioneer next fall. That was certainly a good thing to be this past season as the Pioneers reached the second round of the 2008 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Championship . It will also be a great opportunity for Da Silva to make a difference immediately (like his first preseason at AWC), since the center position is currently vacant after NAIA All-American Danny Storey will graduate later this month.
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Thu, 01 May 2008 15:00:00 MST
Former Chipola Indian Wins NBAD League Championship
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Taylor scores 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists in 28 minutes
by Matthew Brennan, D-League.com
Chipola Men's Hoops Online
Box Score
Mike Taylor had just scored 27 points to lead the Idaho Stampede to the 2008 D-League Championship, but he still had plenty of energy after the game while he led the cutting down of the nets in Qwest Arena. The 6-2 guard, who has been of the league's best players that came off the bench this season, found it hard to express his emotions after winning a title to put an exclamation point on his first professional season.
"It feels really good, it feels wonderful," said Taylor as he put on a D-League Champions hat and t-shirt. "I've never been in a championship situation like this before, and to come in during my first professional season and win a championship kind of captures everything all at once. I'm so excited, I am kind of speechless right now."
Taylor 's coach and teammates were quick to give him credit for the major contribution he made in bringing a D-League championship to Idaho .
"The one thing about Mike is that he is feisty and always on a positive note," said Stampede coach Bryan Gates. "He just keeps going and going, he never feels like we are out of it, and he never feels that he is out of it. He thinks he can make a play every day of the week."
"Mike came in earlier in the season when we had that open spot for a backcourt point guard. He came in right away and showed that he can help the team out and he has been a great player for all us all season," added Taylor 's teammate Brent Petway .
In Friday's deciding Game Three, Taylor put on his best shooting performance of the season, connecting on seven of his ten attempts from three-point range to lead Idaho in a 108-101 win over the Austin Toros. It was the perfect setting for Taylor, who is known as an outstanding slasher and dunker, to show that he can shoot the ball as well. He felt that his success on Friday was a combination of his teammates finding him while open and the momentum that came from making his first few attempts.
"I was getting good looks too," said Taylor . "But after I hit about the first couple of shots I was feeling good. It's just kind of unexplainable."
The Stampede had returned home with their backs to the wall after losing Game One in Austin , but the league's best team at home this season used the raucous Idaho crowd to help spur them to victories in Games Two and Three. Taylor was quick to credit the Stampede fans for helping him and his teammates find the energy to come back from the brink of elimination.
"The crowd here in Boise has been wonderful for both nights," said Taylor . "Myself personally, I'm an energy player and I feed off of what the crowd is doing. It was so dramatic tonight that it just felt wonderful playing out there."
Now that the 2007-08 D-League season is in the books, Taylor will move on to the next step of his professional basketball career. Taylor did not declare for the 2007 NBA Draft after leaving Iowa State last season, so he is actually eligible for this years' NBA Draft. He will attend Pre-Draft Camp with the hopes of becoming the first D-League player to every be drafted by the NBA. He hopes that his great performance in a championship situation on Friday will open the eyes of potential NBA suitors. Whether or not his name is called in June, Taylor was quick to credit his season in the D-League with preparing him to play on an NBA level.
"I don't know right now, but hopefully I will get some calls telling me that was a great performance," said Taylor . "Hopefully when I go to the draft camp in Orlando that I can boost my stock even more."
"Playing here definitely gets me ready for the NBA," continued Taylor . "It's the next best thing to the NBA, and here I competed and I think I showed everybody what I am capable of doing. The D-League really helped me show everyone my potential."
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Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:57:00 MST
NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year Awards
Untitled Document COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 15, 2008) -- The NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association has announced their annual Coach of the Year selections for each division of play. This year's awards go to Steve Green of South Plains College (Texas), Steve Schmidt of Mott Community College (Mich.) and Tim McGraw of North Lake College (Texas). Division I Coach of the Year  South Plains College (Texas) head coach Steve Green earns this year's NJCAA Division I Coach of the Year honors after leading the Texans (30-5) to a 67-56 win over Salt Lake Community College (Utah) in this year's title game in Hutchinson, Kan. Green led his team to an improbable run to the title after placing fourth in the regular season standings of the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC). The Texans proceeded to win the Region 5 Men's Basketball Tournament and four grueling games in four days at the Division I National Tournament to win the school's first-ever national championship in basketball. In eight years at South Plains, Green has led the Texans to an impressive 204-55 (.788) record and three WJCAC titles (2002, 03, 07) and three Region 5 championships (2002, 03, 08). Green's squads have advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament three times and have participated in four Region 5 championship games. In 2006, Green reached a coaching milestone when he picked up his 300th career win. The SPC head coach has an overall record of 346-95 (.785) in 14 years as a head coach. Green has coached three different schools to WJCAC championships (Howard, Midland and South Plains) and has twice been named WJCAC Coach of the Year. His coaching career began at the NCAA level. He worked as an assistant at Arkansas, Lamar and Houston. He made his NJCAA debut in 1988 at Howard College. Green received his Bachelor's degree from Oklahoma Christian College and his Master's degree in education and kinesiology from Sul Ross State University. He played basketball and tennis at Oklahoma Christian College. Division II Coach of the Year
 Head coach Steve Schmidt earns Division II Coach of the Year honors for the third time in four seasons (2002-03, 06-07, 07-08). Schmidt led Mott Community College (35-2) to their second-straight NJCAA Division II title this season with an 83-72 victory over Columbus State Community College (Ohio) in this year's championship game in Danville, Ill. Schmidt has a dominant .870 (20-3) winning percentage in the Division II National Tournament and his Mott program is the only NJCAA Division II member college to play in five national championship games, winning the title in 2003, 07 and 08, and runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2004. In 17 seasons, Schmidt's overall record with the Bears is an amazing 449-110 (.803), which is the most career wins in school history. Mott has posted an incredible record of 223-38 (.854) in Michigan Community College Athletic Association Western Division play under his direction.
Schmidt has led the Bears to 13 consecutive seasons with 25 or more wins. The Bears have also won 10 conference championships, six state titles, and six Region 12 championships. He has also sent over 50 student-athletes on to four-year institutions to continue their careers. Known for his player development, Schmidt has coached three NJCAA Division II Players of the Year (Jay Youngblood - '04, Kevin Tiggs - '07 and Jeremie Simmons - '08) and 12 All-Americans.
A native of Lansing, Mich., Schmidt graduated from the Central Michigan University. Division III Coach of the Year
 In his 11th season at the helm of the North Lake College (Texas) basketball program, Tim McGraw led the Blazers (19-15) to their second Division III National Championship in three years (2006 and 2008) with a 73-70 defeat of Joliet Junior College (Ill.) in the 2008 Division III title game in Delhi, N.Y. McGraw has a 94-48 record (.662) during his tenure at North Lake, capturing four Region 5 titles, six Metro Athletic Conference Championships and three Metro Athletic Conference Tournament Championships. The Blazers have appeared in four Division III National Tournaments, winning two titles and finishing fourth twice. McGraw earned Texas Junior College Coach of the Year honors in 2006 and was named NJCAA Division III District 3 Coach of the Year in 2000. He has coached 14 All-Region 5 performers, two first-team All-Americans, two Division III National Tournament MVP's and one Division III Player of the Year (Chris Agwumaro, 2006). McGraw has coached 15 years in the NJCAA with an overall record of 217-218. His first NJCAA head coaching job was at Southern Baptist College (Ark.) where he led the program from 1985-89. A former collegiate player at John Brown University, McGraw played on four Christian missionary teams in the 1980's that made stops in the Philippines, Germany, Austria, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
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Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:56:00 MST
NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year Awards
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 15, 2008) -- The NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association has announced their annual Player of the Year selections for each division of play. This year's awards go to Devron Bostick of Southwestern Illinois College, Jeremie Simmons of Mott Community College (Mich.) and Bertram McDowell of Sullivan County Community College (N.Y.).
Division I Player of the Year
 Former two-time Wisconsin high school player of the year Devron Bostick (Guard) helped make history this season at Southwestern Illinois College. His superb play helped keep the Blue Storm in the Top 20 of the NJCAA Division I Basketball Poll throughout the entire season, including a No. 4 ranking during week seven and eight of the season, which marked the highest ranking in program history.
The Racine, Wisc., native led SWIC in scoring with 18.2 points per game and posted 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest. He also recorded 81 steals this year. For the second consecutive year, Bostick was voted Region 24 Player of the Year after leading the Blue Storm to a 28-5 record and a second place finish in the league.
Bostick, who has signed a letter of intent with the University of Minnesota, earned First-Team NJCAA All-American honors this season and was a Second-Team NJCAA All-American selection as a freshman after averaging 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
Division II Player of the Year
 Jeremie Simmons (Guard) was an integral part of Mott Community College's back-to-back Division II National Championships in 2007 and 2008. In his two seasons at Mott, Simmons helped lead the Bears to an incredible record of 70-5.
The 2008 season was a special one for the Chicago, Ill., native. He was named a First-Team NJCAA All-American as well as Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) and Region 12 Player of the Year after averaging 21.1 points, which ranked 11th in Division II, and 3.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest. He shot 48.2 percent from the field and 42.2 percent from the three-point line.
Simmons is a two-time All-MCCAA and All-Region 12 performer and was MCCAA Freshman of the Year in 2007.
Simmons has yet to sign with a four-year institution, but is being heavily recruited by South Florida, Alabama, Ohio State, Dayton, Butler and Valparaiso.
This is the second straight year a Mott player has earned Division II Player of the Year honors. Kevin Tiggs, now playing at the East Tennessee State University, took home the honors last season.
Division III Player of the Year
 Bertram "BJ" McDowell (Guard) was one of the only returning players this season off of Sullivan County Community College's 2007 undefeated Division III National Championship team for head coach Chris DePew this season. McDowell stepped up as the leader of the Generals, averaging 24.7 points (3rd in Division III), 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
The New Windsor, N.Y., native was a pre-season NJCAA All-American heading into the season and finished the year with Basketball Coaches Association of New York and Region 15 Player of the Year honors. The 2008 season saw McDowell set Sullivan school records for career three-pointers made (179) and three-pointers made in a season (109). He also finished his career ranked second in scoring at Sullivan with 1,101 points, making him just the fourth player in school history to break the 1,000 point mark.
In 2007, McDowell was the second-leading scorer on the Generals undefeated national title team with 15.6 points per contest. He was All-Region 15 selection and was named to both the Region 15 and Division III All-Tournament teams.
A leader not only on the court, but also in the classroom, McDowell was a NJCAA Distinguished Academic All-American last year with a 3.84 GPA and was honored with the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence. He was also Region 15's Scholar Athlete of the Year for 2007.
This is the second year in a row that a Sullivan basketball player has received Division III Player of the Year honors. Last season, Jason Johnson took the honors. Johnson now attends and plays basketball at South Carolina State.
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