Michigan JUCO Preview

"It's not a cakewalk"

JUCO basketball is serious in Michigan, where Mott reigns once again

3 November 2007

greatlakeshoops.com

Flint-- You probably have something in common with Mott College's star forward, Thomas Kennedy.

Now, before you get too excited, I should say that it has nothing to do with basketball talent. Let's face it, you probably aren't anywhere near as good as the 6-7 small forward from Detroit Southeastern.

But, like Kennedy (right) was before his freshman season at Mott, you might be clueless about junior college basketball.

"I didn’t know anything about (JUCO ball) when I got here," said Kennedy, who is rated as one of the top 100 junior college prospects in the nation. "It’s all what you make it…it depends on your attitude and what kind of person you are. It’s not a cakewalk, I can tell you that. It’s not just like ‘oh I can go in there and just dominate’; you’ve got to work just like anywhere else."

One thing is clear, JUCO ball probably isn't what you think it is.

The top programs in the state of Michigan at the JUCO level turn out big-time players every single season, many of whom play at the division one level.

Mott, the top-ranked team in Michigan (and the country), sent four of its five sophomores to division one last season and its fifth went to division two.

"JUCO players bring it every night," said Jeremie Simmons, Mott's lead guard who is being recruited by high major conferences. "They have something to prove, to show people that they can play at the division one level. It’s competitive every game."

Simmons is unique in that he was an all-city guard from Chicago--not exactly chopped liver at the high school level. Not every player is Jeremie Simmons, but there are many, just in this state alone, who will leave their respective schools for major programs.

"It's competition at the JUCO level," said Mott sophomore, Lamarr Drake (left), another Chicago native. "There are good players at this level. You've got to come down and see about it. That's all I can say. It's not as easy as people seem to think."

Mott's head coach, Steve Schmidt, is once again confident that he will send four sophomores into division one.

One of Mott's major in-state rivals, Lansing, will undoubtedly send a few of their own, including preseason third team All-American Muhammed el-Amin.

Last season, Schoolcraft College in Livonia boasted a starting lineup of no fewer than four current or former division one players including two players, Korey Spates and Nate Minnoy, who played at Purdue as freshmen.

And while those two backed their way into junior college, many use it as a springboard to bigger and better things. Many players make up for lost time on the court and in the classroom.

Mott's Alvin Pegues (right), for example, came to Mott by way of family ties to another player who had played at Mott years ago. He came from Brooklyn, New York, where he was a solid, but certainly not transcendent, player.

After coming to Mott as a walk-on last season, Pegues rode the end of the bench to start the season before earning more and more tick thanks, in large part, to his dedication to defense.

Entering this season, Pegues is now on scholarship and is earning a reputation as one of the top on-the-ball defenders at this level in the nation.

The JUCO ranks are chock-full of great stories like Alvin's. For another, just Google the name Kevin Tiggs.

Simmons to fill big shoes

This year's team has a lot to live up to after Mott's first 35-win season in school history, one that culminated in another national championship.

"You can’t really compare us, it was a totally different team last year," said Simmons (left) of a Mott team that has seen a shift in the balance of power from the frontcourt to the backcourt following the departure of Tiggs and Terrence Watson. "I think we are good together, though. Last year we played hard-nosed defense every night, and on every possession. We had good leadership from our sophomores and we are going to have to do that this year. We are going to have to motivate the freshmen to keep them in the game, mentally. And then I think everything will fall into place as the season gets rolling."

Simmons will have to steer the ship this season as the Bears top returning scorer (17 points per game). The 6-2 do-all guard is extremely athletic, ridiculously quick with the ball and as good at finishing at the rim as anyone in the country at the college level. He's an unselfish superstar who is ready, willing and able to step into the big shoes worn by Watson and Tiggs.

"Last year I was playing behind Kevin (Tiggs) a little bit, but this year I am going to have to step up and be a leader," said Simmons, the top freshman in the MCCAA last season. "And I am probably going to have to shoot more."

And, had Coach Schmidt had his druthers last season, Simmons would have shot the ball 20 times every game; but, Simmons is a team player in the truest sense of the term.

"I have so much respect for him," said Schmidt (right), the 2006-2007 NJCAA national coach of the year. He is unique--quiet, yet driven. He does things that I have had only a handful of kids capable of doing."

Simmons is the total package, and after a tremendous performance at Mott's last Jamboree in Evansville, Indiana, his days as an unknown commodity appear to be over.

And while he may bear a striking resemblance to Aaron Owens from the And 1 Tour (hence his given nickname "AO"), he certainly doesn't play like anyone with a mixtape.

"I am the kind of player who is going to bring it every night, to score, to play defense and to try my hardest to get the ‘w’ at the end of the game," he said. "I don’t really compare myself to other guards, I feel like I'm a one-of-a-kind. I don’t try to copy somebody else’s style or anything; I just try to be me."

Two weeks ago when I called Coach Schmidt for a comment or two on the Bears' recently announced #1 ranking, I asked him what he thought about Simmons being named a preseason first team All-American. It was news to Schmidt.

"Hold on a minute," said Schmidt, who was in Danville with his team at a preseason tournament. "Let me tell the guys."

There was a lot of commotion on the other end of the line, but, according to the coach, Simmons didn't even crack a smile.

"It’s good to have that, but I don’t really look at stuff like that," said Simmons. "I just play. I try to be humble about it because I don’t want it getting to my head. You still have to show your game no matter what it says on paper."

Mott will begin the 2007-2008 season against Jackson at 7:30 on Tuesday at Ballenger Field House on the campus of Mott College. Tickets are $4 at the door.