Alaska basketball starting over with revamped roster
Published Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Clemon Johnson has two primary goals for his Alaska Nanooks this season: move up to at least the middle of the pack in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and keep all his players eligible for the entire basketball season.
Both are lofty missions. Last season, the Nanooks finished last in the GNAC at 2-14 on their way to a 5-22 overall mark. They also lost a bevy of players to academic ineligibility and injuries during the season and saw several more leave in the offseason.
“I don’t want to go through another year like this,” Johnson said of his rookie coaching campaign. “I just can’t take another year like this.”
Johnson said although it’s a challenge both to get recruits to come to Fairbanks and then keep them here, there’s a simple solution.
“First and foremost, winning solves all your problems,” Johnson said Monday during an interview at his Patty Center office. “You win, everybody’s happy, nobody’s looking to move anywhere.”
The Nanooks, who haven’t begun practice yet but are allowed to play pick-up games and spend limited time with coaches in groups, have 16 players on their current roster, and none will redshirt. Only five — senior forwards Colin Matteson and Mladen Begojevic, sophomore forwards Nashorn Maynard and Michael Anderson and sophomore guard Bobby Pico — were with the Nanooks a year ago. Besides leading-scorer Matteson, the bunch started just 24 games among them, and Begojevic (knees) and Pico (back) are still slowed by chronic injuries.
The key departures are Kevin Atkins, a capable scorer and talented rebounder who transferred to Humboldt State; Mike Titus of Fairbanks, who graduated; Travis Pew of Eielson, who is no longer attending UAF; forward David Cannamore, who is still attending UAF but has decided to focus on academics; and point guard Keven Campbell, whose halftime off-court outburst late last season got him sent home by Johnson, never to return to Alaska’s court.
“We started last year with about 16 people, and it just slowly dwindled away. Hopefully we don’t go through that again,” said Johnson, who has again lined up a large roster as security.
Johnson, with the recruiting assistance of volunteer coach Jocquis Sconiers, has brought in a whole new cast, many of them junior college transfers. So far, he likes the enthusiasm of his “gym rats.”
“I’m coming to work on Saturdays, and they’re in the gym playing at 8 o’clock in the morning,” Johnson said. “The difficult part with gym rats is that they may spend too much time in the gym and not enough in the classroom.”
So how to keep the Nanooks not only going to class but with good enough grades to stay eligible beyond Christmas? The men’s basketball team’s grade-point average is typically at or near the bottom of the athletic department, and last year players such as starting guard Philippe Jourdain and local favorite Bo Edwards didn’t make the grade and had to take a seat.
“We need to get volunteer tutors, or pay for tutors,” Johnson said, adding that direct communication with professors also can be improved to keep tabs on players.
Of the newcomers, junior point guard Emmanuel Jenkins has Johnson gushing about his potential ability to lead the up-tempo style of offense and pressing defense that the Nanooks want to play.
“He’s going to make this team go. He can do it all. He’s a well-rounded point guard,” Johnson said. “The starting point guard position is his to lose, without a doubt.”
Jenkins comes to Fairbanks from Tacoma Community College, where last year he averaged a whopping 25.3 points while dishing out 5.6 assists and grabbing five rebounds per game. As a freshman, Jenkins saw action in all 32 games for NCAA Division I Portland State.
Provided he improves his conditioning, a possible backcourt mate for Jenkins is guard Kevin Buggs, who comes from Compton Community College after a year at DI San Jose State.
Other juco transfers at the guard/wing position include John Moe, a strong shooter from Everett Community College; Clay Edwin, a “slasher” wing from Eastern Arizona College; and 6-foot-5 Tony Wilson, by way of Anchorage East High School and Yakima Junior College.
Aaron Jones, a “combo guard” from Milwaukee who last played hoops in Florida and Casper Andersen, a 6-5 walk-on from Denmark, will also play wing.
The most promising newcomer in the post might be 6-7, 245-pound Demetrius Love, whom Johnson said could become an “inside force.”
“He’s going to be a bruiser. I have to get him in shape right now,” Johnson said, adding that there’s plenty of time for conditioning since the Nanooks’ first game isn’t until Nov. 15.
Then there’s “high-flying” 6-7 Kyle Rische (Yuba JC), who draws comparisons to Atkins because of his leaping and shot-blocking abilities.
Also playing in the paint will be 6-8 Tyler Colligan, a “paper-thin” freshman whom Johnson stumbled upon during a recruiting trip to Florida, and 6-8 freshman Evan Matteson, Colin’s brother from Lynnwood, Wash., who is a good mid-range shooter.
The freshman who Johnson laments losing, though, is Mason King, a 6-0 guard who led Bristol Bay High School to the Class 2A state championship game.
“Mason King drove all the way to Fairbanks to apologize to me, but at this time he just lost his desire to play basketball,” Johnson said recently.
King has instead enrolled at Alaska Anchorage, but Johnson said the Naknek native promised he would return to UAF if he decides to play basketball in the future.
Pew and Atkins
Pew, a former football and basketball star at Eielson High School, said Monday he’s “just weighing my options” but apparently returning to the Nanooks is not among them.
Pew, an athletic 6-1 guard, averaged 4.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 20 games last season.
“I’m just looking at working, saving some money,” said Pew, who is living in North Pole.
College athletics may still be in his future, however.
“I’m thinking about maybe going to a JC in Arizona and playing football there,” Pew said.
As for Atkins, the GNAC’s second-ranked rebounder last season, he said Monday that leaving UAF was a hard decision.
“I really hated to go because I had every intention of finishing (college) in Fairbanks,” Atkins said. “But I just had to make a decision that was right for me.”
When he wasn’t benched because of foul trouble or seemingly disinterested with being on the court, Atkins was an effective sophomore who averaged 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds a game. He could also energize the crowd by skying for a rebound or dunk.
But Atkins alluded to not seeing eye-to-eye with Johnson.
“What he wanted and I wanted wasn’t the same thing. ... I wanted to keep playing (the way I was). I thought everything was going good,” Atkins said.
Community Discussion
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Well damn....now I'm coming with my opinion on the fellas.
And as was the case with the ladies, I now focus on the men by saying: 1) the "dead wood" had to go...and 2): I have no qualms about saying why.
Folks! This is NCAA Division II basketball.
Just because you're in Fairbanks, Alaska makes that point no easier to deal with. You still have the bring your "A" game to the table.
I'm aware Coach Johnson and his Assistant Jocquis Sconiers spent much time on the road looking for viable talent capable of competing at the DII level. Hopefully, they'll be rewarded for their efforts.
Keeping them eligible and off the police blotter is another story...
Much success with that.
Coach Johnson said in this article "I can't go through another year like last year."
As one very close to the Nanook Men's and Women's basketball programs, Coach....neither can I.
Quite simply, last years team....pretty much loaded with players who "talked the talk," then "wet their pants" when the pressure got too intense.
Good Riddance to Kevin Atkins. What a "whiner," he drove me crazy during games. His quotes to Matais Saari in the article said it all. All about him.
One of the newcomers probably would have had him coming off the bench had he returned anyway.
Hometown boy Travis Pew, the former 3A First Team All-State performer, found out the hard way that the Great Northwest Athletic Conference is NOT 3A (Aurora Conference) Alaska Basketball...
The term "desire to play" is a major part of this game, and must be a part of you before you even step on the court. Ranks right up there with "overall talent."
His "desire to play," was definitely outweighed by his complete "desire not to be there," which had a true, and telling effect on his "overall talent."
Keven Campbell apparently thought he knew more than a man whose reached the highest pinnacle in this game (NBA World Champion) and who has coached the game as well, AND is much older.
He won't be missed.
And the TON of academic casualties? Equally frustrating, especially homegrown and wonderfully talented "Bo" Edwards.
Watching him play "rat ball," and City League in town, knowing he should be up "On the Hill" getting ready for his Sophomore year? I'll just say "Damn!"
These opportunities don't come every day. And "time," that "window of opportunity" called college eligibility, doesn't stand still either.
Despite losing Mike Titus to graduation, Coach Johnson brings back a nucleus of players that will (hopefully)SHUT THEIR (collective) mouth's and just play.
As for the newcomers?
Cat quick PG Emanuel Jenkins is going to be a real crowd pleaser, that's all I can say.
Ditto for Kevin Buggs, and high riser Kyle Rische.
Left handed big man Demetrius Love is a "beast" down low.....
And Clayton Edwin....born and raised here in Interior Alaska.....has "mad game" too, as do many others new to the program.
This could be a good year for the Nanook Men!
And "OldSkoolNook42" will be watching.
So,Old Skool, in saying,that. 5 GNAC wins? This year.No police reports,and passing grades would be a too much to expect.Or do you think it will not happen?
Time will tell. Just because you have won an NBA championship or played in the NBA "doesn't" make you a "good" coach. Oh, yes, the stories I have heard from inside the team about this fact alone. Wasn't the Assistant coach stopped for DUI? Volunteer tutors or paid? Isn't that a responsibility of the men's program?
Hey there oldskoolnook you sound like the coach. If the team is not having practice right now. Then how do you THINK you know so much ? Fact of the matter is that Coach Johnson is not a proven coach. So you should wait and see what happens this year. Losing one of your top players is never a good thing. You would think he would rebuild his program with the intention of keeping his solid players in place. But his arrogance has gotten him in this place. WE WILL SEE THIS SEASON WHAT HAPPENS !!
"OldSkool" is no fool"!
This is what UAF deserves. Sorry to say they are getting what some of the fools on the hill wanted, Lot's and lots of question marks. Too bad there isn't a whole lot of common sense and trust up there. I sure love watching the SHOOTOUT! :)
Maybe this year we can avoid all the legal trouble by purchasing each player an IPOD,cell phone, and maybe a nice Dell laptop (they would get a nice mail in rebate directly from Dell).
Players have to want to get the grades... meaning they have to try, put out effort, not just on the court.
Coach Johnson, sorry man, but I don't think you got what it takes, that is making men out of boys. Many of your charge have no moral compass, therefor they need leadership.
I hope I'm wrong about you, good luck.
Would the fool be Patrick Lee? When Johnson goes he needs to take his "Little buddy" with him. When is someone going to start to point the finger at Lee and Forest Karr for all the problems up there?
Oldskoolnook42 can you please do something about Lee playing in the alumni game? He didn't even go to UAF and they are letting him play. He did change the name of the school though but that doesn't count.
"thewatcher"... you obviously have never played sports, and when I say play, I do mean on the field and not just apart of the team... This is a D2 school in Fairbanks, Alaska, and you don't have a waiting list of players and/or coaches trying to get there. With that being said, it is true that being an NBA Champion may not make you a proven coach, but it does put you ahead of the curve. In actuality... upon checking his career record at the high school ranks, you will be able to see that it is very impressive. So, I don't know if you are expecting Phil Jackson, Coach K, Bobby Knight, etc. to apply for the vacancy, b/c once again this a D2 in Alaska, just in case your forgot. Next, if your top player is a part of the problem and not the solution, your program will never get to the point where you (the band-wagon fan) want them to be. So, even if the guys that were let go, or left on their accords were the best players that ever played at UAF..... THEY ONLY WON 5 GAMES. Having, played in a college team that has a very similar short-term history as what is going on Fairbanks, I completely understand what Coach Johnson is going through and what he is trying to accomplish. The past has nothing to do with the present, as those where not his players committing those acts of vandalism and/or not fulfilling their academic responsibilities.
For the other person who seemed to have a problem with the reference of tutors in the article, why not question whose responsibility it is and just try to help with the solution. Obviously, if they could pay for tutors, it would have been mentioned in the article.... Oldskool, I know it must be hard for you to enjoy the game, if all of these "fans" decide to show to the game... just know that in the end you will be able to have the last word.
Just want to leave you with this... You can't make chicken salad out of chicken s*@t....
Hey there "Watcher!"
I'm not a coach up there, but I still PLAY up there with former players, current players as well as most recently....the newcomer's.
That's a small part of how I KNOW what I'm talking about.
In my earlier post, I spoke MY mind.
You say losing your "best player" is never a good thing. And I agree.
But if your "best player" is one of the biggest attitudes on the team, whines about playing out of position...(who hasn't?).., fades in big games, all this while the TEAM depends mightily on that "best player," etc. etc.... you don't need that player.
And I REPEAT what I said earlier. From what I've seen so far from the newcomers and returning players that WANT to leave it all out on the court 100 percent, that "best player" and some others from last year, would have been coming off the bench this year...period.
As for Coach Johnson, it baffles me that after one year, everyone has an opinion about his abilities.
If it were some local "flavor," everyone would be screaming "give it a chance."
The man inherited a train wreck of a program last season.
Had no chance to recruit effectively, and basically had to work with what he had.
Mike Titus is now gone.....he played hurt most of the season, but he played with desire....and left it all out there. That rates high in my book.
I love the heart of a Colin Matteson, 6-8 and really truly more of a perimeter player. But Coach Johnson needed him to work inside against the really big fellas, and he just said "Okay" took a beating...returned the favor, and gave it his all.
No excuses!
A Nashorn Maynard, a very raw talent offensively, but one who is just relentless on the "boards," and a defensive "hawk."
Hey "Watcher," I actually WATCHED him most of the summer putting in work trying to develop a better jump shot. I love his work ethic.
He will get better.
No excuses!
A Mladen Begojevic. Playing hurt last year all season....knees pretty much "shot." What a warrior!
Hey "Watcher" I WATCHED him struggle through pickup games and workouts all summer.
He says it's his senior year....and he's playing, pain be damned.
Bobby Pico is back as well.
Coaches Johnson and Sconier's hit the road hard looking for viable talent to come North to Fairbanks.
Not willing to endure another year putting up with those that constantly complain, whine....talk the talk, but give little in return when they're called upon to deliver ON that talk.
True "legends in their own minds," that deserve to be elsewhere.
And even with all that....I wish them luck just the same.
So there you have just a little of what I DO know "Watcher."
Maybe I'll see you at the games.
And as for Patrick Lee playing in an Alumni Game, I made that call, mainly because our numbers were low, and we needed someone.
Wasn't his, mine or anyone else's fault the team we played that night surrendered a 20 plus point lead....and gave up the game winning 3 to Mr. Lee.
But it's ancient history...so get over it.
Oldskoolnook42,
Are you in line for the next coaching opening? I'm sure Patrick could set it up "LONG" before Clemons is out the door. :)
Anyone that really thinks alumni games means anything really has no clue.
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