49ers hope to make some noise in conference this season

Hoops • The men's basketball team looks to rebound from a disappointing 6-21 finish last season. Matt Brown / CSULB Sports Information

Hoops • Senior Anthony Coleman hopes to contribute in a big way this season after a foot injury forced him to sit out most of last year. Matt Brown / CSULB Sports Information

 

By Elysse James
Online Forty-Niner
Opinion Editor

The Long Beach State men's basketball team is hoping to put some noise back in The Pyramid when they step on the court for the first game of the season Friday night at 7:35 p.m. against UC San Diego.

Third-year Head Coach Larry Reynolds welcomes a new addition to the team. Associate Head Coach Anthony Stewart, who helped Columbus State Community College become one of the top junior college programs in the country, will join the staff. For most of last season the Columbus State Cougars were ranked No. 1 in the country.

"Stewart will have a big impact." Reynolds said. "He brings a recruiting base in the Midwest and he'll bring his expertise with players to the program."

Former CSULB assistant coach Reggie Howard will be assistant head coach, entering his third year working with Reynolds.

"Our goal is to get to the Big West Tournament and make as much noise as we can," Reynolds said about the 49ers, who were picked to finish ninth in the Big West Conference by the pre-season coach's poll and media poll. "The pre-season schedule isn't easy and we are playing difficult teams away from home. We have to make a lot of noise in Conference games.

Hopefully by January we will make a run at presenting ourselves for conferences."

The 49ers ended last season at a disappointing 6-21, missing the Big West Tournament. This year, with a new assistant coach, the 49ers have higher expectations.

"We want to do better then we have the previous year." Reynolds said. "We have some young guys that got experience last year and some new guys that we hope will bring maturity and leadership."

Returning players include junior guard Jibril Hodges, No. 9 on the all-time 3-point career list with 91, and Anthony Coleman who suffered an injury to his left foot last season and was only able to play two games. Coleman recently had leg surgery.

"It is a nice surprise that he is participating." Reynolds said. "We hope the surgery is successful and he can play all of the games."

Senior Chris Jenkins will also return to the court this season but is currently out with a bad back. He is now resting and trying to get treatment before returning to practice. Jenkins played extremely well last year before breaking a bone in his left hand and missing the last five games of the season.

Senior Cody Pearson is once again returning to the team.

"His effort has sustained over four years here, and he has found a niche scoring, which is a pleasant surprise," Reynolds said.

Sophomore Louis Darby will be back for his second season. He was named to the Big West Conference All-Freshman team last year with an average of just over seven points and two rebounds per game.

Sophomore Kevin Houston, one of the shortest on the team at 5-feet-10 inches, was also named to the Big West Conference team as a freshman. He started 18 of 21 games last season and led the team with 88 assists, the second best in 49er history.

"Houston made tremendous strides over the spring and summer and has made better decisions." Reynolds said.

Front man Travon Free, also a sophomore, played in 23 games last season. Free had an average of two points and nearly two rebounds per game last season. Shawn Hawkins is joining the team from Columbus State, where he played under Stewart. Hawkins will make a huge impact on the team's scoring.

Reynolds also predicts that Keion Kindred, a transfer from Yavapai Junior College, will contribute much needed leadership this season. Onye Ibekwe will give the team some middle pressure. Ibekwe is a tremendous rebounder and can also be a threat to score, Reynolds said.

Freshman Mark Hall can make an immediate impact on the team this season.

"He definitely will help the program, he is a very strong athlete," Reynolds said. "Hall has a good sense of the game. He caught our eye over the summer in a tournament and luckily we had a scholarship available. He'll impact the program for years to come."

The 49ers will not name a captain until late in the first week of games, but Pearson, Coleman and Jenkins will probably be the strongest leaders on the court.

The probable starters for Friday night's game are Hawkins and Pearson at forward, Coleman at center and Hodges and Houston at guard.

The game can be heard on longbeachstate.com.