MCC Men’s Basketball opens at home Friday
The McCook Community College men’s basketball season tips off this weekend with a pair of home games at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center. MCC hosts Eastern Wyoming Friday at 7:30 p.m. and hosts Laramie County Community College Saturday at 2 p.m.
Despite having only two returning players from last year, MCC added three experienced sophomore transfers and added a dynamic group of 11 first-year players. The transfers include North Platte Community College’s leading rebounder from last year and a 14.7 points per game scorer; a 6-8 New Zealand player who was Harper College’s second leading scorer and top rebounder; and a 6-10, former D1 guard from Lithuania.
“I think it’s a really talented team as individuals, and in the pre-season jamborees and scrimmages we have accomplished some goals of getting closer as a team and finding rotations that are really good,” said second-year MCC Coach Dillon Hargrove. He has compiled a 94-46 mark (a .671 winning percentage) in five seasons coaching in the junior college ranks. At his fourth and final year at National Park College, in Hot Springs, Ark., his team won the NJCAA D2 national championship in 2024.
This year, Hargrove expects some early-season challenges having only two returning players who wore MCC uniforms on the court a year ago. Add to that a highly competitive non-conference schedule in November and December, the young team will have plenty of early-season tests.
“The challenge for us in bringing in this many new guys is to try and start early and start strong,” said Hargrove. “Which is difficult because they have had a limited number of practices, limited time playing with one another and our schedule is not an easy one.”
Hargrove sees a much better mindset on this team compared to the one that went 12-19 in Hargrove’s first season at MCC.
“I feel really good about this team, and I have a ton of confidence in them to go out an perform and I just think we’ll get better as the season goes along,” he said. “We have some great people on this team. They work hard and the want to do things the right way, so I think and they’ll figure things out.”
He said the competition he’s scheduled for the early part of the season will help in getting prepared for region play.
“Our goal will always be to compete against the top ranked teams in the country and I think we’ve got the ability to do that,” said Hargrove.
MCC’s LONE RETURNING PLAYERS who saw time on the court last season are sophomore guards Nate Coley and Vladimir Brković.
“Having those two returners back has helped push along practices this fall, and they have been good leaders for us,” said Hargrove.
Coley, 5-10, from Little Rock, Ark., was second on the team with 15.4 points per game, shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 28.2 from the 3-point line and 78.8 percent from the line. He had 21 games with double-digit scoring topped by a season-best 36 points in a Jan. 21 win at home over Lamar. An honorable mention pick for Region IX, he was also named to the All-Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference and was an honorable mention pick for the All-Region IX team and the Omaha World-Herald’s Midlands All-JUCO team.
Hargrove said like most freshmen Coley had an “up-and-down” freshman year but has approached his second season on campus with fresh focus.
“He’s become the leader of the team,” said Hargrove. “He’s consistent every single day, and it has shown in every scrimmage, and he carries himself in practice and leading the team. I’ve very been impressed with Nate and see a big season for him this year.”
Brković, is a 6-5 guard from Uzice, Serbia started 15 games for MCC as a freshman and averaged 6.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and shot 43.7 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from distance.
He gained 15 pounds of muscle since his freshman year, gained a lot of experience in his first year and is an intense student of the game.
“He knew he had a lot to learn and has put it all together, in the weight room, on the court and his athleticism is off the charts now – even his 3-point shooting has improved,” said Hargrove. “Vlad just comes in with relentless effort and shows the guys by example how we need to work and what we need to do. He is great leader.”
Brković was named one of three MCC male student-athletes as finalists for the Miron Mingo Male Teammate of the Year. He was nominated the men’s basketball team’s top teammate of the year for having the attributes required to be a good teammate.
THIS YEAR’S SQUAD also has three key transfers including Mo Diao, Darkar, Senegal; Luke Sinisa, Auckland, North Island New Zealand and Lukas Gudavicius, Palanga, Lithuania.
Last year Diao scored 39 points in two games against McCook – as a member of the North Platte squad.
The 6-10 forward averaged 14.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, shooting 52.6 percent from the field for the Knights. He led Region IX South in rebounds and in blocked shots (3.4 per game). He was named second team All-Region IX and All-NCCAC as a freshman.
“He’s one of the best bigs in the country and ended up coming here and signing with a D1 school but decided to come back to junior college for a year and decided to come to McCook,” said Hargrove. “And he’s been a joy to coach, and we see great things for him.”
Luke Sinisa is a 6-8 forward from Auckland, North Island New Zealand who started 25 games at Harper College, (D2 JUCO, Palentine, Ill.). He was second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.0 points and led the team with 8.9 rebounds per game and shot 53.4 percent from the field.
“Luke is very versatile and a tough kid in the post who guards very hard and he’s going to be a big part of our team this year,” said Hargrove.
Lukas Gudavicius is a 6-10 guard from Palanga, Lithuania who played limited minutes in 21 games at Division 1 Bethune-Cookman in the 2022-2023 season averaging 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds. He entered the transfer portal in April of 2023 and signed on at Salt Lake Community College for the fall of 2023 did not play for the Bruins and committed to the University of Southern Mississippi in November of 2023 but ultimately came to McCook.
“He has a lot of versatility and has been good for us in the preseason, and we expect good things from him and is another good leader,” said Hargrove.
One MCC returner who did not see the court as a freshman is Alier Alier, a 6-8 forward from Bor, South Sudan who has two years of eligibility remaining.
“He didn’t get on the court last year but he’s a human highlight reel,” said Hargrove. “He probably has a 40-inch vertical and can do some things that others can’t,” said Hargrove. “And Alir does it with a high motor. We’re excited to get him on the court this year.”
SEVEN INCOMING FRESHMEN will provide depth at the guard spots.
Isayah Pankey, 6-3 guard was a three-star recruit out of Dallas, Texas who spent a year at St. Mary’s University (D2 in San Antonio) before arriving at MCC with two years of eligibility left.
“I met Isayah recruiting him as a high school senior, and I think he’s going to be a really good player for us,” said Hargrove. “He’s got great speed and agility, he can get to the rim and makes good decisions with the basketball as well as being an elite defender.”
Kaya Mutambirwa is a 6-5 guard form Real Madrid High School in Spain, who spent a year at Tarleton State (NCAA D1, Stephenville, Texas) under Billy Gillispie who coached Kentucky, Texas A&M and UTEP to NCAA Tournament appearances. Mutambirwa also has two years of eligibility remaining.
“Kaya had a great career in Europe and has been a big part of our leadership since he got here – especially on defensive side and he takes good care of the ball,” said Hargrove.
Djibril Diawara, is a 6-3 guard from Aulnay-sous-Bois, France who Hargrove calls “A very crafty lefty, and one of the best passers I’ve seen in a while. He knows how to get the ball inside to the big men.”
McCook High School graduate Kaiden Porter spent last year as a student manager for the team, but the 6-5 guard will wear MCC blue on the court this year.
“He can really play, has a 35-inch vertical and can really fly,” said Hargrove. “I think Kaiden is going to turn into a really good player for us at some point.”
MCC’s freshman backcourt includes a pair of Melbourne Australian guards in Owen Stack, 6-3 and Jack Painter, 6-5.
“Owen can light it up from three. We’re trying to stretch his game so he can score at all three levels but he’s a good leader on the floor,” according to Hargrove. “And Jack is a very competitive player who’s worked really hard from the time he got here and can shoot it well too.”
Deng Giet is a 6-5 guard from Lincoln Southeast High School.
“Deng is another highly competitive soul he rises early, plays hard, can score, and brings a lot to this team,” said Hargrove.
IN THE FRONTCOURT Justin Neubert, is a 6-7 forward from Durango, Colo. who attended South Central Prep (Tulsa, Okla.).
“J.T. is a flamethrower, and can really get going in spurts,” said Hargrove. “He’s still working on some defensive fundamentals but he’s a good scorer and someone I think people will be interested in watching him develop in his time here at McCook.”
At 6-10, Sofiane Benragba, from Montpellier, France is a big who flexes on the perimeter, shoots it well and is a team guy.
“This is his first year in the U.S. so he’s still getting used to the difference in the game here, but we’ve been impressed with his progress this fall,” said Hargrove.
Rod Massamba is a 6-9 forward from Paris, France whose earned the nickname ‘The Bear.’
“Obviously Rod is a big dude who’s hard to stay in front of,” said Hargrove. “He’s quick for his size and can mismatch defenders by putting them in the post or by shooting, but he’s going to be a good player for this squad.”
The coach believes the team can be successful if they stay healthy, stay together and have that one goal.
“If we can put egos aside – or take our egos and put them under one umbrella and make it McCook men’s basketball’s ego –then we’ll be successful because this team has some really good people.”
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: After this weekend MCC will see the same two Region IX North teams Dec. 4-5 when they complete the home-and-home series in Torrington and Cheyenne, Wyo.
“Those are two talented teams that we’ve seen already this fall in jamborees,” said Hargrove.
For the second week of the season MCC travels to Twin Falls, Idaho for three games in the Battle of The Boot, hosted by College of Southern Idaho. That tournament is known for some of the top JUCO teams in the country. MCC starts with a game against Eastern Florida State. The field also includes No. 17 College of Southern Idaho, Eastern Florida, North Idaho, Casper College, Clarendon, Columbia Basin and Western Wyoming
“It’s an actual tournament and will get us ready against some big-time teams in a tournament-type atmosphere, but we felt like we wanted to get us ready for post-season play and felt we’d have the type of team that could compete against those top teams,” said Hargrove.
The Indians will be home for three games Nov. 14-21, hosting Fort Hays Tech Northwest Nov. 14, York University JV Nov. 17 and No. 13. Indian Hills Community College Nov. 21.
“That home-and-home series with Indian Hills will be a challenge home there on the 21st then at their place Dec. 10th,” said Hargrove.
For the Thanksgiving break MCC will traveling to Hot Springs, Ark. for the Nighthawk Classic at Hargrove’s former college – National Park College. MCC takes on Jackson State CC the day after Thanksgiving and plays Southwest Tennessee CC Nov. 29.
After a home game Dec. 2 against York University JC, MCC will be on the road for five games in December. After the Wyoming games Dec. 4-5, the Indians travel to Ottumwa Iowa for a return match with Indian Hills then wrap up the pre-holiday schedule Dec. 18-19 in the Las Vegas Tarkanian Classic. MCC plays preseason No. 10 Snow College and Salt Lake CC.
“That’s new this year, it’s a combination with a high school tournament and they’ve added a junior college component to that and again some top tier teams across the nation, and we drew No 10 Snow and Salt Lake, who was ranked No. 1 last year for eight weeks,” said Hargrove.
THE REGION IX SOUTH SLATE begins Jan. 19 when MCC hosts North Platte, Otero and Trinidad State Jan. 10, 16 and 17. It’s the first of four Region IX games in January and three more in February. All games after Jan. 19 will be against Region IX south schools.
“I do think Region IX is going to be better than it was last year,” said Hargrove. “There are a lot of quality players returning for a lot of teams.”
He points to the fact that Trinidad State has been to the national tournament four of the past five years and made the Sweet 16 last year. He said North Platte and Northeastern Junior College have key returning players, Lamar was good last year and have recruited well and Western Nebraska gained momentum at the end of the season to get on a roll and has a strong nucleus to do that again.
The one addition to the Region IX South is the addition of Southeast Community College which moved up from D2 but Hargrove notes that the Bobcats are a well-coached team that is coming off a national tournament appearance at the D2 level.
“The league is going to be really tough and every single night we’re going to have to go out and compete, “he said. “There are no easy games. Our hope is that by the time we reach the conference schedule we’ll be battle-tested.”
The top teams in the north and south divisions will receive first-round byes in the Region IX tournament. The second through sixth seeds in the north will play the sixth through second seeds in the south. The seventh-place team in the south will not qualify for post season.
THE COACHING STAFF: Drake Henderson, who came to MCC with Hargrove from National Park College and has been with him since 2022, returns for a second season as assistant coach at McCook.
“Drake has taken on a bigger role and has a lot more responsibilities this year, and he’s getting ready to be a head coach at some point,” said Hargrove.
Taylor Carbonel joins the staff after being an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Adelphi University (NJCAA-D2) in Garden City, N.Y. Before that, he was an assistant with Hargrove and Henderson in Arkansas.
“We already have some good chemistry, and Taylor is a defensive-minded coach who is good from the scouting part of the game,” said Hargrove.
After a season as a student manager, McCook High School graduate Beau Bieker is an assistant coach this season for the Indians.
“Beau has just been great since he joined us last year,” said Hargrove. “He’s in it to learn and wants to be a coach some day, but he’s just soaking everything in that he can and he’s a sponge and he’s been awesome.”
Longtime volunteer assistants Logan Moyer and Lance Shipley are back with the team again this year.
Moyer first became a student assistant for the team in 2008 and after transferring to York University he rejoined the MCC family in 2014. This is the 13th year Shipley has served as a volunteer assistant.
“These guys bleed MCC blue and we want guys like that around our program,” said Hargrove. “Our guys love them and we’re thankful to have them around.”