Preseason Preview: Men's Basketball
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. - For the first time in 19 years, there will be a new face as head coach of the Finger Lakes Community College men's basketball program. After long-time coach Richard Jones announced his retirement in January of 2022, assistant coach Jeffrey Weaver announced his transition to head coach of the program for the 2022-23' season.
Fast forward, 9 months later, the Lakers are less than a week away from kicking off the 2022-23' campaign, starting with the season opener at Monroe Community College on Tuesday, November 1st.
The Lakers return three from last year's team, while welcoming several new faces to the program, one of the team's strengths, "we have a solid mix of returning guys and incoming freshman", stated head coach Jeffrey Weaver. Those returners include one starter, Jevonte Williams (Rochester, N.Y./ Rush Henrietta), along with Danny Amador (Naples, F.L./ Palmetto Ridge) and Paxton Creek (Kalgoorie, Australia/ Eastern Goldfields) who saw time off the bench last season. Williams was second on the team in scoring in 2021-22', averaging 16 points, while adding 4.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
A reliable option for the Lakers this season, Amador started five games for the Lakers last year, providing value as a two-way player on the floor. Despite limited minutes last season, sharpshooter Paxton Creek shot an efficient 41.8% from 3-point range, proving to be a true threat at the permitter for opposing defenders. Creek will look to make the jump this year, leading by example for the new faces in the program, including...
Head coach Jeffrey Weaver will rely on his sophomores to step up as role models for the newcomers, "I expect they will provide solid leadership, guidance, and mentoring for them as they (the freshman) go through the growing pains of being a student-athlete".
"I emphasize to these guys every day to try to be better student-athletes, people, and overall basketball players. I want them to buy in to what we are trying to accomplish as a program...if we can do that, the basketball part should take care of itself", Weaver explained. With some growing pains, the Lakers remain focused on staying competitive in regional play, and qualifying for the post-season Region III tournament.
For now, we will wait for a highly anticipated 2022-23' season under the first-year head coach and his squad.