Run MDC Basketball Returns With Revamped Squad
The Miami Dade College men’s basketball team posted an 18-11 record last year—Kevin Ledoux’s best season since he was tabbed as head coach of the Sharks in 2016— but this year’s squad returns only three players and features 11 new faces.
The revamped team includes three transfers: wing Denari Garrett from South Georgia Technical College, wing Ciaran Sandy from the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, and guard Jakob Medina from Southeast Missouri State University.
It also features freshmen guards Khalil Shaheed, Jordan Brown, Kemari Brown and Alex Sanchez; wings Jyre McCloud, Josh Reid and Dashaun Joseph; and forward Kyin Healey.
“I’m very confident in all of them,” Ledoux said. “They’re all good players, very good student-athletes and they are very coachable.”
Despite losing two of the team’s top performers—forward Gus Okafor (12.6 points and eight rebounds per game) and wing Elton Walker (12.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game)—Ledoux is confident his young team will play with cohesion.
“The chemistry is tremendous,” Ledoux said. “They all care about each other. They all believe in each other. They all get along off the court together, and they just see it as one big unit.”
Last year, the team averaged 88.2 points and 41.2 rebounds per game but struggled to keep that pace in conference play. In 12 Southern Conference games, the Sharks scored fewer than 80 points on five occasions. That contributed to an unspectacular 5-7 conference record and a third place finish.
Ledoux said last year’s team lacked leadership. Sophomores Victor Hart (forward) and Jerome Johnson (point guard) could help fill that void.
Hart had a breakout season last year. He led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. He averaged 16.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and had 30 blocks on the season.
The team also returns shooting guard Bobby Miller, who missed the entire season last year after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during a practice last October.
“Last year I was kind of upset I didn’t get to play my first season. But this year I’m back,” Miller said. I’m ready to go to war with my teammates.”
The Sharks will play four scrimmages at home: Miami Preparatory School on Oct. 31, Pro Holmes Sports Academy on Nov. 21, and Triple Threat Prep on Dec. 12 and Jan. 16 before starting the regular season at the Theodore R. Gibson Health Center, 11011 S.W. 104th St, versus Academy 22 on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
“I feel like we have a lot of young guys but everyone is disciplined enough with their game,” Sandy said. “We’ve already developed a good team bond so I think we can expect a championship. I think we can do that with the team that we have.”
