Gaston College basketball resumes drills after second jamboree in two weeks

After two three-game jamborees in seven days, Gaston College head coach Jamie Rosser and his team are still working towards the November 2 start of the 2022-23 season.

"We had a really good showing," Rosser said of playing in the Battle of the South Jamboree on October 8, in Cumming, Georgia. We played three games and went 2-1 but the concern isn't about a preseason record at this point. We have a good nucleus of guys with good chemistry and we're looking to build upon them this week."

Gaston College, which opened on October 2 in the Corry Black JUCO Hoops Jamboree in Carrollton, Georgia, next plays exhibition games at Clinton College of Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Monday, October 17, and at Catawba Valley Community College of Hickory, on Thursday, October 27.

The two exhibition games will be the final tune-ups before the official start of the 2022-23 regular season on November 2, at 7 p.m., at the Rhinos' new homecourt at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.

In this weekend's Battle of the South Jamboree, Rosser praised the play of several players on his roster, among them freshmen Jamal Ukaegbu, Michael Smith and Asil Hoyle, sophomore newcomers Caleb McCarty and Jordan Guthrie, and returnees DaMarco Watson and Dedrick Givens.

Ukaegbu, a 6-foot-5 guard from Silver Spring, Maryland, impressed with his defense. "He had a really good showing," Rosser said. "He's the kind of big, athletic guard that you need to create havoc. I think he's got a chance to help this team go to another level."

Rosser said the following about the other standouts:

Of McCarty: "He was good again this week. He's just so active out there for us."

Of Givens: "He brought a lot of toughness for our team. He was blocking shots, getting rebounds and even made a 3-point shot."

Of Watson: "He's my consistent guy. You're going to get toughness, pressure on the other defense and leadership from him every game."

Of Guthrie: "He made plays again. And he made several open shots."

Of Smith: "He's one to keep your eye on because he can play anywhere from the (point guard) to the (power forward). I have been pushing him because he has a high ceiling and I want to make sure he gets to that ceiling."

And of Hoyle: "I can't say enough about my young point guard Asil Hoyle. He has the IQ that you need from a point guard. He's going to be a guy that can really, really take control of the pace of the team."

Rosser resumes practice on Tuesday in hopes of having the team ready for the upcoming exhibition games.

"We're trying to coach them," Rosser said. "Everything is brand new for all of us. I'm a first-year head coach putting in a brand-new system and we're learning different terminology. We're in teaching mode right now. And we won't get out of teaching mode until March. We've got to be ready for November 2, the first game of the year. We're using all of these games for teaching and getting ready."