December 16, 2011
2011/2012 Team Preview: |
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Senior guard Steve Betancurth is one of four returning starters for the Bees. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
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By Jason Bernstein Editorial Director |
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Bayonne was one of the county's youngest squads a season ago and the inconsistency that comes with youth was a theme the entire time. The Bees flashed their immense potential, but a rollercoaster season ended with 11 loses in their final 14 games to finish a disappointing 9-13.
A year older and a year wiser, Bayonne believes they are poised for a significant turnaround in 2012.
"We went through a lot of ups and downs last year," head coach Mickell Taylor said. "The roster was young, the previous year we lost our starting five, so with everybody coming back this year we have a lot more confidence, a lot more maturity and a lot more experience."
The Bees return four starters from last season's team, headlined by 6-foot-3 swingman Rodney Wilson. The senior was Bayonne's leading scorer last season and a three-year starter.
Unlike a season ago, Taylor believes his team won't have to rely as heavily on Wilson for points thanks to the progression of guards Steve Betancurth and Garry Gaston. Betancurth, a senior is a threat from beyond the arc, while Gaston is a junior point guard and is fearless when attacking the basket.
"Garry is going to be very dangerous," Taylor said. "He's more confident, he grew two more inches (now 6-foot-2), he handles the ball a lot better, he see the court well and he's a lot more comfortable. He's going to be big for us this year."
Seniors Ricky Hoffman (6-foot-6) and Jonathan Jackson (6-foot-4) give Bayonne one of the county's tallest front courts. Six-foot-four junior Desmen Richardson is an explosive jumper and the top big off the bench. Richardson was the most improved player over the summer for Bayonne according to Taylor.
Kevin Cleveland provides added depth up front along with Biaggio Cancro, a 6-foot-1 junior with the versatility to play anywhere the court.
"Biaggio's probably the smartest guy I have on the team," Taylor said. "You can put him at any position and he knows all five spots, no matter what the play is. For me he'll play the 2, the 3 and a little bit of the 4."
Guards Qadry Callaway (the younger brother of current Albany guard Cassandra) and Dayron Caldwell will see plenty action in the backcourt for a team Taylor considers the deepest he's had in his five years as head coach.
"This is probably the deepest team I've had in years," he said. "Usually I went seven or eight deep, but I think we're going to play at least 10 guys."
2011-12 Bayonne Overview |
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