About the Program

CCRI Knights Men’s Basketball 2007-08 Preview

The CCRI Knights are coming off their third straight Region XXI Title and second Northeast District IX Championship in three years, second year head coach Rick Harris has even loftier goals for the upcoming 2007-08 season. That’s what happens following a National Final Twelve finish as the Knights once again participated in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Danville, Illinois following their 77-68 victory over #3 ranked Harcum College in the Northeast District Championship Game. The victory qualified the Knights for the “Big Dance” where they lost to Final Four participant Lewis & Clark Community College and then in overtime to #5 ranked Des Moines Area Community College to conclude their season. The visit to Danville has left the Knights hungry to return in 2007-08 and prove themselves against the nation’s best. They will have to do it without the services of three key members of the 2006-06 team. 6’7” Forward Connor Evans (Cranston, RI) who has completed his eligibility, 6’8” Center Will Lyons (Warwick, RI) has taken his skills to Rhode Island College, and 6’2” Guard Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) after a fine freshman year, has moved on to Bryant College where he will lace up his sneakers for Max Good.

Leading the way for the #17th ranked (NJCAA Division II Pre-season poll) Knights in 2007-08 will be its sophomores led by 2006-07 Honorable Mention All-American and 2007-08 Pre-Season First Team All- American 6’0” Point Guard Pat Dame (Exeter) last seasons leading scorer with 14 ppg, 6’2” Forward Jake Grimes (Pawtucket) who had a great finish last year as he played at an MVP level in both the Region and District playoff games, 6’2” Forward Carl Lee (Warwick) and explosive forward with great leaping ability, 6’3” Guard/Forward Marc Testa (Smithfield)a tremendously versatile player, and transfer 6’3” Guard Mike Noonan (Westport, Ma.) a tremendous three-point shooter from Dean College and 6’5” Guard/Forward Jamal Hinds (Brooklyn, N.Y.) from Staten Island College. All are experienced second year players whom Coach Harris will be relying heavily upon.

The incoming recruited class of freshmen is talented, athletic and quick. There is size in 6’9” Center Kris Wood (Central Falls), 6’7” Center/Forward Alex Diaz (Providence) and 6’5” Forward Sam Jones (New London, CT). There are shooters that include 6’1” Guard Jeremi Hall (Providence), 5’10” Guard Johvanny Ciprian (Providence) and 5’10” Guard Roger Yarce (Cranston). In addition there are combination guards including 6’2” Guard/Forward Jason Collier (Danielson, CT) along with 5’10” Point Guard Luis Ferreras (Providence). And rounding out the squad are multi-skilled Forwards 6’4” Jamarl Johnson (Fall River, MA), 6’4” Kareem Gardner-Williams (Ontario, Canada).

The returning players, along with the incoming recruits, have many Knights basketball observers excited about the 2007-08 season. Coach Harris feels the current group of freshman and sophomores possess all the pieces required to build an exciting and winning team. Harris and his coaching staff including: Kevin Monagle, Curtis Spence, and Andy Jackson know that coming together as a team and role acceptance will be the key to this team’s success.

Talented, athletic, quick and strong the Knights should have no problem employing Coach Harris’ signature pressing and running game. It is a style that requires all 10-12 rotation players working together as one on the court and the entire team buying into the “greatest part of me is we” theme that the coaching staff will be preaching daily. The Knights long term goal will always be Region and District Championships and a spot in the National Tournament. The daily goal though will be to get a little bit better each day with skill development and team building.