William Paterson Men's Season Outlook

After absorbing the loss of a total of 10 seniors during the last two seasons, the 2011-12 William Paterson men's basketball team finds itself in a bit of a new position this winter.

"With the turnover we have had, it feels like we are rebuilding," said 17th-year head coach Jose Rebimbas.  "The newness of having to teach every detail has re-energized the coaching staff.  Our expectation is to take each day and get a little bit better at the game of basketball and learning how to play it the right way."

After posting 14 straight winning seasons, the Pioneers are coming off a 12-13 record a year ago, and are anxious to get back to their accustomed winning ways that have earned William Paterson five New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament titles and seven NCAA Tournament bids during that span.  Rebimbas will look to blend 10 newcomers with five returnees this season, calling this group a work in progress that will need time to establish an identity, chemistry and definition of roles.

GUARDS
William Paterson has talent and flexibility on the perimeter, and will seek to solidify the right starting combination and rotation as the season begins.

Seniors Joey Castro (West Paterson, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) and Nolan Hill (Edgewater, N.J./Bergen Catholic), as well as junior Rick DeStefano (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro), will be counted on to provide leadership.  Castro started in 21 of 25 games as a first-year Pioneer last season, averaging 5.6 points and a team-best 3.0 assists per contest.  The 5-10 point guard has developed his perimeter shot and provides great defensive stability and toughness.  Hill enters his fourth season as a Pioneer with 67 games of experience under his belt, and the athletic 6-3 senior has worked hard to complement his defense with an improved perimeter game.  DeStefano has seen action in 33 games in two seasons as a reserve, and the 5-11 three-point specialist has continued to improve his ball-handling skills.

Previously playing on the Division I level at Rutgers University, junior Corey Chandler (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) is an impressive one-on-one player who possesses a great ability to score the basketball.  A quick learner, the 6-2 Chandler is expected to contribute early at the point, but could give WP minutes anywhere on the floor as the season progresses.

Junior transfer Lance Brown (Teaneck, N.J./Paterson Catholic) brings starting experience from Quinnipiac University, and his athleticism allows him to do a little bit of everything, from outside shooting to scoring off the dribble.  Also owning good post moves at 6-4, Rebimbas hopes that Brown will emerge as a go-to player for the Pioneers.

Junior newcomer Julio Rosario (Perth Amboy, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) is a prototypical slasher who can get to the rim at will.  An outstanding defender, Rebimbas believes the 6-3 guard could be a mainstay in the lineup and log a significant number of minutes this winter.

Freshman Manny Hernandez (Paterson, N.J./Paramus Catholic) is versatile enough to give WP minutes at any of the guard positions.  A second-team all-county honoree as a high school senior, the 6-2 Hernandez is quick and a good defender, but will also need to develop more of a scorer's mentality on the offensive end of the floor.

Six-foot-two classmate Justin Grant (Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton) has impressed the coaches with his court awareness and ability to knock down shots, and continues to adjust to playing without the ball in his hands as he develops into a wing player for William Paterson.

Najea Brown (Newark, N.J./St. Anthony) has an outstanding pedigree, coming from one of the nation's most successful high school programs.  Rebimbas likes the 5-9 freshman's ability to guard, penetrate and make others around him better.

Freshman Jaques Conceicao (Massama-Lisboa, Portugal/Francais Charle Lepierre) rounds out the options on the perimeter, a 6-3 shot-maker who is versatile and athletic.

POSTS
Two veterans and a trio of newcomers will look to contribute in the paint.

Femi Agunbiade (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) is a long, athletic rebounder who saw action in 23 games as a freshman a year ago.  The 6-8 center has good touch around the basket, and continues to refine his offensive post moves.

Fundamentally sound, 6-8 sophomore Erik Brooks (Saddle Brook, N.J./Paramus Catholic) is a developing big man who will seek to expand his role after seeing the court 13 times last season. 

A great passer, James McLane (Belleville, N.J./Queen of Peace) has shown impressive versatility during preseason workouts, thanks to the 6-4 freshman's ability to score both inside and outside.

Six-foot-three sophomore Johnberry Badio (Spring Valley, N.Y./Paramus Catholic), a transfer from North Country Community College, and 6-3 freshman Cole Thomas (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills) will also look to earn minutes in the post this winter.