Local college basketball preview: MJC men go international
The Modesto Junior College men’s basketball team tried to start fresh with a virtually new roster last season. It didn’t work.
This year’s solution: The Pirates have doubled down. With a big assist from Serbia.
Seldom, maybe never, has MJC gone so international.
▪ 6-foot-2 guard Luka Petkovic, from Vancouver by way of Serbia,
▪ 6-5 Marko Lepovic, raised in Norway by way of Serbia,
▪ 6-6 Pedja Stolica, from Serbia.
Here’s another sign of MJC’s change of pace: The only returner to the roster is sophomore Blake Terry.
From new coaches to outside-the-border prospects, there’s no doubt that Paul Brogan – beginning his 14th season as Modesto coach – seeks new answers to lingering questions.
Part of the team overhaul was born of necessity. Several prospective returners either would not or were unable to play this season. Guards Zach Gonzales, Eric Melgar and Edwin Castellanos may reclaim their roster spots next season. Until then, Modesto applies a new approach to a program that is sub-.500 over the last two seasons.
“They’re great kids to be around. They’re well-traveled, they speak different languages, and they take their studies seriously,” Brogan said. “I just want to be around a group of guys who will take advantage of the opportunity they have, on the court and in the classroom.”
So far, the results are too early to tell. The Pirates went 1-2 at Ohlone’s Jonathan Wallace Memorial last weekend, though Lepovic played with an injured hand and former Central Catholic star Joe Hamilton was slowed by illness.
Lepovic, a 215-pounder who can operate both as a wing and a big guard, appears to have the most potential. He was a role player for the talented IMG Academy team in Florida that sent Division I stars far and wide.
Petkovic has shown a good shooting touch and ball skills. Getting used to California’s rigorous community college style may be his biggest test. The same goes for the 220-pound Stolica, who must prepare for the bump-and-grind of the Big 8 Conference.
“We’re a little bigger overall,” Brogan said. “Last weekend we had trouble scoring. That’s fixable.”
Other important additions are point guard Tristin Rodgers, a hard-working Riverbank High graduate, and 6-6 Jake Danhoff out of East Union.
Michael Williams remains on the MJC staff, but Brogan added Jordan Jones, a former assistant coach at UC Davis and Chico State. Another new face on the MJC bench is Wayne McGhee, one of the deans of local basketball coaches. While McGhee coached Modesto High to a state title in 1984, Brogan was a senior star at Manteca.
“There is a lack of experience at this level. It will make things tough at the beginning,” Brogan said. “This team will not hit its peak in December. We’re shooting for being at our best in February. It’s a very coachable group.”
MJC Women – The Pirates, winless in 14 Big 8 games and 6-19 a year ago, must start from scratch. They opened this season by going 0-2 at the Mission College tournament over the weekend, which means they’ve dropped their last 17 stretching back to last December.
Modesto can reboot, however, today against Marin in the first round of Las Positas College’s Hawk Classic. The Pirates defeated Marin for third place in this tournament last year, a reminder of their 6-4 beginning before the storm.
“We had a couple of close losses and it got to our kids’ confidence,” coach Mike Girardi said. “If we can pick up our scoring, we should be better. We do have more height and quickness.”
The Pirates return 5-11 Brianna McGinness (7.2 ppg, 7.5 reb.) but she’ll be surrounded by important newcomers. One of them is 5-11 Kaitlin Gundlach, a starter for UC Merced last year, who made all-tournament last weekend. The new point guard is freshman Diana Carmona, and she’ll start alongside returning guard Janel Ortega.
Taylor Martinez, a 5-11 former teammate of McGinness’ at Calaveras High, fills out the starting lineup. The MJC bench will feature sophomore guard Michelle Bibbs and Atwater product Natalie Govea. The team eventually will be boosted by 6-1 Jenna Viss, who will join the Pirates at the end of MJC’s championship run in soccer.
Most of Modesto’s problems last season came from a shortage of offense (55 ppg), and the Pirates have netted only a single three-pointer thus far. Regardless, Girardi believes there will be an uptick in points.
“McGinness and Gundlach can score and pass. I think our guards can pressure the ball better,” he said. “We had too many games in the 40s last year. We have to do better.”
Columbia – Marquell Hubbard, a 6-2 point guard from Palm Beach, Fla., relocated across the country two years after Tony Williams arrived from Fort Lauderdale. It’s Hubbard’s all-court skills and early impact that already has changed Columbia (3-1) for the better.
His runner as time expired last weekend lifted the Claim Jumpers over Sacramento for the title of the Tony Costello Memorial at Las Positas. It was Columbia’s first tournament title in three years. Hubbard was named the MVP and sophomores Rafe King and Alex Kiriluk earned all-tournament honors for Columbia, and Hubbard followed it up with 27 points (12 of 14 free throws) during Tuesday night’s loss at Skyline.
The 6-3 King, who averaged 15 points and hit 80 triples (sixth in the state) last season, combines with Hubbard to give Columbia its most lethal backcourt in years. The Claim Jumpers, who haven’t enjoyed a winning season in over a decade, think they can take a step forward.
“Last year we had a pretty good year (12-15, 5-7) relative to how it’s been,” second-year coach Rob Hoyt said. “We need to take that next step and compete against teams on a nightly basis.”
Hoyt also is encouraged by the improved 6-5 forward Ian Merzwinski, along with Kiriluk – a Sonora grad who played one season at MJC – and 6-5 forward Travis Arenas, who redshirted after he was injured during the second game last season.
The Claim Jumpers’ bench also could be promising with 6-7 sophomore Rosendo Amaya Wood, William Jessup transfer Michael Meserole (he led the Sac-Joaquin Section in scoring two years ago at Liberty Ranch) and Williams. The 6-4 Williams made the All-Central Valley Conference freshman team two years ago.
Columbia will welcome Shasta, Reedley and Modesto for the Columbia Classic on Dec. 5-6 at Oak Pavilion. The Claim Jumpers and the Pirates will collide on the second night.
This story was originally published November 12, 2014 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Local college basketball preview: MJC men go international."