After two straight runner-up finishes, Bakersfield has its sights set on unseating 2-time defending champ Citrus in the ever-competitive WSC-South. The Renegades are coming off seasons of 23-10 last year and 22-15 in 2007-08, both very solid seasons, but are hoping to get back to where they were in 2006-07 when they were 30-3 and the #1 seed in the Southern California playoffs.
I got the chance to talk with Coach Rich Hughes recently, and with a month to go he’s already anxious to get the season started. He says this is his best-shooting team he’s had at Bakersfield, which should put the rest of the WSC-South on alert.
It’s a relatively young team, with just three returnees from last year and another player who returns from two years ago. But those veterans bring a high level of ability: All-Conference selection Skyler Vaden, honorable mention All-Conference Ricky Wofford and Emanuel (E.J.) Kirby, and 2007-08 All-Conference choice Bobby Fisher.
And the newcomers bring some impressive credentials as well. Chase Adams originally signed with Air Force, and Jeffrey Kirksey transfers in from St. Catherine JC in Kentucky after that school went to the 4-year NAIA level. In addition, Julian Sargent and Nick Markovich, both from Arizona, drew D-1 looks and interest from the scholarship JCs in Arizona before opting for Bakersfield.
Then there are the shooters. One of the primary weaknesses from last year’s team was perimeter shooting, but that should not be a problem this time around. Coach Hughes believes he has at least five excellent shooters on this squad, including Wofford, Markovich, redshirt freshman Bart Dandridge, freshman Nick Crossan and Stevie Howard, a slashing guard from Louisiana who broke the state tournament one-game scoring mark previously held by former NBA lottery pick Stromile Swift.
Another problem last year was the lack of an inside scoring threat. But Fisher, who averaged nearly 15 points per game as a freshman, should take care of that. And Coach Hughes can turn to a pair of 6-6 forwards as well in freshmen Cooper Damron from Bakersfield and 26-yr-old Derrick Johnson from Chicago.
Point guard should continue to be a strength with Wofford and Kirksey dividing the minutes. Vaden also saw time at the point last season for the Renegades.
Bakersfield plays the so-called Walberg style, featuring fullcourt zone pressure and what has been dubbed the dribble-drive offense. That should suit Adams, who was a regular in Southern California at the high-profile Pangos/Fullcourt Press All-American, All-West and All-Frosh/Soph camps when he was in high school. And on the defensive end, having shot-blockers like Damron and Johnson guarding the basket will allow the perimeter players to turn up the pressure.
Here’s a closer look at some of Bakersfield’s key players:
Skyler Vaden, SG, 6-2, soph. Top returning scorer (10.5 pts, 6.1 rebs) was all-conference last year. Versatile, excellent athlete, saw time at the point last year but Coach Hughes plans to keep him on the wing more this time around.
Emanuel (E.J.) Kirby, SG, 6-1, soph. Scoring guard had 21-point effort last season vs. Canyons. Honorable mention all-conference last season.
Bobby Fisher, 6-5, PF/C, soph. Returns after a redshirt year. Excellent inside scorer averaged 14.8 pts, 7.8 rebs per game in 2007-08 and shot 57.6% from the floor. Probably the top D-1 prospect on Bakersfield’s roster.
Ricky Wofford, 5-11, PG, soph. Normally a solid, pass-first point but had 5 threes in 15-point, 6-assist, 3-steal effort last February vs. Canyons. Honorable mention all-conference last season.
Chase Adams, 6-3, SF, frosh. Signed with the Air Force Academy out of HS but decided it wasn’t for him. Consistently made the Top 40 All-Star games in the All-American and All-West Camps he participated in during HS.
Derrick Johnson, 6-6, PF/C, frosh. Coach Hughes calls him the most powerful dunker on the team. 26-year-old went to work out of HS, marketed himself to Coach Hughes with youtube video. Can really run the floor and jump, top shot-blocker.
Nick Markovich, 6-4, SG/SF, frosh. Big wing from Arizona had some D-1 looks while in HS. Excellent shooter, ballhandler according to Coach Hughes.
Stevie Howard, 6-1, SG, frosh. Scored 44 points in Louisiana state semifinal game, breaking the state mark previously held by NBA veteran Stromile Swift. Coach Hughes says he’s quick and elusive, able to get past defenders to score.
Julian Sargent, 6-3, SG, frosh. 1st Team All-State in HS in Arizona. Combo guard who had some D-1 looks. Coach Hughes says he’s a big guard who can score, pass & rebound.
Jeffrey Kirksey, 6-1, PG, soph. Played last year at St. Catherine JC in Kentucky, which moved to NAIA (4-yr) after the season. Figures to split minutes with Wofford and Vaden at the point.
Bakersfield Roster:
Coach: Rich Hughes
Roster:
# - Player – Year – Pos – Height – Weight – High School
1-Nick Crossan, FR, G, 6-0, 180, Skyline (Bellevue WA)
3-Ricky Wofford-SO, PG, 5-11, 170, Bakersfield HS
11-Skyler Vaden, SO, G, 6-2, 175, Washington Prep (Los Angeles)
15-Emanuel (E.J.) Kirby, SO, G, 6-1, 185, Yates (Houston TX)
21-Julian Sargent, FR, G, 6-3, 195, Cortez (Phoenix AZ)
22-Stevie Howard, FR, G, 6-1, 160, HL Bourgeois (Gray LA)
23-Nick Markovich, FR, G, 6-4, 190, Basha (Chandler AZ)
30-Bart Dandridge, FR, G, 5-11, 170, Eisenhower (Decatur IL)
33-Cody Darling, FR, G, 6-0, 190, Liberty (Bakersfield)
34-Calen Coleman, FR, G, 6-2, 195, Liberty (Bakersfield)
40-Cooper Damron, FR, F, 6-6, 195, Bakersfield HS
41-Richie Wagoner, FR, G, 6-0, 180, North (Bakersfield)
42-Derrick Johnson, FR, F, 6-6, 195, Thornton (Chicago IL)
44-Chase Adams, FR, G, 6-3, 185, Salpointe (Tucson AZ)
50-Jeffrey Kirksey, SO, PG, 6-1, 195, Trinity (Louisville KY)
55-Bobby Fisher, SO, F, 6-5, 225, Crane (Chicago IL)
