Alan Hoskins, Supervisor of Public Information
Friday, October 23, 2009
College Advancement
View 2009-10' Schedule
With the return of his top two scorers among five returning lettermen, Kansas City Kansas Community College Coach Jon Oler is ready for a return to the Jayhawk Conference elite.
Opening play comes Tuesday, Nov. 3, when the Blue Devils entertain Saint Mary’s JV in a doubleheader followed by the annual Keith Lindsey Classic against Haskell JV’s Friday at 8 p.m. and North Arkansas Saturday at 2 p.m.
Winner of 20 games in 2006 and 21 in 2007 – the most since the 1997-98 season – Oler addressed a need for size by adding five newcomers ranging in height from 6-5 to 6-10. “This is a good freshmen group which will complement our veterans,” says Oler, who is in his 11th season as head coach. “We have more returning experience, especially in the backcourt where guards are usually the team leaders. Also, all our returning players stayed around this summer, worked hard and added a lot of strength.”
The guards around whom Oler will be constructing his 2009-10 squad are Derick Denny, one of the most prolific perimeter shooters in KCKCC history; and point guard Melvin Gatson, a Sumner Academy product who finished among the Jayhawk leaders in assists.
Shooting a torrid 45.0 percent from three-point range, Denny’s 108 3-point goals tied for the lead in the Jayhawk and were the third most at KCKCC. A 6-4 guard from Green Bay, Wis., who averaged 13.3 points last year, Denny was at his best the last third of season when he nailed 55 3-pointers in the final 11 games despite frequent double teaming on defense. “Derick is the best shooter I’ve ever coached,” says Oler, who expects more double and triple teaming than ever this season. “He doesn’t need a lot of room to get off a shot, he gets it off so quickly.”
Oler expects strong leadership from Gatson, who averaged 11.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season. “Melvin has really matured as a leader on the floor,” says Oler. “He’s started to understand the game more and feels more comfortable.”
The third starter in Oler’s three-guard offense is a toss-up between 6-2 Scott Fruehling of SM Northwest and 6-6 Jonathan Wright of St. Joseph (Mo.) Lablond. Fruehling made six starts last season and averaged 4.5 points and was second in 3-pointers while Wright averaged 3.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in nine starts. “Scott has improved his strength and stamina and we look for his shot to be more consistent because of it while Jonathan made more improvement in building his strength than anyone on the team and gives us size on the perimeter.”
The only returnee on the inside is 6-8 Andre Metoyer of Alexandria, La., who averaged 2.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in a reserve role. “He’s really improved offensively and should be a solid force for us on the inside,” says Oler. However, there is size in the newcomers in 6-5 State Fair transfer Chris McDonald and a quartet of freshmen, 6-7 Dennis Tinnon of Green Bay, Wis.; 6-10 Hal Payne, Bishop Miege; 6-6 T.J. Sheble, Olathe North; and 6-6 Chad Bailey of Pleasant Ridge.
McDonald is a scrappy, long-armed rebounder capable of doing all the “dirty work” defensively and offensively while Oler calls Tinnon the “most athletic and explosive big man” he’s coached. A rival of Denny in Green Bay, Tinnon plays bigger than 6-7 because of his jumping ability.
How quickly they transition to the college game will determine how quickly Payne, Sheble and Bailey will contribute. “Hal Payne has a wonderful touch with a nice jump hook but needs to improve his footwork,” says Oler. “Sheble is a long defender who rebounds well while Bailey is a big body with good skills who can handle the ball.”
Monty Taylor, a 6-0 frosh from Kansas City (Mo.) Central, will be the backup at point guard while 6-3 Brett Jones of Washington, 6-3 Justin Dobler of Topeka Seaman and 6-3 Kevin Lysaught of St. James Academy will vie for playing time in the backcourt. “Taylor is a standout athlete, quick and able to handle the ball,” says Oler. “Jones is strong and athletic and will be a solid contributor as will Dobler, a redshirt freshman who defends well and is a real scrapper. Lysaught has been a pleasant surprise. A hard worker who can play all the guard spots, he’s a good outside shooter.”
Perhaps the best athlete on the team is 6-3 Sonny Lee of West Elk, who was a state high school dash and high jump champ but who is coming off an injury. “He’s fast and explosive but has to learn to play at the college level,” says Oler, who is being assisted by coaching veteran Bill Sloan and former Blue Devil standout Mike Sylvara.
The Blue Devil schedule has a new look. With the annual Jayhawk Shootout at Coffeyville moved back to Jan. 8-9, conference play will begin in December.