The Men’s Basketball team completed its 2009-10, falling to Monroe College 71-67 in Region XV championship game. This marks the second year in a row that the Avengers have reached the finals in only its second year of existence as a program. The team finished with a 22-6 record under Head Coach, Ken Wilcox. This is a vast improvement from the program’s start-up year, where they finished with a 14-13 overall record.
The 2009-10 Avengers started off on a tear, going undefeated in their first 10 games. The Avengers first loss came against Globe on December 15th. However, ASA would avenge the loss by defeating Globe in the next two contests; once, on January 4th by the score of 88-67, and the second, in the Region 15 Division I Tournament semi-finals by the score 66-53. The Avengers’ other extensive winning-streak came between December 30 and January 27th where they would take 6 straight.
In terms of individual accolades, the team faired well in the selection process for post-season awards. Sophomore forward, Roberto Colonette (Queens, NY/RFK), was voted Region XV Division I Player of the Year as well as NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American. Colonette ended the season averaging 13.2ppg , 8.5rpg, and 2bpg. His consistent play and character on and off of the basketball court earned him both honors. Joining Colonette on one of the All-Region teams was sophomore guard, Garel Craig (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack), who was voted to the second-team. Craig finished the season, leading the Avengers in scoring with 16.2ppg and in assists with 4 per game. He had a season high in points against Nia Prep, including (4) 3-point field goals.
Ken Wilcox is the first Athletic Director and Men's Basketball coach at ASA. With the challenge of starting an athletic department from scratch a daunting task, he is no stranger to this challenge. Previously Coach Wilcox built a nationally recognized basketball program as a coach and as an Athletic Director at Globe Institute of Technology. Coach Wilcox started the Globe athletic department back in 1998 with basketball as a club team and over the past 10 years helped develop and grow 15 intercollegiate programs with many teams being nationally ranked in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). As an athletic administrator Coach Wilcox built the only Division One Junior College athletic department in the northeast.
Coach Wilcox, while at Globe, built the Men's Basketball program into a nationally recognized program. The early success of the ASA men’s basketball program has set the tone for even bigger and better results. In fact, just this past season (2008-2009) under his guidance the ASA men’s basketball team was a finalist in the Region 15 Division One Men's Basketball championship game in only the first year of existence. This tremendous first season accomplishment comes on the heels of his last season at Globe (2007-2008) when he coached the team to the Region 15 Division One Men's Basketball regular season and post season championships and helped guide them to the District 3 Championship Game.
Coach Wilcox garnered the 2007-2008 Region 15 Coach of the Year along the way as well as winning the regional coach of the year honors also in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. Coach Wilcox success in Region 15 is also shown by 6 regular season or post season regional championship in 8 years including the last 5. Coach Wilcox record over the past 3 years in Division One regional competition is 17-4 while overall he has gone undefeated in regular season conference play 3 times. In 2004-2005 Coach Wilcox led his team to 'Hutch', the NJCAA Division One National Championship Tournament in Hutchinson, KS while earning District 3 Coach of the Year honors. That season solidified the program he built from scratch as a national power.
Overall, Coach Wilcox has helped 24 former players move on to NCAA Division One programs including student athletes transferring to the Big East, Conference USA, Big 12 and Colonial. Over 50 players have moved on to 4-year schools at other levels. He has coached 5 players that have received All-American honors by numerous magazines and athletic associations including back to back NJCAA 2nd team All-Americans in Rob Robinson 06' and Jamual Warren 05'; Rob Robinson (Robert Morris) 2007, Jamual Warren (Cincinnati) Jamal Nichols (Depaul) in 2004, Jimmie Inglis (Rutgers) in 2002 and Mike McKie (St. Peters) in 2001. He also coached one of the few junior college players that had been drafted to the NBA in Victor Sanikidze from the Republic of Georgia. He was drafted #42 of the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks.
Devonne Martinez joins the ASA men's basketball staff with years of experience in the New York City basketball scene as a high school and collegiate player and then as a college coach. A former two time All Region junior college player for current ASA Head Coach Kenney Wilcox, Coach Martinez continued his education and basketball career for two years at Kentucky State University. Coach Martinez returned to New York and has been an assistant coach for Coach Wilcox the past three years. He is the recruiting coordinator for the Men's Basketball program as well as running all the weight training and individual instruction.
Coach Radoncic enters his first season with ASA. He arrives with Head Coach, Kenney Wilcox, from Globe Tech. Radoncic is no stranger to Wilcox’s system, as he has been on his staffs for the past 4 years. He also played for Coach Wilcox on two very successful Globe teams that advanced deep into the post-season both years. Prior to coaching at Globe, Radoncic continued his collegiate playing career at St. Francis College (Brooklyn, NY).
Radoncic has a lot of knowledge of the New York City basketball world that will be essential to ASA’s success. He will assist in all aspects of coaching with the staff including recruiting, in-game coaching, practice preparation, and scouting. Coach Radoncic will also take on double duty as the Housing Coordinator for the ASA dormitory building.
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