St. Joseph's (L.I.) starting five back with goal of Skyline title

Patchogue, N.Y. - The Golden Eagles enter the 2011-12 campaign with their starting five all returning as they quest for their second Skyline Championship.  St. Joseph's had a fine season in 2010-11 as they posted a 22-7 overall record and a 16-4 mark in Skyline Conference play, but lost to Purchase in the Skyline Tournament Finals.  This talented group ranked third in the final NCAA Atlantic Region Poll and was selected as the top-seed in the ECAC Metro Tournament. 

Leading the way again when they tip-off on November 18 at the Eastern Connecticut State Tournament, will be senior guards Chris Jimenez (Huntington Station, N.Y./St. Anthony's) and Olivier Laurent (Amityville, N.Y./St. Anthony's) - both members of the All-MET and All-Skyline Teams.  Laurent led the team in scoring with 17 points per game.

Jimenez was highly decorated in the previous campaign as he was voted onto the D3Hoops All-Atlantic Region Team and the NABCA Atlantic Region All-District Team.  He averaged 15 points per game as he surpassed the 1,000 point plateau and shattered a school record for three-pointers in a game (10).

The Golden Eagles are known for their deadly shooting as they had the sixth ranked scoring offense in all of Division III (87.2 ppg) and ranked second overall in three point field goals per game (11.8).  The team also posted an impressive assist-to turnover ratio (1.29) and had the tenth best turnover margin (4.8).

Helping the Eagles offense is a trio of outstanding seniors - forwards Steve Velasquez (14.8 ppg - Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) and Vincent Russo (13.7 ppg - Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) and shooting guard Trey Black (13.5 ppg - Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point).

Back in the Eagles frontcourt is 6-6 junior forward Shahab Syed (Huntington, N.Y./St. Anthony's), junior forward Adam Renna (East Northport, N.Y./Northport), and sophomore Cody Lohsen (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach). 

Returning in the backcourt is senior guard Frank Altamore (East Rockaway, N.Y./East Rockaway).  He will be joined by three newcomers in the backcourt – senior transfer Tanvir Logani (Melville, N.Y./Don Bosco) and freshmen Brady Colucci (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Port Jefferson) and Evan Mohammed (Bayside, N.Y./Holy Cross).

Highlighting the season is the Eagles trip to Division I's Yale University Bulldogs in New Haven, Connecticut on Sunday, January 8.  Their first Skyline game will be on December 1 vs. Mount Saint Vincent.  SJC will not face their Long Island rivals, Farmingdale State (1/10) and Old Westbury (1/19), until after the holiday break.

2011-12 Schedule - http://eagles.sjcny.edu/Mens-Basketball/Schedule/2011-2012