2013-14 Men's Basketball Preview: The Excitement is Here

Seniors DeShaun Freeman (L) and Givon Crump form two-thirds of CSUDH's triple threat this year, along with sharp-shooting Pierson Williams

CARSON -- Coming off a 16-14 overall and 12-10 California Collegiate Athletic Association record in 2012-13 that included nearly pulling off a miracle comeback in the first round of the CCAA tournament, the Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team will look to leave lady luck out of this year's equation as it looks to claim its third CCAA title in six years.

Fast forward seven months from that first round tournament 80-78 heartbreaker at Chico State in which an open 3-point look bounced off the back rim as time expired, and this year's Toro squad boasts five returning players including three who played significant minutes, as well as a talented group of 10 newcomers who are determined to improve upon last year's 6th place regular season finish and No. 6 seed in the league tournament.

A 6'7 senior forward and 2nd-team All-CCAA selection, DeShaun Freeman is healthy and ready to wreak havoc on a league that continually threw double- and triple-teams at the Los Angeles native. And paired with fellow seniors in Givon Crump and Pierson Williams, each of whom earned a CCAA Player of the Week honor, and 10th-year head coach Damaine Powell has plenty of reason to be optimistic as he sends out arguably his most talented and deepest squad since the 2010-11 team that set five program records.

Not looking ahead of himself, however, Powell knows the road to success will have many obstacles, but understands the potential this team carries into the season.

"Every year the goal is to be the best that we can be as a team and build these young men into solid citizens," Powell begins. "And this year is no exception as I believe we have the ability to be better than last year."

Here's a closer look at who will look to make this team the best it can be.

TRIPLE-THREAT THREAT

Health was a contributing factor in last year's 6th-place regular season finish. But with senior forward DeShaun Freeman enjoying a healthy preseason thus far, the sky's the limit for the local product and the Toros this year.

The forward missed eight games last year, but still impressed enough to earn a 2nd-team all-league honor. He finished 2nd on the team in scoring and 4th in rebounds and blocks, enjoying 11 games with at least 10 points, including a pair of 20+ point efforts and a season-high 22 point tally vs Chico State. On the boards, Freeman pulled down at least 5 boards 10 times.

"Freeman has a chance to really contribute this year," says Powell. "His biggest thing is that he has to stay healthy and have better shot selection, but he is definitely a force on both ends of the floor.

Senior forward Givon Crump finished 5th in free throw percenrage, 15th in 3-point FG made and 22nd in the league in scoring, while leading the team in scoring and finished 2nd in rebounds. The DC native scored at least 10 points in 17 games, including a career-high 29 vs APU (Dec 17) and 26 at Humboldt State, and enjoyed two games with 10 boards.

Sharp-shooting Pierson Williams, meanwhile, ended last year 2nd in 3-point FG% and 10th in 3-pointers made in the CCAA, while leading the team in 3-pointers made, and finishing 4th in steals and 5th in rebounds. The Sylmar native scored in double figures 8 times, connecting on at least 3 triples 9 times, including an 8-of-9 outburst from behind the arc vs SFSU.

"A natural scorer, Crump had a good summer so we have to find ways to get him the ball in space and let him work," says Powell, while "Pierson is one of the best shooters in the country and we have to make sure he gets his shots this year from the 3-point line."

NEWCOMERS

With just five players returning to this year's team, Powell knows more than ever that his newcomers will be expected to provide ample minutes and contribute solid numbers on both ends of the floor, especially at the guard position.

One whom Powell feels will be able to take over point guard duties is Chris Carvin, who makes his debut after two years at American River College. At his JC, Carvin led the league in assists with 150, which was good for 8th in the state, also placing 3rd in steals en route to a 1st-team all-league selection. These efforts came after four letters at Laguna Creek HS and three all-league selections for the scholar athlete.

"Chris is a great passer and an overall winner, and should be able to contribute immediately," says Powell.

Senior center Moriba De Freitas, junior forward Darnell Martin and freshman guard Everett Turner also have caught Powell's eye, with each bringing disparate skill sets to the Toros this year.

A transfer from Pepperdine, De Freitas averaged 2.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 19.5 minutes per game with 13 starts in 30 total appearances. Making 50.8% of his shots from the floor, he ranked 10th in the West Coast Conference in blocked shots and 15th in rebounding, including a season-high 10 boards vs UC Irvine.

At 6'6, 230, Maritn earned 1st-team all-league honors at Mt. SAC last season, after a prep career as a two-sport athlete in basketball and football at Nogales HS where he earned a pair of letters in each sport and twice was named a 1st-team selection.

An honor roll member, Turner earned 4 varsity letters and 4 MVP honors at Colony HS en route to earning 1st-team All-CIF honors, and was recognized by the State Legislature for his outstanding performances during the year.

"I see Moriba having a huge impact on the entire game with his presence, shot blocking and passing," begins Powell, and "also expect Darnell Martin with his size and Everett Turner with his ball-control and decision-making to have a big impact this year.

"With Freeman being healthy and Crump being such a scoring threat, the team's strength this will be our bigs up front with the great additions of Moriba and Martin," Powell says with confidence.

WHAT TO EXPECT

With the trio of Freeman, Crump and Williams healthy and with a year of playing together under their collective belt, there's an excitement enveloping the program that hasn't been felt in three years when the 2010-11 team boasted six returning seniors who led the team to five program records, or since 2008-09 when five returning seniors led the Toros to the 2nd round of the NCAA postseason where CSUDH fell to top-seeded BYU-Hawai'i in Laie, HI.

But say the word "excitement" to head coach Powell, and he will tell you it's just a word.

"As a coach, I don't feel the excitement," he says, as a matter-of-fact. "I think every year we have a chance to be good if we can stay healty."

And knowing how competitive the CCAA Conference is after nine years in it, he can't be blamed for his guarded approach.

"The CCAA overall is much better across the board than it has been compared to the last 10 years," he continues. "But if we were able to win the CCAA conference, that'd be great, too."

With the 2013 West Coast Tip-Off Classic just two days away, Powell knows the talent on his team is there, but that talent alone won't get the Toros to the CCAA or NCAA postseason.

"We need to pay attention to the details of passing and catching, and getting better on the offensive end of the floor," he reflects, after the Toros posted identical 6-5 records in both halves of league play last year.

"Fundamentals like passing and defense, and being more efficient when we have the ball, those will be our biggest challenges in the early going. But even though we may not be as tall, we'll be fine against some of the bigger teams in the post because of our talent up front, and hopefully that will help reduce the amount of challenges we have early on with the amount of newcomers we have.

"We are excited to get started in the Tip-Off Classic again against the Sporting New's No. 1 and the NABC's No. 2 team in the nation in Seattle Pacific.

"We have one of the toughest schedules in the nation, but if we can win a few, it will help our resume for playoff time."

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2013-14 Men's Basketball Preview: The Excitement is Here