There is a saying, the more things change the more they stay the same. That applies to the Prince Georges Community College Men’s Basketball team this upcoming season. During the summer assistant coach William West (pictured above) was hired as the new head coach of the Owls, replacing Brian Johnson who became the new head coach of Southern Vermont College. Under Johnson, PGCC finished 38-23/ 15-13 over the last two seasons, winning the 2017 MD JUCO Conference Tournament Championship. With West at the helm, PGCC is looking to continue its winning ways with a new revamped roster. I had the opportunity to check out the new look Owls during a recent practice and the things that jump out immediately is the versatility and athleticism. West has a lot of talent to work with which should fit his uptempo style of offense perfectly especially with the return of 2017 MD JUCO Tournament MVP Alex Morales.
There are a number of things to like about this Owls team and here are some takeaways that you may want to keep an eye on as the regular season fast approaches.
Return of Alex Morales –
The 2017 MD Juco Tourney MVP exploded on the scene during the 16-17 season, averaging 13.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.2 assist a game during the regular season before raising his game to an All Maryland JUCO level during the MD JUCO Tournament. Morales posted averages 19.7 points and 11.7 rebounds to lead the Owls to its first Maryland JUCO title since 1981. Morales sat out last season for academic reasons and appears ready to pick right back up where he left off at the end of the 2017 season. Delaying that start will be minor surgery that will sideline Morales for most of the first semester according to West. Nonetheless with Morales, West has a proven player who has garnered D-1 attention ever since his historic run in 2017. If Morales can reach that level once he returns from surgery, PG will will be a tough team to beat throughout the season.
David Burress –
a Virginia Union transfer will be a force inside. The 6’9 center is supremely athletic which enables him to dunk in traffic and finish lobs effortlessly. Also, Burress may be the fastest player end to end on the team. He literally runs the floor like a guard. He’s a capable rebounder, shot blocker and on ball defender, especially in pick and roll situations when he defends guards. Burress needs to improve his strength and overall ball skills, however, what he brings to the table already will ensure he makes an immediate impact for PG this season.
Deon Savage –
Tough, relentless lefty was a pleasant surprise during the practice. The 6’6 Savage showed he can score inside, shoot from mid-range especially from the elbows and is sneaky athletic where if you are late rotating on defense, he will put you in the basket. Consistency is the key with him, if he is, the Owls will be tough to beat. If he isn’t, it hurts PG a great deal. He’s an x-factor for this team.
Not your average Freshmen –
Pay attention to freshman wing Miles Weaver (pictured above) and freshman point guard Delahney Williams. Weaver is a sniper who only needs a minimum space to get his shot off and when he does, he’s usually automatic. Weaver is also a capable playmaker and defender due to his size (6’6/210) and lateral quickness. Williams is a natural scorer who can get hot at any moment. At 6’3, Williams has the size to play both guard spots and forward if needed, making him an ideal fit for the system West is implementing. Only thing missing is experience from these two, once they figure things out, they can possibly elevate the Owls into a force in the Maryland JUCO. Stay Tuned!