2002-03 Season Outlook

This year's Cougar squad will exhibit a "new" look, but not exactly a "young" look.  Only two of the returning players, Andre Gibson and Ricky Shilts, saw significant playing time last season.  So from that perspective, the squad will be "new."  However, six of the new players actually are not "true freshmen."  In fact, two of them, Bilal Muhammed and Wes VanDenburg, come to KVCC after playing a year at Grand Rapids CC and Kellogg CC respectively.  Arthur Price, Ben Logan, and Tyler Jager, all newcomers, are transfers from Southern Wesleyan University (SC), Ferris State, and Hope College respectively.  None of them have played a season yet, so they all three have two years of community college eligibility remaining.  David Matthews has been out of high school for six years, but is starting college full time for the first time this fall.

Only Gerald Fletcher (Toledo Whitmer), Brent Jameson (Corunna), Eric Moerman (Plainwell), Sean Moore and David Stephens (Pontiac Northern), and Larry Weller (Comstock) are true freshmen right out of high school.  Coach Shilts hopes this mixture of age and experience will enable the Cougars to move quickly through the "first year" development stage and into the "experienced, confident" stage.

The Cougars have played three scrimmages so far.  The scrimmages have been against Spring Arbor, Goshen, and Olivet.  All three have been competitive contests in which much has been learned.  The team looks to be fairly deep at guard, but lacks a true big man.  Gibson has played well early, giving the Cougars some inside presence.  Andre averaged 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last season.  Ricky Shilts, Kalamazoo Central sharpshooter, also returns, having averaged 10.5 points per game and leading the Cougars with 69 threes.

Bilal Muhammad and Tyler Jager are proving to be solid performers and should see heavy action at the small forward spot.  Larry Weller and David Stephens provide the depth in the front line.  Both can be agile frontliners who can score, but both must also make the defensive adjustment quickly to plug up the holes in the middle.

The point guard position is wide open at this early time.  Brent Jameson is an energetic dynamo that can develop into a steady leader on the floor when he gains more confidence and control.   Arthur Price handles the ball well too, but must become more assertive in the point guard leadership role.  Wes VanDenburg has the instincts of a point guard (he's played it all his life), but he must become more proficient defensively and be able to knock down the open shot when it occurs.  Gerald Fletcher is another guard, like Ricky Shilts, that can play either the two or point guard position.  He must stay under control when at the point, and he must become more consistent with his perimeter shot to contribute up to his ability level.  Watch this battle for playing time as the position is truly unsettled at this point in the season.

In summary, Coach Shilts is "pleased with the work ethic and the overall attitude of this team at this point in the season."  However, he maintains that this squad is far from being able to contend for a title at this point.  Keys will be defensive improvement, both inside and on the perimeter, better screening, cutting, and passing to establish the open man, and definitely, rebounding.  The squad will not be "big" so they "must depend upon helping each other out to plug up the holes," says Shilts.

Coach Shilts maintains that this team has the potential to be pretty good, but they will have to continue to "jell" day by day.  "The "chemistry" will have to be very good," he says, "but I'm confident that the character of the players will enable us to improve steadily.  I'm looking forward to a challenging and rewarding season."  

Why not come out to see the Cougars play?  And bring a friend!

[2002-03 Player Sketches]