THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Nov. 18, 2009) – The Maritime men's basketball team will kick off its 2009-10 season when the squad plays host to City Tech on Thursday, Nov. 19. Tip-off against the Yellow Jackets is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium. A Toy-For-Tots collection will take place during the game, as members of the SUNY Maritime Semper Fidelis Society will be on hand to collect any new, unopened toys for those less fortunate children.

 

2009-10 Maritime Men's Basketball Season Preview

 

The 2009-10 Maritime men's basketball program is about to set sail! For the past two seasons, under the helm of third-year head coach Jody King, Ph.D., the Privateers have reached great heights. The team has advanced to the semifinals of the Skyline Conference Tournament for two-straight seasons and was the second team in school history to receive a postseason bid to the ECAC Tournament after compiling 15 wins last season. Student-athletes such as Tim Dougherty (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./St. Francis Prep), Steve Kubacki (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert), Mike Stolberg, Joe Bracaglia, Jamal Webb, and Rahshawn Pringle (Bronx, N.Y./Frederick Douglas) have helped build the foundation of the program, which is based on intelligence, intensity, and immediacy.

 

The program is now in the good hands of Giovanni Hurley (Brooklyn, N.Y./Middle College High) and Andrew Geisel (Media, Pa./Penncrest). As a group who began with Coach King these two student-athletes are expected to significantly contribute. Hurley, a junior who has been team-captain since his freshman campaign, is only 455 points away from 1,000 for his career. He is a relentless worker who will corral rebounds and defend other team's best players. Geisel, a fellow junior, has seen his role increase each season. As an inside and outside threat, he will be the glue that keeps everybody together.

 

Newcomers include a talented group of student-athletes ready to compete at a high level. Adedokun Olanrewaju (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin), Trevis Craig (Queens, N.Y./Springfield), Sean Robinson (Bronx, N.Y./H.S. for Art & Design), and Hugh Byrd (Pequannock, N.J./DePaul Catholic) are expected to add much needed height, scoring, toughness, and depth to the frontcourt. Olanrewaju, Craig, and Robinson are players with big game experience that will only help Maritime. Byrd, a 6-8 freshman, exhibits a willingness to learn and play inside. Shamair Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) is a transfer that possess a skill set that enables him to play multiple guard and forward combinations. John Mansfield is an additional newcomer that will continue to get better and help the program in numerous ways.

 

Not to be outdone are returners Andre Cooper (Baltimore, Md./Southwestern), Kevin Josey (Staten Island, N.Y./Monroe Webster), Sam Porte (Harlem, N.Y./H.S. for Math, Science & Engineering), and Quamel Lyerly (Inwood, N.Y./Lawrence). Cooper will continue to be a significant part of the program. He showed tremendous grit by leading the Privateers with 12.7 points per game last year while playing most of the season with an injured foot. His passion and intensity for the game and the program is unrivaled. Josey's ability to hit from the mark is needed if Maritime is geared for success in 2009-10. Lyerly and Porte round out the group of returners and both provide a physical presence on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.

 

With all the excitement about the 2009-10 men's basketball campaign, the schedule is challenging. The Privateers open at home on Nov. 19 with City Tech and then on Nov. 22 will travel across the water to face rival Kings Point. A Dec. 1 conference contest at SUNY Old Westbury will be an early measuring stick for the program.

 

As the season advances, Maritime will face conference-rivals Purchase, Mount Saint Vincent, Yeshiva, St. Joseph's, and Farmingdale – who reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season. February will prove as a late season measuring stick as the Privateers last five of seven conference games will be against teams that reached the Skyline Conference Tournament last season. Even so, the Maritime men's basketball program is excited and ready for the journey ahead in 2009-10. Let us set sail!