'New bunch' at Kellogg CC hoping to grow together in men's hoops

With only two players on the roster who have previously played for the Kellogg Community College men's basketball program, and only a handful who have played in college at all, the Bruins will be a lot less experienced than most teams they will face this season.

However, that also means they are ready to grow as a team.

"We are very young, but the strength of this team is that we have a huge upside," said returning KCC sophomore Akila Edmonds. "Once everyone gets used to playing at this level, we will be in good position."

MORE: After a year off, Kellogg CC women's basketball team is back on the court

A young Bruins team is just starting to play games at the start of the 2021-22 season and will enter the meat of their Michigan Community College Athletic Association schedule in the coming weeks and at the start of January.

KCC didn't play men's or women's basketball games last year due to concerns regarding COVID-19. Edmonds and Tahveayr Boykins are the only players on the roster who have seen action for the Bruins, having played for the program two seasons ago.

Fourth-year head coach Gary Sprague is trying to piece together a successful team while he learns the strengths of each of his players.

"We lost some experienced guys that didn't come back," Sprague said. "We have some guys that have hung in there, have some guys back that were with us last year as we practiced hoping to have a season. But overall, we mostly have a new bunch."

KCC had expectations for a season last year and gathered as a team for parts of several months with the hope of playing. But it never came to be.

"That was frustrating," Edmonds said. "But all that practice time will help us going forward."

Beyond Edmonds and Boykins, Solomon Patray returns after practicing with the team as a freshman a year ago, and Larry Patrick is a transfer, who played a season at Mott Community College.

Sprague also likes the potential of several incoming players who were competing on the high school hardwoods a year ago, including Keelan Stricklen from Eastpoint; Elijah Moore from St. Clair Shores; Dahntae Bailey from Mendon; Quentin Jones from Madison Heights; and Jeremy Lavalley and Bryce Dubay from Charlotte.

"The guys that are here are hungry for a full season," Sprague said. "We need to stay healthy because of our numbers and our experience. But if we can pull it together, we can be pretty good, once we get some experience."

Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0678. Follow him on Twitter: @billbroderick.