Men's Basketball Ready for DAC Championship Run in 2018-2019

The CVC Men's Basketball Team will have many new faces this season, but the goal remains the same...another NJCAA National Championship banner to hang in the gym. Last season the Suns finished with an overall record of 10-20 with a Metro Athletic Conference (now the Dallas Athletic Conference) record of 2-9.

Going into the 2018-2019 season, CVC will be without NJCAA All-American JF Thomas Jr. (Prairie View A&M University) and All-MAC selections Amariye Blunson, Desmond Kennedy (John Brown University), and Trent Washington (Southwestern Christian University). Head Men's Basketball Coach Cedric Jones knows the former Suns will be missed. "You cannot replace those guys, you only hope to build on the successes that they had. The effort the guys are putting has been outstanding," says Coach Jones. "We are looking to compete hard every night! We want to continue the success that each of those guys had. I'm proud of where we are going I feel like we are moving in the right direction."

Returning for the Suns are sophomores Tajh Baker, Kameron Fitzpatrick, and Alphonso Hawkins. Baker, who is returning from a hand injury that sidelined him last season, has the most experience of the trio and will be a leading presence for the Suns along with a contagious work ethic. The duo of Fitzpatrick and Hawkins, each having solid freshmen seasons, are expected to step up as leaders on and off the court according to Coach Jones. 

Coach Jones accumulated a very talented and deep recruiting class over the summer including players that he states "on any given night any one of these guys could be the guy that leads the team in any category." Those new Suns include:

William Degraftenreed III - Lincoln HS/Dallas, TX

Sidney Hadden - Connolly HS/Waco TX

Curtis Jones Jr. - John Tyler HS/Tyler, TX

Julian Lewis Jr. - Kimball HS/Dallas, TX

Jalen Lyons - South Oak Cliff HS/Dallas, TX

Kevin Ricks - Haltom HS/Haltom, TX

Larry Rusk Jr. - Pinkston HS/Dallas, TX

Jonathan Woodson - Sunset HS/Dallas, TX

When Coach Jones was asked what type of play we should be expecting from this year's Suns, he responded "We are going to be a hard-working defensive grinding basketball team this year.  We want to push the tempo and force our opponents the be uncomfortable for 40 minutes of basketball.  We want our opponents to feel pressure each night that they come into our facility.  We will play with dignity and pride no matter the outcome."

The Suns will begin their 2018-2019 campaign on Thursday, November 1 when they take on Southwestern Christian University (JV).