Gaston College basketball back in action with second exhibition jamboree on Saturday
After a successful weekend in the Corry Black Hoops JUCO Jamboree at the University of West Georgia, Gaston College returns to the Peach State on Saturday for the Battle of the South Jamboree in Cumming, Georgia.
"I was very pleased with my guys' efforts and enthusiasm," Rhinos head coach Jamie Rosser said. "But it's back to work again for next weekend.
We were prepared and had a good showing last weekend. We had three games and went 2-1. What we wanted to do was to mix up some lineups; it wasn't so much a win-loss thing for us. We wanted to get down there and see what we had, see who could do what and what we need to improve on and build after that."
Rosser was pleased by his team's overall defensive effort and singled out several players for their efforts in games against Shelton State Community College, Alabama; Chattanooga State Community College, Tennessee; and Southern Union State Community College, Alabama.
"I know it's early but in just those three games, these guys are understanding what they need to do and what they can do to be successful on the court," Rosser said.
"If we had an MVP award, we'd have to give it to Caleb McCarty," Rosser said of the 6-foot-8 transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast College. "He's one of those players who can do a little bit of everything. In the (Corry Black) Jamboree, he was playing in the post which is not really his position, but he was sacrificing for the team to give us what we needed. He was chasing every rebound and every blocked shot. If he had an open lane, he was looking for a dunk. If he has any room to make a three, he does, because he's a knockdown shooter."
Coach Rosser also praised guards Jordan Guthrie, DaMarco Watson and Joshua Johnson and forwards Jamal Ukaegbu and Tyree Bracey.
Guthrie is a transfer from USC Salkehatchie, Ukaegbu is a freshman from Silver Spring, Maryland, Bracey is a freshman from North Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte and Watson and Johnson are two of the Rhinos' six returning players from last year's 18-10 team.
Of Guthrie, Rosser said: "Jordan Guthrie was a standout. He's a knockdown shooter who has a really good feel for the game. Defensively, he was really good getting into the passing lanes."
Of Watson: "He was a pit bull on defense. His on-the-ball defense was very impressive and he was getting to the basket like normal."
Of Johnson: "Defensively, you have to have him on the floor. He's the first one to the floor chasing loose balls, the first one to the 50-50 balls and he's always aware of what you need on the defensive end. He's one of the guys that helps you win games."
Of Ukaegbu: "He's a 6-5, 6-6 wing who can do it all. He puts pressure on you and he's a live defender. He can be one of your lock-down guys who can guard a forward or a guard."
And of Bracey: "He may have been the most impressive to me because it was his first rodeo. This young man has a chance to be really good. He's a knockdown, 6-8 shooter. He's a rebounder. And he can run and catch lobs."
On Saturday, the Rhinos will play Cleveland State Community College, Tennessee at 11 a.m., East Georgia State Community College at 1 p.m. and Roane State Community College, Tennessee at 3 p.m. at Dobbs Creek Recreation Center.
"The guys are working, getting better and they all know this is a process," Rosser said.
After Saturday's jamboree, Gaston College plays exhibition games at Clinton College of Rock Hill, South Carolina, on October 19 and at Catawba Valley Community College of Hickory, on October 27.
The jamborees and exhibition games come before the official start of the 2022-23 regular season games that begin on November 2 at 7 p.m., at the Rhinos' new homecourt at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.