CCRI Hoops Makes Rhode Island Proud
Friday, March 23, 2012
What do you think of the new coach at URI? Will Ed Cooley and PC add another big man to this year’s recruiting class? Will local star TJ Sorrentine get a chance to coach Brown next season?
These are just some of the questions that college basketball fans have here in Rhode Island and they are all legitimate questions. But while we sweat out the trials and tribulations of some of our division one programs in this state, there is another great local college basketball story unfolding in relative anonymity.
Out in the sleepy town of Danville, Illinois, the division two junior college men’s basketball championship is being contested. And right there in the thick of things is our very own Community College of Rhode Island.
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Wednesday night, the Knights defeated Baltimore City Community College 85-64 to punch their ticket to the national semifinals Friday night against South Suburban Community College (South Holland, Illinois).
CCRI is led by 6th year head coach Rick Harris who once coached the Cranston East boy’s basketball programs to great heights in Rhode Island.
Harris has put some very good teams on the floor for the Knights since taking over, but this year’s team has advanced as far as any team he has coached at CCRI. “We have a very good group of first and second year players and they have played well all season,” said Harris.
Sadly, CCRI basketball and all of the other non-division one programs do not get the type of local media coverage as many of the division one programs do. It's the nature of the business. But it's not because they are undeserving. Their players and coaches work just as hard as any program at any level.
What makes this such a great local story is the fact that 8 of the 15 players on the roster are from Rhode Island and 4 of the remaining 7 are from nearby Connecticut.
“We have to recruit our state well because it’s a lot cheaper for kids to pay in-state tuition rates. Plus, they can live at home while playing here which is also a plus,” Harris said.
6’-5” freshman guard Desmond Williams (Torrington, CT) is the team’s leading scorer at just under 20 points per game. He was recruited by URI, among other schools, and will likely play division one basketball following his sophomore campaign at CCRI.
6’-6” sophomore forward Rogerio Livramento (Central Falls) is the leading scorer (9 ppg) from Rhode Island. He had 16 points and 15 rebounds in the win over Baltimore City CC Wednesday night.
Cranston’s Bryan Yarce is also a big contributor to the cause. He had 13 points and 5 assists on Wednesday.
As a team, the Knights blew open a close game (36-33 at halftime) with a superb second half of play. CCRI out-rebounded Baltimore City 53-35. That included 26 offensive rebounds for the Knights whom Harris instructs to “gang rebound” by crashing the boards.
If CCRI wins its semifinal game on Friday night, the Knights will play for the national championship on Saturday.
It has been quite a season for the Knights.
