by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Youth was served when it comes up to wrapping up Kansas City Kansas Community College’s men’s basketball season for 2018-2019.
With just three returning sophomores and only two who finished the 2017-18 season, seven Blue Devil freshmen got a crash course introduction into collegiate basketball in a 14-17 season.
“With so many freshmen to count on, it was a season to figure things out,” sixth year head coach Kelley Newton said. “Our young guys had to figure out to win, how to practice, how to have a good practice. The bottom line is that I believe everyone one of our guys learned a lot. The sophomores understand more of what it takes to be a college player as they move on to their next team and the freshmen realize what it takes to be a college player and the mental aspect it takes to be successful.
“It presents a great opportunity in front of us for next season. I have not had this many potential returners in my six years as coach here. With eight freshmen (including 6-8 redshirt Jeremiah Brantley) we have a lot of experience coming back for the 2019-2020 season.”
Five of the top six scorers return. Losses include forward Arother Ratliff, who finished second in scoring (9.3) and earned second team All-Region VI; 6-2 guard Malcolm Tate, who averaged 5.8 points; and 6-6 forward DuVonte’ Beard, who had 2.7 points and 3.7 rebounds a game.
Heading the list of returnees are Calvin Slaughter, a 6-2 guard who led in scoring (9.8) and was on All-Region VI third team; 6-6 forward Daiyon Taylor who led in rebounding (5.1) while averaging 7.8 points; and 6-2 guard Kelyn Bolton, who led in assists (3.6) and averaged 6.3 points.
The Blue Devils also return 6-2 guard Jalen Davis, who was third in scoring (8.1) and second in field goal percentage (.503); the top two three-point shooters in guards Taylor Turner and Cody Dortch; and 6-6 forward Jonathan Richmond, who averaged 4.7, 2.6 rebounds and led in shooting percentage (57.5 percent). Turner had 48 3-pointers including 10 vs. Park (second most in KCKCC history) and eight vs. North Central while averaging 6.2 points; Dortch had 46 treys and a 5.5-point scoring average.
Newton is counting on experience to provide leadership, especially to avoid long scoring droughts that plagued the Blue Devils this season.
“The difference this season was that we did not have someone who could always get a big-time bucket; we always had to do it by committee,” Newton said. “So we need to develop things we need in the off-season and come back with a lot of fire.
“We have some key pieces coming back. Calvin Slaughter can develop this summer as someone we can lean on for scoring output. Daiyon Taylor is someone who we can trust in the post along with Jonathan Richmond, who gave us some important minutes,” he said. “Our starting point guard, Kelyn Bolton, led us in minutes and assists and we have perimeter scoring in Turner and Dortch.
“In each of our post-season meetings, everyone touched on not realizing how important every possession was, how important each little detail of the game was,” he said. “As a coach, I have to feel good about that. I told every returnee now the work begins to make sure we capitalize on those opportunities we let slip away this season.”