Delaware Tech men’s basketball team aims to repeat as region champion

The Delaware Technical Community College men’s basketball program shocked Region 19 of the National Junior College Athletic Association back in February by closing out the final few weeks of the regular season strong and rolling through the NJCAA Region 19 tournament en route to a championship victory.

Now, with a team mostly comprising new faces, the program is back to defend that championship.

“This year’s group of players is working hard to bond together,” said Richard Rago, last season’s NJCAA Region 19 Coach of the Year. “Our keys to repeating will be improved big-man play, rebounding and shot blocking.”

The team will be led by sophomore Syed Myles, a Caesar Rodney High School grad who was the team’s leading scorer, best shooter and best free throw shooter last season, when he earned NJCAA second-team All-Region honors. Joining Myles is sophomore Cole Matthews, a sharpshooting Smyrna High School grad who was the team’s sixth man last year and now steps into a starting role.

“Syed has returned as a better all-around offensive player than he was just a few months ago,” Rago said. “And Cole improved his offensive game over the summer and can now take the ball to the hoop with the best of them. Syed and Cole are our captains because, despite having already won a championship, they have dedicated their entire spring, summer and fall to improve their game and to lead all of these newcomers, and show them what commitment and dedication it takes to be a winner.”

Joining Myles and Matthews this year are second-year players Joey Donnelly of Newark Charter School and Shawn Ysaguirre of Appoquinimink High School, and newcomers Jaelin Joyner of Caesar Rodney High School, Ethan Schmidt of Kennett High School in Pennsylvania, Devin McDowell of Glasgow High School and Jordan Moore of William Penn High School.

Also, Lee Pierce of St. Elizabeth, Keyon Scott of Dover High School, Nia-Gere Wright of Brandywine High School, DeVaughn Stanford of Smyrna High School, Zyair Williams of Glasgow High School, Jabree Pitts of Middletown High School and Ismael George of Delaware Military Academy will be key contributors in several offensive and defensive areas for Delaware Tech.

“The final major key is going to be our team’s ability to play team defense,” Rago said. “It takes tremendous time to develop the match-up defense we run, and we have very little experience returning. The faster we pick it up, the better our chances will be to repeat as champions.”

The team kicks off the regular season Thursday, Nov. 3, at home against Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester at 7 p.m. All home games occur at Delaware Tech’s Stanton Campus in Newark.

For more information on Delaware Tech athletics, go to dtcc.edu/athletics or follow dtccathletics on Instagram.