Press Releases

November 18, 1999
Men's Basketball Has Big Plans With Curtis Small

Heralded 5-11 Guard Is Ready to Run and Gun

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Southampton, NY -- Returning with the league's top scorer, 5-11 guard Curtis Small, Southampton College of Long Island University enters the 1999-2000 season with a run-and-gun team.

Small, a junior who led the New York Athletic Conference with 21.8 points per game last year, will power a hard-working team with some new faces. "Curtis Small is a pure shooter," said Coach Charlie Peck. "He can shake-and-bake and he can go to the hole. He really has the whole package." Small also led the Colonials in accuracy, shooting 83.1 percent from the line and 36.8 percent from the three-point arc.

Four seniors return, including 5-8 guard and co-captain Noel Diaz (10.8 ppg, team-leading 101 assists), 5-10 guard and co-captain Alvin Pierce (15.1 ppg, 48 steals) and 6-3 guard Bradley Washington. A senior transfer is 6-7 center Mark Person.

Returning underclassmen include sophomores: 6-9 center Eric Bradley and 6-4 forward Jason Lewis (9.5 ppg, 6.7 rebounds per game). Newcomers include 6-2 junior Keith Bogad, 6-6 sophomore Richard Fleming and 6-2 freshman Jordan Sztern.

"Jordan Sztern may end up being the league's top rookie," Peck said. "He was a highly recruited player coming out of prestigious St. Thomas Moore Prep."

The Colonials went 6-20 last year and are ranked No. 10 out of 12 teams in the NYCAC in a preseason coaches poll. Peck, however, is aiming to finish in the league's top eight, making the playoffs. ?I like being an underdog,? Peck said. ?We have so many new players, and we have a lot to prove, but we believe we can make the post-season.?

Peck says the key to a successful season will be having his tall, but inexperienced new players gel. "We're practically a new team, but we have some size and speed," the coach added. "We want to be a full-court pressing team, and put up good shots."