It’s hard to believe, but college basketball season is here. This week, we’ll preview Michigan’s 19 junior college teams.

By Patrick Hayes

At a glance

• Coach: Steve Proefrock, 16th season
• Last year: 17-14, 10-6 MCCAA
• Conference: Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA)
• Key losses: Karvel Anderson
• Key additions: (freshmen) Daniel Scheski, Lee Gardner III, Antonio Hearn, James Sanders, Aleksandr Antic, Joshua Wynn, Terrence Carver, Nigel Mims; (sophomores) Antonio Wilson, Chris Jones, William Powell, Charles Hearn, Alexander Harris
• Team website
• Glen Oaks C.C. news on BallinMichigan

Overview

Glen Oaks has long been one of the most consistent programs in the MCCAA Western Conference, and this season should be no different.

Strengths

Anderson, who averaged 24.9 points and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 48 percent for Glen Oaks last season and signed with Division I Robert Morris, will be difficult to replace, but Glen Oaks has also re-loaded with a group of sophomores who could help fill some of that void.

Returning player Tyler Bell averaged 8.3 points (second on the team), 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season and Charles Hearn averaged 9.1 points per game two seasons ago for Glen Oaks before sitting out last season, but its the transfers who will really bolster the lineup. Powell averaged 19.9 points per game at Lakeland Community College last season. Wilson averaged 7.2 points per game for Danville Community College last season. Jones, a great 3-point shooter, averaged 8.5 points per game for Kirtland last season.

Last season, Anderson was the only player who averaged double figures. This season, Glen Oaks should have a much more balanced lineup.

Weaknesses

It will be interesting to see how chemistry works out adding that many solid players to a lineup who all had different roles, some of them prominent roles, elsewhere. Glen Oaks will likely figure out the early season carving out that identity.

Glen Oaks will also have to avoid letdowns in conference play. They lost to two lesser teams last season — Kellogg and Delta. In a conference race that is always close and competitive, one or two letdowns against bad teams can significantly impact seeding for the district tournament.

Circle these dates …

• Jan. 12 and Feb. 8 — Grand Rapids is the team everyone is chasing after the team won the district last season.
• Jan. 30 and Feb. 27 — Jackson won two of three against Glen Oaks last season, including a four-overtime thriller in the district semi-final. This has developed into a great, competitive rivalry.

Outlook

Glen Oaks has established itself as a program that will be formidable each year, no matter the talent that they lose. This year should be no different.

Previously

• Alpena needs to replace talented foursome from last season
• Sophomore Larry Taylor leads an improving Jackson C.C. program into season
• Delta loses All-American Jody Hill in quest for third straight district final four
• Kellogg’s Darius Holman among state’s top returning players
• Wayne County returns two big-time scorers
• New coach hoping to lead Lake Michigan to more success
• Mix of new and old talent should help Kalamazoo Valley improve
• Schoolcraft has to replace four key players, including star Karl Moore

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