Sharks Count on Variety to Overcome Inexperience

Source: The Reporter)

Their leading scorer last year— Shane Rector— is now a junior at  Utah State University and they only have three returning players from last year's team.

With a roster turnover that includes 12 new players from eight different countries, the Miami Dade College men's basketball team will no doubt, rely on a bevy of newcomers this year.

GREGORY CASTILLO \REPORTER FILE PHOTO Rising Above The Competition: Sharks small forward Marvin Jean-Pierre pictured here in a game versus Rise Academy last year is expected to be one of the team's top players this year. He averaged 13.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last year.

"We've got fourteen guys on scholarship, and they're all skilled and all do something different," said Sharks head basketball coach Stephen Cowherd. "Our depth compared to the last two years is not even close. It's going to be exciting to see."

This year's team features international flavor. It includes student athletes from Spain, Australia,  Lithuania, Bahamas, Ivory Coast, England, and Hungary.

Some of the more intriguing prospects include: Marko Krivacevic, a freshman from Budapest, Hungary, who is a 6-foot-9 inch left-handed power forward who can rebound and shoot the three-point shot;  Shaquillo Fritz, a freshman from Freeport, Bahamas, who is a 6-foot-9 inch power forward,  who is a shot blocker and rebounder and Bradley Ficken, a pass-first point guard from Australia.

Other intriguing players include  Jemar Perkins, a freshman from St. Louis, MO, who is a defensive minded combo guard with scoring ability and Jaquan Bagwell, a 6-foot-5 small forward who can dribble like a guard and plays solid defense. Bagwell has the potential to be one of the team's most versatile players.  

"I feel like I can bring defense, rebounding, and energy to the court," Bagwell said.

The fresh  faces will be augmented by the team's three returning players— shooting guard, Marvin Jean-Pierre, small forward, Joe Mvuezolo Jr, and center, Dalen Traore— from last year's 21-11 team that made it to the semifinals of the State Tournament.      

Pierre was second on the team in scoring last year, averaging 13.8 points per game. He  led the team in rebounds, 6.8 rebounds per game, despite being only 6-foot-3. Mvuezolo averaged 10.3 points a game and 3.3 assists as a freshman.

"Marvin and Joe were both First-Team All-Conference. Dalen started over twenty games for us, so those three guys need to be our natural leaders this year,"  Cowherd said. "They're doing great,. They're doing a good job trying to be leaders. It's not their natural personalities, but they're trying."