Eyes on the prize
Eagle basketball teams begin climb toward title contention
Tyler Loring and Ryan Pleggenkuhle
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Sports
Men eyeing return to national tournament
Tyler Loring
Coming off a National Junior College Athletic Association runner-up finish a year ago, the Kirkwood men's basketball team has some potential to reach that same level again this season.
Head basketball coach Doug Wagemester is excited about this year's recruiting class of freshmen and transfers. This class is made up of athletic players and provides depth at key positions, he said.
"We are more athletic than we have been the last few seasons," Wagemester said.
The most notable incoming player is University of Evansville in Indiana transfer and former Cedar Rapids Kennedy All-State player Kaylon Williams. He led the Missouri Valley Conference in assists as a freshman a season ago and looks to bring that same ability to Kirkwood this season.
The addition of Williams brings Division I experience and a tremendous talent, according to Wagemester.
Four players - Jordan Stoermer, Jarvis Williams, Bryan Brown and Lamar Wall - are returning from last year's team, which was defeated in the national championship game.
The experiences from last season will help this team by validating what they are trying to achieve as a program, according to Wagemester.
"The sophomores have to be extensions of what the coaches want to get done," Wagemester said.
Jarvis Williams is the team's leading returning scorer at 9.0 points per game and rebounder at 7.0 rebounds per game.
Stoermer is the high returning assist man, averaging two assists per game a season ago.
Brown has suffered what appears to be a season-ending injury. He could possibly take a redshirt season, according to Wagemester.
This injury makes the Eagles undersized in the post, according to Wagemester. Brown is listed at 6 feet 6 inches and 295 pounds.
As a new season begins, Kirkwood hopes to build on last season's success.
"I am looking forward to getting the season started out on Nov. 6," Wagemester said.
Tyler Loring
Coming off a National Junior College Athletic Association runner-up finish a year ago, the Kirkwood men's basketball team has some potential to reach that same level again this season.
Head basketball coach Doug Wagemester is excited about this year's recruiting class of freshmen and transfers. This class is made up of athletic players and provides depth at key positions, he said.
"We are more athletic than we have been the last few seasons," Wagemester said.
The most notable incoming player is University of Evansville in Indiana transfer and former Cedar Rapids Kennedy All-State player Kaylon Williams. He led the Missouri Valley Conference in assists as a freshman a season ago and looks to bring that same ability to Kirkwood this season.
The addition of Williams brings Division I experience and a tremendous talent, according to Wagemester.
Four players - Jordan Stoermer, Jarvis Williams, Bryan Brown and Lamar Wall - are returning from last year's team, which was defeated in the national championship game.
The experiences from last season will help this team by validating what they are trying to achieve as a program, according to Wagemester.
"The sophomores have to be extensions of what the coaches want to get done," Wagemester said.
Jarvis Williams is the team's leading returning scorer at 9.0 points per game and rebounder at 7.0 rebounds per game.
Stoermer is the high returning assist man, averaging two assists per game a season ago.
Brown has suffered what appears to be a season-ending injury. He could possibly take a redshirt season, according to Wagemester.
This injury makes the Eagles undersized in the post, according to Wagemester. Brown is listed at 6 feet 6 inches and 295 pounds.
As a new season begins, Kirkwood hopes to build on last season's success.
"I am looking forward to getting the season started out on Nov. 6," Wagemester said.
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