Cuesta College Cougar Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball

Schedule

2011-12 Men's Basketball Schedule/Results

Game Notes

Coming soon....

Roster

Cuesta College 2011 Men's Basketball

Name

Pos

High School/Hometown

Adonai Solomon

5-10

160

Jensen Gym/Stockholm, SWE

Jeremy Landenbergue

6-2

170

Saint Jean/Lausanne, CHE

Denis Dobkowski-Rylko (no photo)

6-2

180

Jesuit/Gdynia, POL

Julio Velandia-Suarez

6-2

190

Oak Hill Academy, VA/Tunja, COL

Artur Kochetkov

6-1

190

Middle-Educational #11/Moscow, RUS

Luis Marrero

6-2

190

IES Guia/Gran Canaria, ESP

Kenny Robinson

5-11

185

King Drew/Carson

Barry Garfinkel

6-2

190

Sharet/Karkur, ISR

Marc Hopkinson

6-3

180

Nevada Union/Penn Valley

Calen Coleman

6-4

195

Liberty/Bakersfield

Sofian M'Rad

6-8

215

Schiller Oberschule/Berlin, DEU

Plamen Hristov

6-4

210

Balou/Sofia, BGR

Nick Sauer

6-6

220

Righetti/Santa Maria

Malte Kramer

6-7

220

Droste-Huelshoff Gym/ Freiburg, DEU

Kenny Ragatz

6-4

210

Del Rio/Paso Robles

Head Coach Rusty Blair

Assistant Casey Blair (3rd)

Assistant Alex Raj (1st)

Record/Years 351-268/ 20th

Office Phone (805) 546-3100 ext.2703

2010-11 Record 12-17

2011 WSC Rec/Fin 3-9/6th

Season Preview

Cuesta Basketball Hosts Rabobank Tourney To Open 2011-12

SAN LUIS OBISPO (November 7, 2011)— The Cuesta College Men’s Basketball team is set for a return to the post-season after its freshman-laden roster faltered down the stretch in 2011. The Cougars return eight players from last season, who are complemented by seven potential impact freshmen. Coach Rusty Blair (351-268/ 20th yr) says, “This is our largest sophomore class ever and we always seem to do well with sophomore-led teams,” he added, “None of our sophomores sat around this summer, they all improved their game in the off-season.” Coach Blair has high expectations for this group and each player understands his individual expectations of them. Blair says, “We talked to them as a team and let them all know face-to-face what they needed to do to play and what we expected of them. There are no questions.” If those expectations are met, the Cougars should bring the Western State Conference title back to SLO and go far in the post-season.

The 2010-11 Cougars will get their first test this weekend when they host the 43rd Rabobank Tournament. The Cougars open the event on Friday with SD Mesa at 8 PM. The games begin at 2 PM on Friday and the event will run until Sunday with the title game beginning at 5 PM on that day.

Below is a breakdown of the Cougars Roster.

Point Guard- Returning Starter Denis Dobkowski-Rylko (Gdynia, Poland) leads a talented group of guards running the show for the Cougars. Rylko took over the point position after the mid-season defection of Casey Rogers and went on to lead the team with 3.1 assists per game. Rylko is a tough defender and was second on the team with 32 steals. Coach Rusty Blair says, “He is a good leader and improved his shot in the off-season.” Rylko averaged 3.0 points per game last season and shot only 32.8% from the floor as a freshman. The Cougars are also excited about CSULA transfer Kenny Robinson (Carson). Blair says, “He is a true power point guard. He can shoot and penetrate. He can play either guard position.” Robinson was a two-time All Marine selection at King Drew High also earned All-City honors as a senior. The Cougars also have Adonai Solomon (Stockholm, Sweden) at the point position. Blair says, “He is a ‘heady’ point guard. He has a lot of experience and runs well.” However, Solomon is also team’s shortest and slightest player and could have trouble with bigger guards. The Cougars will also use Jeremy Landenbergue (Lausanne, Switzerland) at both guard positions and Blair believes he can play Calen Coleman (Bakersfield) at any position.

Off Guard- Once again the Cougars are loaded with perimeter shooters at the guard position. The Cougars expect Jeremy Landenbergue (Lausanne, Switzerland) to see plenty of time as a wing. Blair says, “He has been the early surprise this year. He was the leading scorer in both of our full inter-squad games. He is scores a ton. He is very smart, very smooth and has a lot of skills.” The Cougars also return long range bombers Luis Marrero (Gran Canaria, Spain) and Artur Kochetkov (Moscow, Russia), as well as newcomer Julio Velandia-Suarez (Tunja, Columbia). Marrero was named to the 2011 All Western State Conference Honorable Mention squad as a freshman. He battle injuries early in the season and played only six of the Cougars first 17 games. When healthy, he averaged over ten points a game during WSC play and 7.4 ppg on the year, while shooting 43.9% from beyond the arch. Blair says, “He has worked hard in the off-season and improved his ball handling and got stronger, but he is beginning the season injured again. “ The Cougars hope to see more of Marrero on the floor this season and for him to improve his rebounding, while remaining a deep threat. Kochetkov was buried deep on the Cougars bench for most of his freshman season, but made the most of his chances and worked himself into the rotation after scoring a team-high 18 points against local rival Allan Hancock late in the season. Blair says, “He is a pure shooter and a good passer.” Velandia-Suarez prepped at the well-known basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Blair says, “He is a vocal leader and very smart. He can run the team.” Suarez is good outside shooter, but may eventually move to the point. Blair believes he can play Calen Coleman (Bakersfield) at any position.

Small Forward- 2011 All Western State Conference First Team Small Forward Malte Kramer (Freiburg, Germany) is the Cougars top returner. He led the Cougars with 19.4 points per game and is considered one of the top players in the State. Blair says, “He has improved every part of his game and is stronger.” Kramer has missed most of the pre-season with nagging injuries, but is expected to again be a force for the Cougars this year. He led the 2010-11 team in 39 steals and was second on the team with 5.2 rebounds per game. The Cougars also have returners Barry Garfinkel (Karkur, Israel) and Marc Hopkinson (Penn Valley) set to play on the wing. Garfinkel was the Cougars back-up point guard at the end of last season, but Coach Blair envisions a different role for him this season. Blair says, “We moved him from point guard to the 2-3. He will be our defensive stopper and has to rebound.” Garfinkel is an intense defender and is well-suited to his new role. He average 3.0 points and 1.3 assists per game last year. Coach Blair calls Hopkinson his “wild card”. He says, “He can play at the 3, 4 or 5. He is quick and can shoot and rebound.” Hopkinson averaged 5.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game last year. Blair believes he can play Calen Coleman (Bakersfield) at any position.

Power Forward- Bakersfield College transfer Calen Coleman (Bakersfield) redshirted for the Cougars last year, but Coach Blair has high expectations for the three-time Southeast Yosemite League selection after working with him for a year. Blair says, “Calen is a DI caliber player. He is our most athletic player and our quickest. He has played everywhere for us (in the pre-season).” The Cougars will also use returner Nick Sauer (Santa Maria: Righetti HS) at the power forward position. Blair says, “ He knows the plays and shows good leadership.” Sauer has been nursing some early season injuries, but he is counted on to play strong interior defense and add some offense. He also owns some good moves around the basket and can hit the open jumper. He averaged 6.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as a freshman. The Cougars are also waiting to see what Tunisian National Junior Team member Sofian M’Rad (Berlin, Germany) can offer the team. M’Rad was injured on the first day of practice, however he is projected as the shot blocker and rebounder the Cougars need. He is the team tallest player, but has the speed to come off the wing, although the Cougars play to use him at power forward or center.

Center- Bulgarian National Junior Team member Plamen Hristov (Sofia, Bulgaria) will hold down the pivot for the Cougars. Coach Blair says, “We are moving him from the wing to the post. He is very strong underneath and a great rebounder.” Freshman Kenny Ragatz (Del Rio HS: Paso Robles) is the Cougars’ lone SLO County player, however he did not play high school basketball. Coach Blair pulled the 6-4 Center of his PE class. Blair believes Ragatz owns a skill set that compliments his team’s bevy of long-range shooters. He says, “He is strong inside, can rebound and play defense.”

Stats

Coming soon...

Quick Facts/Record