2010-11 Cal State East Bay Men's Basketball Preview
Senior Will Freedman led the Pioneers with 26 points in a seven-point loss to Division I Cal Poly in the preseason. (Photo: Kelly Paris)
- November 15, 2010
HAYWARD, Calif. - Following two good exhibition performances against Division I competition, the Pioneer men's basketball team will open the 2010-11 campaign with a home game against Academy of Art on Nov. 16. The Pioneers returned to Division II last year, posting a 6-21 overall record and going 3-19 in their first season of competition in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
Playing with four returning players and a promising group of newcomers, the Pioneers dropped two close preseason games at Cal State Bakersfield, 83-71, and Cal Poly, 70-63.
"I'm really happy to see how this team competed in the two exhibition games," CSUEB Head Coach Will Biggs said. "They worked hard and played well together."
At point guard, the Pioneers return leading scorer Mark Samuels. As a freshman, Samuels led the Pioneers in scoring with 9.7 points per game and posted a team-high 28 steals.
"Mark had a good freshman campaign and will be even better this season with the addition of George Toyama and Roshun Wynne at the guard position," Biggs said.
George Toyama, an all-league performer from Pasadena High School, will see plenty of action at the off-guard position, while Roshun Wynne, another newcomer out of Blue Mountain Community College, will prove a force at the guard position and play in the Pioneers three-guard, two-forward system.
"George is a good shooter who plays hard on the court, while Roshun is an explosive player and a tough competitor," Biggs said. "When Mark, George and Roshun are out on court at the same time, it gives us three point guards and three offensive weapons."
Sophomore Donavon Jackson is also expected to be a key contributor at the guard spot.
"Donovan is very athletic and is making the transition to the CCAA style of play," Biggs said. "He has enough talent to be an impact player on this team."
Adam Watts, a transfer from Nyach College, will be the Pioneers' sixth man this season.
"Adam gives us a lot off the bench," Biggs said. "He's smart and a physical player."
Senior Will Freedman is the Pioneers' top returning big man. Last season, Freedman averaged 4.6 points, while shooting 45.7 percent from the field. In the seven-point loss to Cal Poly on Nov. 6, Freedman led the team with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field.
"Will has worked hard during the preseason," Biggs said. "He had a great exhibition game against Cal Poly."
Returning senior Jared Waters along with newcomer Brandon Hrboka out of San Pedro High School will contribute in the front court.
"Jared has been a pleasant surprise," Biggs said. "His preparation and hard work coming into this season has earned him a starting job at one of the forward spots. Brandon has really improved and will help us at forward."
The Pioneers welcome two more posts in 6-foot-9-inch freshman Arturo Garcia, from Desert Hot Springs High School, and 6-foot-10-inch Rodrigue Maza, who hails from Lyon, France and played for CSP Limoges of the French National Basketball League last year. Coach Biggs believes that both players will help the Pioneers for the next four years.
"Arturo is still growing as a basketball player," Biggs said. "He plays hard and is improving each day. Rodrigue is learning American basketball. He's very athletic and shoots well for a big man."
Freshmen Kenneth Farr (Salesian High School), Omarr McLean (Armijo High School) and Cameron Lew (Walnut High School) round out the 2010-11 Pioneer men's basketball team.
Coach Biggs is looking forward to the upcoming season.
"With the three guards and two forwards on the court, we will create matchup problems for our opponents," Biggs said. "The Pioneers will continue to get better as the season progresses. People will enjoy watching this team play. We're much better this season, but so is every other team in the CCAA. Our major goal will be to finish games in conference play."
Cal State East Bay kicks off the 2010-11 campaign on Tuesday night at Pioneer Gym. The Pioneers and Urban Knights are set for a 7 p.m. first tip.