Dec 1, 2009

MOUNT IDA MEN'S BASKETBALL 2009-2010 PREVIEW

Mount Ida College men's basketball Head Coach Rico Cabral has made some drastic changes to the style of play his team will feature this season with a fast paced, high powered attack paired with a guard driven offense followed by precision outside shooting to compete in their third season as member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). The Mustangs will look to build on an 11-14 overall season record in 2008-2009 after going 5-13 in GNAC play.

The Mustangs return eight upperclassmen to the roster this season and add seven newcomers to the squad to start the season. With a lack of height and the loss of key senior Matt Bennett and other role players in Michael Dunham, Gino Dipietro, and Bruce Cary, the Mustangs will look to out hustle and tire out their opponents with a fast paced offense and bludgeoning defense.

Senior Darren Martinez (Dorchester, MA/Brookline) has been named captain by his teammates for 2009-2010. Martinez, who is in his second consecutive season as captain, is a solid leader who will be a strong voice for his team on and off the court. Martinez will be the main ball handler for the Mustangs with great floor vision and is one of the best ball defenders on the team. He will be vital to the success of the program this year.

Sophomore forward Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, MA/Central Catholic) will be another key element this season as the primary post player as an undersized, hardworking powerhouse forward. Hillery poses a great threat as an overall solid rebounder with great strength bringing a great amount of athleticism for a big man.

Sophomore forward/guard Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F.T. Maloney) is fresh off the gridiron after another outstanding season with the Mount Ida College football family. Bunch, who was named Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Offensive Player-of-the-Year, will be a huge factor in the success of the men's basketball program. Bunch is nothing short of brilliant on the court with explosive slashing speed getting to the basket as a power guard. He is a polished free throw shooter and a big threat from beyond the three point arc.

Sophomore guard Joe Cabral (Walpole, MA/Walpole) returns for his second season of Mustang hoops. Cabral has made many improvements all around and will be one of the most aggressive rebounders on the team this year. Cabral will be called on to guard the opposing team's biggest threat offensively and will be a huge part in the defensive scheme. Cabral is a solid leader who will contribute in many aspects of the game throughout the season.

Sophomore guard Keith Jones (Boston, MA/Cathedral) joins the Mount Ida men's basketball program for his first season as a Mustang. Jones, a transfer from Mass. Bay Community College, will be a big asset to Mount Ida as a lane slasher who finishes at the rim. He is a huge threat from three point range and brings solid free throw shooting consistency. Jones will be a key piece to the Mustangs puzzle this year bringing a very high basketball IQ to the table.

Junior forward Teddy Louis (Malden, MA/Malden Catholic) will be one of the top post players for Mount Ida this season with a hard working attitude and a soft touch around the basket. Louis will not only be a threat down low offensively, but brings a "tough as nails", hard working defensive mentality to the table.

Sophomore guard Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, CT/the Masters School) comes back to the Mustangs for his second season. Benjamin will see a lot more minutes than last year with improved outside shooting ability. He is a versatile athlete bringing scrappy, aggressive defense along with a slasher mentality. Benjamin will be the teams' main three point attacker who displays good range with the ability to get to the basket.

Freshman guard Jonathan Figueroa (Hartford, CT/Howell Cheney Tech.) joins the Mustangs in his first season at Mount Ida. Figueroa will have an immediate impact as an off the bench player with lightning quick speed as a combo guard with outstanding three point shooting ability. Figueroa will become a vital threat to the Mustangs offense throughout the season with game changing potential.

Junior guard Brian Hapgood (Braintree, MA/Braintree) comes back to Mount Ida for his third season of Mustang basketball. He is a veteran who will lead by example with tireless effort and hustle day in and day out bringing devastating defensive skills.

Sophomore forward Jimmy Wenz (Bayport, NY/Bayport-Blue Point) returns for his second season with the Mount Ida men's basketball program. Wenz is a hard working post player with solid inside moves with great touch around the rim.

Sophomore forward/guard Nick Lynch (Hampton Bays, NY/Hampton Bays) joins the Mustangs for his first season with the men's basketball program fresh off his second year with the football team. Lynch was selected to the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) first team All-Conference as a tight end. He is a tough, inside and out threat who will be an asset in the rebounding game with a tireless, hardworking mentality. Lynch also brings a solid outside touch from the three point line.

Junior forward Thomas Belton (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) returns to the Mustangs after a year hiatus. Belton will be a solid inside presence in the post position as the tallest player on the roster. Belton brings athleticism and a soft touch with good range.

Freshmen Cliff Desrosena (Woburn, MA/Woburn), Ashton Johnson (New Haven, CT/Notre Dame), and Nick Montinino (Dighton, MA/Dighton-Rehoboth) round out the 2009-2010 Mount Ida men's basketball roster. Desrosena made the squad as a walk-on and will bring a lot of energy and intensity off the bench. Johnson is a hustle player with outstanding defensive skill, thought of as a defensive specialist. Montinino is a big, bruising power forward with excellent shot blocking and rebounding ability.



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The Mustangs will look to build on an 11-14 overall season record in 2008-2009 after going 5-13 in GNAC play. The Mustangs return eight upperclassmen to the roster this season and add seven newcomers to the squad to start the season. With a lack of height and the loss of key senior Matt Bennett and other role players in Michael Dunham, Gino Dipietro, and Bruce Cary, the Mustangs will look to out hustle and tire out their opponents with a fast paced offense and bludgeoning defense. Senior Darren Martinez (Dorchester, MA/Brookline) has been named captain by his teammates for 2009-2010. Martinez, who is in his second consecutive season as captain, is a solid leader who will be a strong voice for his team on and off the court. Martinez will be the main ball handler for the Mustangs with great floor vision and is one of the best ball defenders on the team. He will be vital to the success of the program this year. Sophomore forward Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, MA/Central Catholic) will be another key element this season as the primary post player as an undersized, hardworking powerhouse forward. Hillery poses a great threat as an overall solid rebounder with great strength bringing a great amount of athleticism for a big man. Sophomore forward/guard Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F.T. Maloney) is fresh off the gridiron after another outstanding season with the Mount Ida College football family. Bunch, who was named Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Offensive Player-of-the-Year, will be a huge factor in the success of the men's basketball program. Bunch is nothing short of brilliant on the court with explosive slashing speed getting to the basket as a power guard. He is a polished free throw shooter and a big threat from beyond the three point arc. Sophomore guard Joe Cabral (Walpole, MA/Walpole) returns for his second season of Mustang hoops. Cabral has made many improvements all around and will be one of the most aggressive rebounders on the team this year. Cabral will be called on to guard the opposing team's biggest threat offensively and will be a huge part in the defensive scheme. Cabral is a solid leader who will contribute in many aspects of the game throughout the season. Sophomore guard Keith Jones (Boston, MA/Cathedral) joins the Mount Ida men's basketball program for his first season as a Mustang. Jones, a transfer from Mass. Bay Community College, will be a big asset to Mount Ida as a lane slasher who finishes at the rim. He is a huge threat from three point range and brings solid free throw shooting consistency. Jones will be a key piece to the Mustangs puzzle this year bringing a very high basketball IQ to the table. Junior forward Teddy Louis (Malden, MA/Malden Catholic) will be one of the top post players for Mount Ida this season with a hard working attitude and a soft touch around the basket. Louis will not only be a threat down low offensively, but brings a "tough as nails", hard working defensive mentality to the table. Sophomore guard Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, CT/the Masters School) comes back to the Mustangs for his second season. Benjamin will see a lot more minutes than last year with improved outside shooting ability. He is a versatile athlete bringing scrappy, aggressive defense along with a slasher mentality. Benjamin will be the teams' main three point attacker who displays good range with the ability to get to the basket. Freshman guard Jonathan Figueroa (Hartford, CT/Howell Cheney Tech.) joins the Mustangs in his first season at Mount Ida. Figueroa will have an immediate impact as an off the bench player with lightning quick speed as a combo guard with outstanding three point shooting ability. Figueroa will become a vital threat to the Mustangs offense throughout the season with game changing potential. Junior guard Brian Hapgood (Braintree, MA/Braintree) comes back to Mount Ida for his third season of Mustang basketball. He is a veteran who will lead by example with tireless effort and hustle day in and day out bringing devastating defensive skills. Sophomore forward Jimmy Wenz (Bayport, NY/Bayport-Blue Point) returns for his second season with the Mount Ida men's basketball program. Wenz is a hard working post player with solid inside moves with great touch around the rim. Sophomore forward/guard Nick Lynch (Hampton Bays, NY/Hampton Bays) joins the Mustangs for his first season with the men's basketball program fresh off his second year with the football team. Lynch was selected to the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) first team All-Conference as a tight end. He is a tough, inside and out threat who will be an asset in the rebounding game with a tireless, hardworking mentality. Lynch also brings a solid outside touch from the three point line. Junior forward Thomas Belton (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) returns to the Mustangs after a year hiatus. Belton will be a solid inside presence in the post position as the tallest player on the roster. Belton brings athleticism and a soft touch with good range. Freshmen Cliff Desrosena (Woburn, MA/Woburn), Ashton Johnson (New Haven, CT/Notre Dame), and Nick Montinino (Dighton, MA/Dighton-Rehoboth) round out the 2009-2010 Mount Ida men's basketball roster. Desrosena made the squad as a walk-on and will bring a lot of energy and intensity off the bench. Johnson is a hustle player with outstanding defensive skill, thought of as a defensive specialist. Montinino is a big, bruising power forward with excellent shot blocking and rebounding ability.