Bradenton, Fla. - The SCF basketball team will officially go underway with their season as they open up on the road Wednesday night, January 20 at 8 pm. The Manatees will travel to Marianna, FL to take on Chipola College at the Milton H. Johnson Center.
Last Time Out:
The Manatees are coming off of one of their best seasons in program history as they finished 21-11 overall with a 5-7 record in conference. The 21 wins for the Manatees were the most they have had from the 2010 ERA.
They would win the Suncoast Conference Tournament by defeating Polk State for the second straight season and qualify for the FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII State Tournament before falling to then #10 Tallahassee CC in the first round.
Meet the Staff:
The Manatees are led by head coach Tom Parks, who enters his third year as head coach. He is joined by assistant coaches Lem Andrews (12th year), Nav Gill (2nd year) and student assistant David Peck.
Rob Beckmann, who was the associate head coach for the Manatees has parted ways from the team and has decided to become an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at Independence CC.
Additionally, Travis Nesby joins the Manatees coaching staff as an assistant coach. Nesby is also assistant coach for the Booker High School boys basketball team in Sarasota.
Team Changes:
The team will be without seven players: D'Moi Hodge, Isiah Dasher, Remy Robert II, Christnoff "Chris" Scarborough, Max Bell-Ramos, Jean-Pierre "JP" Frederick and Michael Gavin as they have transferred to continue their collegiate basketball careers. Hodge, Dasher, Robert II, Scarborough and Bell-Ramos have graduated upon their transfers.
Hodge, a two-time All-Suncoast First Team member, will be attending Cleveland State University in Cleveland with two years of eligibility remaining. Hodge finished his sophomore campaign averaging 25.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while setting two program scoring records for SCF Basketball: Most Points in a Single Season (805) and Most Career Points (1,403) in program history.
Hodge, a two-time All-Suncoast First Team member, will be attending Cleveland State University in Cleveland with two years of eligibility remaining. Hodge finished his sophomore campaign averaging 25.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while setting two program scoring records for SCF Basketball: Most Points in a Single Season (805) and Most Career Points (1,403) in program history.
The Vikings finished last season 11-21 overall with a 7-11 record in the Horizon League (8th in conference standings).
Another two-time All-Suncoast First Team member, Dasher will be continuing his path at Portland University in Portland, Or with two years of eligibility remaining. Dasher was six points shy of reaching 1,000 points in his career and becoming the second active player to reach the milestone (first was Hodge), yet Dasher finished his sophomore campaign averaging 15.6 points, five rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
The Pilots finished last season 9-23 overall with a 1-15 record in the West Coast Conference (last in conference standings).
Like Dasher, Scarborough will also be heading to the west coast as he will continue playing at Holy Names University (NCAA DII) in Oakland, California with two years of eligibility remaining. Although he mainly played as a backup center, the Clearwater native finished his sophomore campaign averaging 5.1 points and four rebounds per game, which including a career-high 16 points and his first collegiate double-double.
The Hawks finished last season 8-20 overall with a 6-16 record in the Pac West Conference (10th in conference standings).
Robert II will be the third Manatee to go DI as he will be transferring to Wichita State University as a walk-on with two years of eligibility remaining. The Baton Rouge native finished his sophomore campaign averaging 3.8 points per game with a 27.8% 3-point percentage.
The Shockers finished the 2019-20 season 23-8 overall with an 11-7 record in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) (4th in the conference standings), however they were unable to play in their conference tournament due to COVID-19. They did finish 5-1 against Power 5 Conference schools and included three upset wins against a Top 25 team (#25 VCU, #25 Oklahoma State and #21 Memphis).
Bell-Ramos will continue his collegiate basketball career at Lane College, a historically black college in Jackson, Tennessee. Bell-Ramos finished his sophomore campaign averaging 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, which included a career-high 14 points on two occasions. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Another two-time All-Suncoast First Team member, Dasher will be continuing his path at Portland University in Portland, Or with two years of eligibility remaining. Dasher was six points shy of reaching 1,000 points in his career and becoming the second active player to reach the milestone (first was Hodge), yet Dasher finished his sophomore campaign averaging 15.6 points, five rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
The Pilots finished last season 9-23 overall with a 1-15 record in the West Coast Conference (last in conference standings).
Like Dasher, Scarborough will also be heading to the west coast as he will continue playing at Holy Names University (NCAA DII) in Oakland, California with two years of eligibility remaining. Although he mainly played as a backup center, the Clearwater native finished his sophomore campaign averaging 5.1 points and four rebounds per game, which including a career-high 16 points and his first collegiate double-double.
The Hawks finished last season 8-20 overall with a 6-16 record in the Pac West Conference (10th in conference standings).
Robert II will be the third Manatee to go DI as he will be transferring to Wichita State University as a walk-on with two years of eligibility remaining. The Baton Rouge native finished his sophomore campaign averaging 3.8 points per game with a 27.8% 3-point percentage.
The Shockers finished the 2019-20 season 23-8 overall with an 11-7 record in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) (4th in the conference standings), however they were unable to play in their conference tournament due to COVID-19. They did finish 5-1 against Power 5 Conference schools and included three upset wins against a Top 25 team (#25 VCU, #25 Oklahoma State and #21 Memphis).
Bell-Ramos will continue his collegiate basketball career at Lane College, a historically black college in Jackson, Tennessee. Bell-Ramos finished his sophomore campaign averaging 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, which included a career-high 14 points on two occasions. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
The Dragons, who are a part of the NCAA DII Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) finished last season 11-17 overall with a 7-12 record in western standings of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (5th in the conference standings).
Frederick, who was unable to play for the Manatees due to several issues with the NJCAA and a previous non-athletic college in Saint Lucia he attended, has also parted ways with SCF and will be enrolling at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan as a redshirt freshman with all four years of eligibility remaining.
The Timberwolves, who are a part of the NCAA DII Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), finished the 2019-20 season 18-13 overall with an 11-9 record in the GLIAC before losing in the finals of the conference tournament.
Gavin has decided to transfer to Keiser University (NAIA) with three years of eligibility remaining. Gavin finished his freshman campaign averaging five points per game with a 37.1 three-point percentage, which included a game-high 16 points against Impact Academy (11/30/19). He will be joining senior fellow SCF Alum Corey Davis on the team.
The Seahawks, who were ranked No. 21 in the nation in the NAIA, finished last season 23-7 overall with a 14-4 record in the Sun Conference. They would make it to the Sun Conference Tournament and yet despite losing in the semifinals, they still managed to qualify for the NAIA National Tournament.
Farewell Suncoast, Hello Southern Conference:
It was just announced that men's basketball will no longer be competing in the Suncoast Conference as it is now has been defunct. The Manatees and three-time Suncoast Conference Regular Season Champions, Florida Southwestern State (FSW) and St. Petersburg College will now be joining the Southern Conference starting in 2020-21. The Manatees, Titans and the Buccaneers will be joining their new conference spot with Miami Dade (MDC), Palm Beach State (PBSC) and defending Southern Conference Regular Season Champions Indian River State.
On June 30, Broward College, who was an originally member of the Southern Conference, made the decision to discontinue their athletics due to their budget cuts.
It was just announced that men's basketball will no longer be competing in the Suncoast Conference as it is now has been defunct. The Manatees and three-time Suncoast Conference Regular Season Champions, Florida Southwestern State (FSW) and St. Petersburg College will now be joining the Southern Conference starting in 2020-21. The Manatees, Titans and the Buccaneers will be joining their new conference spot with Miami Dade (MDC), Palm Beach State (PBSC) and defending Southern Conference Regular Season Champions Indian River State.
On June 30, Broward College, who was an originally member of the Southern Conference, made the decision to discontinue their athletics due to their budget cuts.
ASA Miami has made the decision to cancel their 2020-21 athletic season due to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the remaining members of the Suncoast, Polk State and Hillsborough, will be joining the Mid-Florida Conference with Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), Eastern Florida State (EFSC), Santa Fe and Daytona State.
Meanwhile, the remaining members of the Suncoast, Polk State and Hillsborough, will be joining the Mid-Florida Conference with Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), Eastern Florida State (EFSC), Santa Fe and Daytona State.
Central Florida, the defending Mid-Florida Regular Season Champions, will not be participating as they have cut their men's and women's basketball teams.
The Panhandle Conference remains in tact with their members, TCC, Gulf Coast State (GCSC), Pensacola (PSC), Chipola and Northwest Florida (NWFS).
Despite the change for men's basketball, the SCF volleyball, softball and baseball teams will remain in the Suncoast Conference while women's tennis and beach volleyball remain in their respective conferences.
Despite the change for men's basketball, the SCF volleyball, softball and baseball teams will remain in the Suncoast Conference while women's tennis and beach volleyball remain in their respective conferences.
NJCAA Changes:
The NJCAA recently announced on July 13 that due to the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), all of their fall and winter sports (indoor volleyball, football, men's and women's basketball, wrestling, and swimming and diving) have been pushed back to start in January. Baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis (DI and DII) and beach volleyball will run their normal scheduling with a few minor adjustments to their schedules.
In the case with all men's and women's junior college basketball teams, the NJCAA has ruled that all junior colleges will play a maximum of 22 games with the inclusion of non-conference play^.
^side note: the amount of non-conference games will vary based upon the decision of the regions.
The NJCAA also stated that the board of directors approved a blanket waiver on Thursday for all sports in the 2020-21 season, meaning athletes at 512 member institutions in 45 states will not lose a year of eligibility regardless of their levels of participation this year.
Last Season's Suncoast Standings:
1. #1 FSW (29-2, 12-0)
2. Polk State (21-10, 7-5)
3. SCF (21-12, 5-7)
4. SPC (14-17, 4-8)
5. HCC (10-18, 2-10)
Last Season's Southern Standings:
1. Indian River State (22-8, 11-1)
*2. Broward (17-10, 7-5)
3. MDC (18-11, 5-7)
4. PBSC (13-17, 4-8)
5. ASA Miami (9-21, 3-9)
Although a majority of his season was a tough battle between a MCL injury and sickness, Grayson, a native of Ipswich, Australia, was able to average 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in 23 with his best game against Santa Fe College where he had 10 points and five rebounds.
The NCAA, which has also issued a waiver for competition this season, will not automatically apply the NJCAA's decision for transfer students, and will require NCAA schools to submit a waiver or extension request for review based on each athlete's specific situation. But it's likely the NJCAA's waiver will be considered in the process.
The junior college organization's ruling potentially means that freshmen could play this spring and still enter a four-year school with four years of eligibility. Likewise, junior college athletes would be eligible to return for a third season.
1. #1 FSW (29-2, 12-0)
2. Polk State (21-10, 7-5)
3. SCF (21-12, 5-7)
4. SPC (14-17, 4-8)
5. HCC (10-18, 2-10)
Last Season's Southern Standings:
1. Indian River State (22-8, 11-1)
*2. Broward (17-10, 7-5)
3. MDC (18-11, 5-7)
4. PBSC (13-17, 4-8)
5. ASA Miami (9-21, 3-9)
*Final season for the Seahawks
This Season's Southern Conference Look:
1. SCF
2. FSW
3. MDC
4. PBSC
5. SPC
6. Indian River
Next Season's New Bloods:
For the upcoming "3rd Herd", Parks confirmed on January 20 that he had signed four players to join SCF next season: Kwo Agwa, Michael Hatcher, DK Kelly and Javon Bell. Parks then confirmed in April that he signed three more newcomers, Luke LeCroy, Joe Stubbs and James "Pop" Weathers.
Next Season's New Bloods:
For the upcoming "3rd Herd", Parks confirmed on January 20 that he had signed four players to join SCF next season: Kwo Agwa, Michael Hatcher, DK Kelly and Javon Bell. Parks then confirmed in April that he signed three more newcomers, Luke LeCroy, Joe Stubbs and James "Pop" Weathers.
Redshirt freshmen Rae Miller and Christian Nieto, who were walk-ons last season, will be making their debuts after sitting out last season.
The Manatees did add two more additions to their team to complete the roster: Darik Tannis-Harriet and Tethloach Tut.
Initially, the Manatees attempted to sign Hunter Madden, a native of Sydney, Australia and developmental player of the Sydney Kings in the National Basketball League (Australia), but has committed to play for the University of Idaho instead.
Keenan Willie, another recruit from Australia that initially signed, has decided to go pro back in Australia.
Kwo Agwa:
Keenan Willie, another recruit from Australia that initially signed, has decided to go pro back in Australia.
Kwo Agwa:
A 6-7 swingman from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, by way of South Sudan, Agwa will come from the Edge School in Calgary. Agwa played in only four games with Edge due to an injury while averaging 17.5 points per game.
Michael Hatcher:
Michael Hatcher:
A 6-6 wing, Hatcher is a local product from Palmetto High School in Palmetto, Florida. As a senior, Hatcher averaged 18.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game with the Tigers while being named Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 16 Boys Basketball Player of the year and helping the Tigers to a 15-7 overall record and reach the regional quarterfinals of the FHSAA 6A State Tournament.
*Javon Bell:
*Javon Bell:
A 6-4 wing, Bell committed to SCF and will join upon finishing his senior year at Santa Fe Catholic School in Lakeland, Florida. Bell was a two-sport athlete playing both football and basketball.
As a football player, Bell had 87 yards and a touchdown his junior year with the Hawks before primarily focusing on playing basketball. Bell finished his senior year averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.9 steals per game and finishing his career with averaging 16.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 2.1 steals per game.
In three seasons of varsity play, Bell tallied up 932 career points, 384 rebounds, 122 blocks and 122 steals with the Hawks.
Decorrian "DK" Kelly:
Decorrian "DK" Kelly:
A 6-1 guard from Memphis, TN, Kelly will join SCF upon his completion of his postgraduate year at Huntington Prep in West Virginia. Prior to that, Kelly graduated from Bolton High School in Arlington, Tennessee where he averaged 16.4 points, six rebounds and 3.3 steals per game.
*Joe Stubbs:
*Joe Stubbs:
A 6-4 guard, Stubbs joins fellow teammate Bell after wrapping up his senior year at Santa Fe Catholic School in Lakeland, Florida and was also a two-sport athlete playing football and basketball.
As a football player, Stubbs had 154 yards and two touchdowns before focusing primarily on basketball. Stubbs averaged 16.7 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists per game his senior year and 17.3 points, six rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for his career.
*Side Note: Both Bell and Stubbs helped lead the Santa Fe Catholic to the Regional Finals of the FHSAA 3A State Tournament before losing to Saint Andrews. They were both named to the FHSAA All-County Boys Basketball First Team.
Luke Lecroy:
Luke Lecroy:
Lecroy, a 6-7 wing, is another local product from Lakewood Ranch High School. A two-year varsity member, Lecroy helped lead head coach Jeremy Schiller to an 18-8 overall record (10-0 at home) with a 1-0 district record (7A) and to the regional quarterfinals of the FHSAA 7A State Tournament his senior year, while being named an honorable mention for the Herald Tribune Prep All-Area Boys Basketball Team. As a senior, Lecroy averaged 11.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
As a junior for the Mustangs, Lecroy averaged 4.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while the Mustangs finished the 2018-19 season 24-7 overall with a 11-0 district record (7A) before being named the FHSAA 7A State Runner-Up.
James "Pop" Weathers:
A 6-0 guard from Baton Rogue, LA, Weathers joins SCF after completing his high school career at Glen Oaks Senior High School under the wing of head coach Harvey Adger. There he helped lead the Panthers to the state tournament for three straight seasons.
Rae Miller:
Rae Miller:
A 6-7 wing from Satellite Beach, Miller joined SCF last season as a walk-on after graduating from Riverview High School in Sarasota in 2019.
As a junior with Satellite Beach High School, Miller averaged 8.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game before parting ways. Miller then tried out and joined in success, yet chose to redshirt due to an injury and to maintain his two years of eligibility.
Christian Nieto:
Like Miller, Nieto joined SCF as a walk-on last season. A 6-2 guard, Nieto joined after graduating from Lake Brantley High School. During his freshman campaign, Nieto started playing Forest Lake Academy in Apopka, Florida on the junior varsity team before transitioning to the varsity level his sophomore year.
After finishing the 2015-16 season with a record of 12-13, Nieto transferred to Lake Brantley his junior year where the team finished 8-18. Nieto averaged 5.8 points per game before parting ways. Nieto joined Miller as a walk-on for SCF in success, while choosing to redshirt. Nieto will play only this season and is hoping to transfer to a university with three years of eligibility remaining.
Darik Tannis-Harriet:
A 6-3 combo guard from London, England, Tannis-Harriet joins the Manatees as a walk-on for the team. He played his sophomore year with Florida Prep before playing the last two seasons with Victory Rock Prep where he averaged 19 points and 5.6 assists per game. As a member of Florida Prep, Tannis-Harriet helped lead the Falcons to the regional finals of the FHSAA 2A State Tournament.
Tannis-Harriet follows the footsteps of his older brother and SCF alum, Dominik. Dominik played for the Manatees during the 2013-14 season where he averaged 5.6 points per game in 13 games (three starts).
Tethloach Tut:
A 6-6 wing from Omaha, Nebraska, Tut joins the team as a late addition after graduating from Omaha Central High School.
As a member of the Eagles for his last two seasons on varsity, Tut averaged three points and 2.5 rebounds per game and helped lead the team to the NSAA State Championship twice where they were named the runner-up in the 2019 finals and placed in the quarterfinals in the 2020 state tournament. He averaged 2.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game as a junior and 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game as a senior.
Big Returns:
Along with the newcomers, Parks brings back three returners for their sophomore campaigns: Jordan Clark, Marshall Kearing and Sam Grayson.
Clark, the lone returning local product from Booker High School, started all but one of his 33 games played where he averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. At the end of the Suncoast Tournament, Clark was named a member of the All-Suncoast Second Team. In fact, Clark was the only Manatee named to the All-Suncoast Second Team. Clark's season-best scoring game was against ASA Miami scoring 27 points with eight rebounds.
Kearing started 30 of his 33 games played averaging 11.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game while completing five double-doubles. A native of Perth, Australia, Kearing joined Hodge and Dasher as a member of the All-Suncoast First Team in which his best game was in the Suncoast Conference Tournament Finals where he had 25 points, nine rebounds and a season-high eight blocks.
Clark, the lone returning local product from Booker High School, started all but one of his 33 games played where he averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. At the end of the Suncoast Tournament, Clark was named a member of the All-Suncoast Second Team. In fact, Clark was the only Manatee named to the All-Suncoast Second Team. Clark's season-best scoring game was against ASA Miami scoring 27 points with eight rebounds.
Kearing started 30 of his 33 games played averaging 11.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game while completing five double-doubles. A native of Perth, Australia, Kearing joined Hodge and Dasher as a member of the All-Suncoast First Team in which his best game was in the Suncoast Conference Tournament Finals where he had 25 points, nine rebounds and a season-high eight blocks.
Although a majority of his season was a tough battle between a MCL injury and sickness, Grayson, a native of Ipswich, Australia, was able to average 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in 23 with his best game against Santa Fe College where he had 10 points and five rebounds.
Scouting Chipola:
Chipola finished last season 18-10 overall with a 6-6 record in the Panhandle Conference (fourth place finish). They did not qualify for the FSCAA State Tournament.
The Indians will welcome their new head coach Donnie Tyndall. Tyndall joins the team after spending last season with the Detroit Pistons G-League team, the Grand Rapids Drive, as their head coach. He will bring 22 years of coaching experience to Chipola, which includes 18 years of collegiate experience at the NCAA DI level (LSU, Idaho, Middle Tennessee, Morehead State, Southern Miss and Tennessee) to as well as four years of experience at the NBA G-League level.
The Indians will be without five players, which include leading scorer Cheikh Faye, who averaged 12.4 points per game and Lat Mayen, their leading rebounder (8.4 rebounds per game). Mayen was on the All-Panhandle First Team, while Faye was on the All-Panhandle Second Team.
The main returners for the Indians include redshirt sophomore Marial Mading, Lance Irving and Ishan White.
Mading, a big man from Perth, Australia, finished his redshirt freshman year averaging 12 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He joined Mayen on the All-Panhandle First Team.
Irvin finished his true freshman campaign averaging 10 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
White, the team’s predominant sixth man, averaged 11.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last season
Series History (2011-present):
Overall, the Manatees are 0-1 against the Indians, dating back to November 21, 2015 where they lost 100-70 at home.
How to Keep Up:
Fans can keep up with both teams on Twitter:
SCF: @SCF_Baskeball
Chipola: @ChipolaHoops
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