Esta semana, el entrenador de nuestra Leyenda Beñat Hevia en Cuesta College, Rusty Blair, ha hecho un repaso de los jugadores que dispone y habla muy bien de Beñat. Las cosas le van muy bien en California.
¡¡¡A seguir así, Beñat!!!
Cuesta Basketball Hosts Rabobank Tourney To Open 2014-15
SAN LUIS OBISPO (November 4, 2014)— The Cuesta College Men’s Basketball team returns two players from its 2014 Western State Conference Championship team, however the Cougars have also added ten talented newcomers to put them in position to win their sixth conference title in nine years and reach the post-season for the 16th time under Head Coach Rusty Blair (414-299/23rd year). Blair says, “We can compete, it will be interesting if we can win league. Even as a new team, we can be the favorites.” The team’s effort and hard work has paid off in the pre-season, but this weekend the Cougars will be facing outside competition for the first time. Blair says, “We are ready to go! We have twelve players ready to play. I was surprised we didn’t have more returners. (However) we are learning quickly and adjusted to my style of play.” The Cougars kick off the 2014-15 season this Friday (8 PM) against Fullerton.
The 2014-15 Cougars open the season this weekend when they host the 46th Rabobank Tournament. The tournament begins at 2 PM on Friday and boasts four 2014 playoff teams in the eight-team field, including 2014 State Finalist Chaffey. The event will run until Sunday with the title game beginning at 5 PM on that day. The Cougars opening game is scheduled to be part of the Cuesta TV Project. The game will be broadcast on Charter Cable Channel 19 and webcast at http://www.network1sports.com/station/cuesta for all fans that are unable to attend and cheer on the Cougars in person. Please tune in and catch all the action with Cuesta's own Randy Scovil on the mic. The broadcast will begin just before Friday’s 8 PM game. Come catch the action in person or on-line!!! The games will also be aired this Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 PM on Charter Cable Channel 19 and during the week beginning at 5 PM. It will also be archived on YouTube at CuestaHDTV.
Below is a breakdown of the Cougars Roster.
Point Guard- Spaniard Benat Hevia (San Sebastian, ESP) is projected as the Cougars’ starting point guard, but will have plenty of domestic competition from Daniel Solis (Pittsburg) and Ryan Welsh (Willows HS). Hevia was twice selected as the best point guard in the Basque Country and led his team to a pair of bronze medals in the Spanish Tournament. Coach Blair says, “He is a good ball handler with good vision.” Blair is impressed by his basketball acumen, as well as his shooting ability, which will allow him to move to the wing. Solis starred at Concord High and was a two-time all-Diablo Valley League First Teamer, while also earning all-Metro East Bay honors as a senior. He adds an offensive element to the point position and is quickly picking up Coach Blair’s pro-style system. A transfer from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, Welsh already has a year of NCAA DIII basketball under his belt. He averaged 5.0 points and 1.2 assists over 24 games with the Pipers in 2012-13. Blair says, “He is a good shooter, but not a natural point guard. He has a good basketball IQ.”
Off Guard- Freshman Logan Davis (Eugene, OR) and sophomore Marcos Hazelwood (Corona HS) will be the Cougars primary guards on the wing. Davis led Sheldon High to the 2014 Oregon State Athletic Association Finals and is expected to play a big role with plenty of leadership. Blair says, “He can do everything. He is a hustler, leader and vocal. He gets loose balls and takes charges.” He averaged 8.2 points and 1.9 assists per game for the Fighting Irish and will find floor time for the Cougars this year. Blair calls Hazelwood, “The most athletic player on the team,” he adds, “He can do everything and is an all around player.” Hazelwood was an All-CIF player at Corona High and spent his freshman season at La Sierra University in Riverside.
Small Forward- The Cougars have tremendous depth at small forward and all three players could be on the floor at the same time. Sophomore Rafael Casanova (Seville, ESP) was the final man on the Cougars’ roster last year, but ended up playing in 16 games and averaging 2.0 points per game- or 12.0 points per 40 minutes. Blair says, “He is a whole new guy. He has changed his game. He is bigger, faster and rebounds. He will be on the floor.” Freshman Keshawn Liggins (Middleton, ID) earned All State honors his senior year and, according to Coach Blair, enjoyed the best pre-season on the team. Blair says, “He can shoot or drive and rebounds well. He also understands the game.” Blair says freshman Kevawn Lord (West Springfield, MA) “is potentially the best player on the team.” Lord is quick to the basket on his drives, but can also spot up and shoot. Blair says, “He is an instinctive player and is adjusting to the system.”
Power Forward- Freshmen Rafael Eleftheriou (Limassol, CYP) and Evgeniy Moiseev (Magnitogorsk, RUS) are naturally perimeter players, but have the size and ability to move to the post for the Cougars. Eleftheirou was a point guard in his native Cyprus, but projects as a power forward for the Cougars. Blair says, “He handles the ball well and is aggressive to the hoop. He is a smart player and a team leader.” Moiseev is one of the Cougars’ top deep threats, but his ferocious rebounding has convinced the Cougars to move him inside. Blair says, “He is a 4 that can move to the 3. He is adjusting to our system, but he lives on the boards.”
Center- Sophomore Tayler Thompson (Sonora HS) is in his third year of college basketball after earning a medical redshirt after only two games for CSU Stanislaus in 2012-13. Thompson, at 6-9, is the Cougars’ tallest player and has the potential to dominate at this level. He played in 21 games last season, but averaged only 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds per game- or 9.6 points and 8.4 boards per 40 minutes of floor time. Blair says, “Tayler has the potential to be our best player. He needs to work inside and dominate the boards.” Freshman Ben Peterson (Atwater HS) is the team’s biggest player and provides size and strength in the paint for the Cougars. The former all-Merced County player will be counted on for defense and rebounding off the bench.
