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Men's Basketball qualifies for the 2012 National Tourny!

 

CCRI Knights Men’s Basketball 2012-13 Preview

The 2012-2013 CCRI Knights men’s basketball team has a new look as it enters the upcoming season. Head Coach Rick Harris enters his seventh year and he along with his staff believe that it will be one that returns the Knights back to the NJCAA Division II men’s basketball Championship in Danville, Illinois.

Once again Coach Harris and his staff of Carmine Goneconte and Andy Jackson along with newcomer Pat Dame have set the team goal to return to Danville. To accomplish that goal the coaches will have the players focused on working hard each day to improve individually and as a team in order to put them in a position to play against the nation’s best once again come March.

As always, The Knights play one of the strongest junior college schedules in the country and will be relying on four returning players to lead the newcomers. Leading that group of talented and experienced sophomores will be 5’10” point guard Bryan Yarce (Cranston, R.I.) the winner of the Fred Pohlman Sportsmanship Award at the 2012 National Tournament. Yarce will be joined by backcourt mate and NJCAA First Team All-American Desmond Williams (Torrington, CT) a 6’6” shooting guard, 6’6” forward Isaac Medeiros (Johnston , R.I.) and 6’2”shooting guard Steve Bevilacqua (Exeter, R.I.). All four were major contributors last year for the Knights and are battle-tested and prepared to help get the Knights back on top.

According to Coach Harris “The newcomers are quick, strong and talented and could be one of the most talented teams that have ever taken the CCRI hardwood floor.” Post players include: 6’8” Elijah Okagbare (Bourne, MA), 6’7” Patrick Marchand (Cranston, RI) and 6’7” Alioune Ndiaye (Senegal, Africa). Coach Harris believes the size and talent of this group will create difficult match-ups for DII opponents, along with the size needed to compete with the DI teams the Knights will face. The wing and guard positions are manned by a combination of slashers, shooters and ball-handlers. That group includes: 6’1” combo guard Jerome Harris (Hartford, CT), 6’2” forward Shaquille Rickets (Hartford, CT), 6’2” shooting guard Chris Light (Derry, NH), 6’0” guard Mike Ferrante (North Providence, RI), 5’11” shooting guard Rob Hazard (North Providence, RI), 6’2” forward Rudy Brito (Pawtucket, RI), 6’0” point guard Rob Alers (Central Falls, RI) and 6’4” forward Steve Rush (Cranston, RI). Late additions to the team include: 6’3”forward Flavio Barros (Woonsocket, RI) and 6’0” point guard Pat Doyle (Narragansett, RI).

Coach Harris and his staff believe that with this collection of talent, all the pieces are in place to have a season to remember if all the players come together as one cohesive unit. Coach Harris added “Personal agendas have to be put aside and the goal of becoming a team that works as one and seeks team glory over individual glory must become the common theme. I also feel that the addition of Pat Dame to an already potent coaching staff including Carmine Goneconte and Andy Jackson is one which will provide the team with every opportunity to improve daily and reach their potential.” The 2012 - 2013 CCRI Knights have begun to take the necessary steps to reach their goal of returning to the NJCAA DII National Championship in Danville, Illinois in March.

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