By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information
Springfield, Ohio---Sinclair Community College has been picked to repeat as the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) men's basketball conference champions following the release of the 2016-17 preseason coaches vote.
Sinclair, which went 28-3 overall and 13-1 in conference play and captured the OCCAC's regular season championship for the first time since 2007-08 last year, garnered five first place votes and had a 1.67 predicted average finish. Owens Community College picked up three first place votes and averaged a 2.67 finish, and Columbus State Community College received the other first place vote and averaged a 3.56 finish.
Rounding out the predicted order of finish are: Cuyahoga Community College (4.22), Lakeland Community College (4.56), Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (4.67), Edison Community College (7.33), Lorain County Community College (7.78) and Clark State Community College (8.56).
Top 3
This year's Sinclair squad returns 6-9 redshirt sophomore forward Akiean Frederick, who earned All-OCCAC recognition last year. Head coach Jeff Price said that Frederick has already received several mid-major NCAA Division I offers this fall. He averaged 14 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last year, including a team-high 16.9 points per contest in league play.
Not only does Sinclair return Frederick, but Price has brought in a talented group of newcomers including 6-0 point guard Jordan Kinney, who was First Team All-West Virginia in football and basketball; 6-0 point guard Jordan Lewis, who led Lexington (Ky.) to a state championship; 6-2 Ty Gibson, who was First Team All-Ohio; 6-4 Jaquan Harrison, who was an NCAA Division I commit out of high school; 6-3 transfer Dwayne Chastain; 6-4 transfer Quinton Chames; and 6-7 LiDonta Hicks-Gentry from Fort Wayne, Ind.
"We added much needed size to our backcourt with the additions of Kinney, Lewis and Gibson," Price said. "Our front court also got stronger with Akiean having a great summer and the additions of Chames, Hicks-Gentry and 6-8 Kyle Freytag. This team will be more explosive and better defensively."
Owens, meanwhile, finished 18-13 overall last year and 9-5 in OCCAC play, which was good for a third place tie with Lakeland. The team's streak of four straight district championship game appearances came to an end, and head coach Dave Clarke brought in an influx of talent this offseason. Headlining this year's recruiting class are three NCAA Division I mid-major talent transfers, and the team returns an NCAA mid-major talent in 6-5 wing Derrik Jamerson Jr., who averaged 14.2 points and 6.9 rebounds overall last year, including a 41.4 percent finish from 3-point range. The three transfers are 6-7 forward Jaylen Tucker, 6-5 wing Jalen Huff and 6-6 wing Shondell Jackson.
Owens also returns a pair of point guards in 6-1 Roy Hatchett Jr. and 6-2 Ty'Rese Searles, and brought in a solid freshman class including players such as 6-6 forward Rico Stafford and 6-8 forward Luke Mayer.
Columbus State, which finished 25-8 overall and 10-4 in the league last year, finished second in regular season conference play, but knocked off Edison, Lakeland and Cuyahoga in last year's Region XII District 11 tournament and finished eighth at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. This year, the team joins Lorain County as one of the league's two NJCAA Division III teams.
The team's top returner is Rodney Willis, who averaged 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last year, including 15.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in conference play. The team's top newcomer is Mario Young, a 6-3 guard/forward from Mansfield Senior.
The Others
Cuyahoga, picked to finish fourth in the conference this year, finished 19-14 overall and 7-7 (5th place) in the conference last year. The team returns 6-5 forward Cortez Allen, and its top newcomer is 6-6 forward Quintin Dove, who committed to NCAA Division I Rider University out of high school.
Lakeland, picked to finish fifth after finishing 18-13 overall and 9-5 in OCCAC play, didn't name any top returners or newcomers while submitting its preseason info. The team is looking to go old-school this year.
"Lakeland will return to its oldest form of style," said head coach Terry Bowe. "We will feature a very athletic guard/wing oriented offense and defense that prides itself on the ability to shoot the ball, play fast and defend."
Cincinnati State, picked to finish sixth after finishing 14-17 overall and 3-11 in OCCAC play last year, will return Grover Anderson, who led the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game two years ago before suffering a season-ending injury in the preseason. He will be assisted by top newcomer Lindsey Hunter.
Edison, picked to finish seventh after finishing 12-19 overall and 3-11 in OCCAC play last year, brings in a new coach, returns four and features 11 newcomers, including transfer guard Dae'Shawn Jackson, who averaged 9.4 points and 3.9 assists per game for Owens last year. Among the returners are 6-9 center Dusty Poteet (3.9 PPG), as well as Chris Landrum (9.1 PPG), AJ Hickman (4.0 PPG) and JaQuan Dangerfield (4.7 PPG).
"We have several new faces who make the coaching staff very hopeful," said head coach Rick Hickman. "As the season quickly approaches, only time will tell which of them will step up to play major roles in the Charger program."
Lorain County, led by head coach Marty Eggleston, was picked to finish eighth in the conference after a 12-18 overall and 2-12 finish in conference play last year. They did not submit any preseason player information.
Clark State, which was picked to finish ninth after going 6-23 last year, enters its first official season as conference members in several years after spending last year as probationary members. This year's team will feature six returners from last year, including 6-7 post James Bailey Jr. (6.3 PPG) and 6-5 swingman Thorne Stephens (1.8 PPG). The team's top newcomer is 5-11 point guard Caleb Moore from Emanuel Christian High School.
"The players returning are hard working and have shown improvement over the summer," said head coach Karlton Clayborne. "We will be a gritty, defensive team that will compete for 40 minutes."
Entering the league this year as probationary members is Hocking College.
The 2016-17 men's basketball season kicks off Nov. 1 with four games as Columbus State hosts the University of Rio Grande, Hocking travels to Ohio University - Chillocothe, Cincinnati State hosts Ohio State University's club team and Owens travels to Mercyhurst North East. Edison and Lakeland open up the following today, and Cuyahoga opens up Nov. 4-5.
The 2016-17 conference season officially starts on Dec. 10 with four games.