2011-12 Men's Basketball Preview - Competition From Within

Senior leadership will be key to a successful season

CARSON -- Returning eight players from last season's record-setting season, the 2011-12 Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team will undergo a rebuilding season of sorts after bidding farewell to six seniors who played prominent roles in helping the Toros set five program records.

One of those returners, however, will be senior guard Robert Willhite, whose turnaround 3-pointer as time expired gave the Toros a thrilling 51-50 win over 3rd-ranked Humboldt State in the CCAA Championship Tournament Title game, the program's first tournament title since 1987.

The Ridgecrest native will be one of six seniors on this year's squad who will look to keep the momentum going after the Toros established the program record for wins (23), its highest NABC ranking (No. 4), toppling the No. 1 team in the nation (Cal Poly Pomona), the best start to a season (16-1) and the program's longest win streak (10 games).

He will be joined by nine junior college transfers who bring loads of talent, but not the experience of playing in arguably the toughest conference and region in the nation after BYU-Hawai'i reached the title game last season following Cal Poly Pomona's winning the title one year earlier.

“My initial impression is that our strengths will be our leadership, and outside shooting,” begins head coach Damaine Powell, set to embark on his 8th year at the helm of the program. “And of course, our defense,” he continues, with a smile.

Here's a look at who will look to help keep CSUDH establish more program records this season.

RETURNERS

Senior Robert Willhite again will captain this year's squad after starting all 30 games for the CCAA Tournament Champion Toros. Known as Mr. Clutch after nailing a turnaround 3-pointer as time expired to give the Toros the CCAA Tournament title over No. 3 Humboldt State, the league's most cerebral player -- Willhite was last season's lone CCAA representative on the Capital One Academic All-District team -- returns for his fourth and final season.

Last year, the Ridgecrest native registered 13 games in double-figure scoring, including a career-high 17 vs CS Monterey Bay (Feb 11). He also boasted a career-high 13 boards at San Francisco State (Jan 7), just missing out on a double-double by one point while also leading the team in steals nine times. His most important contribution, however, will be most visible in his leadership in melding the newcomers into head coach Damaine Powell's defensive-minded system.

“Rob means everything to our program,” begins Powell of his lone 4-year senior. “He's been to two NCAA playoffs and he knows what it takes to succeed at this level. A high-character guy, he's one of the top 2 or 3 leaders I've ever had.

“We lost so many guys but with him back, it's provided great leadership to ease the transition period. We're pretty undersized so far but we've beaten some pretty good programs in the preseason like Biola and Concordia, and he'll give us a chance because of his character and leadership.

“He's always been a good player but he's always had to take a subservient role because of all the talent we've had in the program,” Powell continues. “But this is his year to step out and carry the offensive load a little bit.”

A quartet of senior guards returns after making significant contributions to last year's CCAA Tournament Championship title run. Rashad Bias heads the pack after seeing action in 29 games off the bench, leading the team in steals three times, in blocks twice, and in points and assists one time each. He notched a season-high 13 points at Sonoma State (Feb 25), 3 assists vs CS Stanislaus (Dec 30) and 3 rebounds 3 times, the last coming in regular season finale at SSU in late February.

One of the most athletic Toros, Van Girard II saw action in 27 games off the bench, notching a career-high 11 points at UC San Diego (Jan 15) on 4-of-6 shooting from the field including 2-of-3 from downtown. The Los Angeles native pulled down at least 4 boards four times, including a season-high 5 rebounds vs BYU-Hawai'i (Nov 15) and at Cal State L.A. (Dec 18) en route to leading the Toros in rebounds, blocks and steals one time each.

Another cerebral Toro and one who also will be counted on for his leadership skills this year, Cornell Jenkins made 2 starts in 24 games played and emerged as the team's best long-range gunner, hitting .442 of shots on the season, including .478 in conference play. The physics major boasted four games in double-figure scoring, including a season-high 14 points against CS Stanislaus (Dec 30). He also pulled down 6 boards against Humboldt State (Feb 23) and dished 3 assists at CS San Bernardino (Feb 4), leading the team in steals four times, in blocks twice and in points and assists once each.

Another long-range threat, Brian Gee returns for his senior season after seeing action in 18 games off the bench as a 3-point specialist. Gee, a two-time Madness @ Midnight 3-point champion, enjoyed a breakout game against Cal State East Bay with 13 points in just 17 minutes of play that included 3-of-7 from downtown (Feb 19). The Huntington Beach native also pulled down 2 boards against BYU-Hawai'i in the season opener (Nov 15), and led the team in points and blocks one time each.

The lone sophomore on the squad, CJ Carter saw limited action in last year's true freshman campaign after playing 47 minutes in 18 appearances off the bench, but will see more playing time as his 6-5 slashing frame and ball-handling ability will prove instrumental in CSUDH's offensive sets and creating on the fly.

One of this year's few bigs, junior Ricardo de la Rosa will play an important role after backing up a steady diet of big men the Toros utilized last season. This year, the 6-9, 290 pound Downey native will look to improve upon last year's 19 games off the bench played, which included a career-best 8-point effort against BYU-Hawai'i in the season opening win (Nov 15), and adding a career-best 9 boards as well. His length also garnered him 2 blocks against Chico State (Dec 31) en route to leading the team in blocks and rebounds one time each.

NEWCOMERS

Sheldon Allen and George McGrew are the “big” highlights to a solid recruiting class that will need to replace an intimidating roster after 7-foot, 6-9 and 6-8 offensive and defensive forces finished their eligibility last year.

A 6-9, 250 pound load at power forward, Allen helped LA Harbor College to its first league title in 42 years en route to 1st-team all-league honors last year. At 6-8 and 220, McGrew earned two letters at Antelope Valley College after being named to the 2nd-team All-State at Thornton Township HS in Illinois.

“McGrew has a lot of potential,” begins Powell. “He's 6-8 and athletic, and though kind of raw, he has a chance to contribute immediately.

“Sheldon is a big 6-9, very raw who just started playing ball for the first time as a senior in high school, but he can rebound, he can bang and he gets better.”

Five new guards enter their first foray into CCAA competition, led by 6-4 Myron Green and 5-10 Everrett Brown.

Green, a 6-4 local product who prepped at Dominguez High School, played one year at D-I Ball State before last year's stint at Saddleback College where he was named to the All-State 3rd-team and All-League 1st-team en route to averaging 14 points and 6 boards per game. As a Don, Green led DHS to a 104-24 overall and 39-1 league mark in his four years, averaging 15.5 points and 6 rebounds per game in a senior season in which Dominguez went 26-7.

Brown, via Santa Monica College and Crenshaw HS, established the 3-point single-season record at SMCC en route to 1st-team all-league honors, and will be looked upon to help fill that same role this season.

“Everrett is a gamer, and can shoot,” begins Powell. “He hit about 9 or 10 threes in a game I saw him play last year like it was nothing, and I'm hoping he can bring that to us this year, while Myron, a big 6-4, will contribute right away.”

SEASON OUTLOOK

A defensive-minded coach who took over the reigns seven years ago, Powell still adheres to his mantra, though he realizes the team's defensive intensity will take time to develop with the new faces aboard.

“We pride ourselves on our defense and we have a chance to be as good defensively as last year,” he begins, “but with the new faces, it'll take some time.”

Meshing the newcomers into a system on which his returning players are well versed will be the biggest challenge, but even doing so won't guarantee the same results as last season's roster after losing two of the most talented players Powell has coached in Carson.

“We lost a lot of talent,” says Powell, as a matter-of-fact. “Q (Marcquintice Davis) might have been the best player I've had since I've been here, and Michael Cox is one of the best players I've ever had.

“This team is something like two years ago when we missed the playoffs by one game,” he continues. “If everything goes well and we stay healthy, we'll be right around 3rd or 4th place in the league, and hopefully that'll be good enough to get a 7th or 8th seed in the NCAA tournament.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Heading into Wednesday night's season opener at cross-town rival Cal State L.A., Powell knows the Toros will be in for a battle in every game this season.

“Everyone says we're their rival,” Powell begins. “It's where the program is now, where everyone wants to play us and beat us.

“Humboldt State has 3 or 4 starters back and CS San Bernardino returns almost everyone,” he continues. “And this is the best team L.A.'s had since I've been in the league, and we've beaten L.A. three times in a row and 4 of the last 5, so this is going to be a tough and emotional game. It always is.

“But we'll be ready to play and have some fun and see how it shakes down,” he concludes.

“It's going to be really competitive right away.”

Print Friendly Version

Cal State Dominguez Hills Athletics

Upcoming Events & Results

2011-12 Men's Basketball Preview - Competition From Within