Wilmington, NC - Coming off the programs third trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament in six years, Sporting News, listed this week the Cape Fear Community College men's basketball team at No. 9 in the division I junior college Top-25 preseason rankings.
"We are extremely humbled to receive this ranking, but at the same time don't want to get fat and happy about making the preseason rankings," said CFCC Coach Ryan Mantlo, who's entering his ninth season as head of the Sea Devils basketball program. "We will continue to work on becoming better every day and prepare ourselves for a great ride this season."
After posting a 19-14 record as the Region 10 Champions, and with key pieces returning from last year's team, Mantlo is excited about defending the conference title along with his veteran players and newcomers to the roster.
"We are absolutely thrilled with this year's recruiting class," said Mantlo. "We return nine players from last year's championship team and we have added some terrific talent to go along with the returners. With so much depth and talent at each position, these kids are going to have to bring it every day if they want to get time on the floor."
One of those solid performers from the magical run last season is back for Cape Fear, as six-foot four-inch Anthony Vanhook looks to keep the Sea Devils on the map.
"It's a tremendous honor for them to rank us where they did," said Vanhook. "Now it's our job to go out and earn that ranking."
While the preseason ranking is the first time Sporting News has included the Sea Devils basketball program, Cape Fear will be road tested come this year with a pair of games against pre-season No. 13 Daytona State and No. 21 Eastern Florida State during a road swing through Florida in early December.
Courtesy of Joe Catenacci
Sporting News Article Top 25 Release
#9 Cape Fear (N.C.) CC
While there are only six colleges that play on the NJCAA Division 1 level in the Carolinas, Coach Ryan Mantlo is putting Cape Fear on the juco map. With nine returning players, including 6-4 Anthony Vanhook, the sixth-leading NJCAA scorer last season with a 22-point average, this year looks promising for the Sea Devils. Other key sophomores are point guard Demetres Abrams, who led this team in three-pointers and steals as a freshman, and wing Cordea Wilson, who is known for making big plays at crunch time. Among the newcomers are explosive redshirt point guard Calvin Davis of Charlotte, 6-8 Western Illinois transfer Travis Barnes, and pure-shooting 6-5 N.C. Central transfer Nate Sims. Cape Fear's quality depth, talent and experience should add up to some very good times in Wilmington, hometown of Michael Jordan.
Top 25
1. Indian Hills (IA)
2. Vincennes (IN)
3. College of Southern Idaho (ID)
4. Jones County (MS)
5. South Plains (TX)
6. City College of San Francisco (CA)
7. Chipola (FL)
8. Fresno City (CA)
9. Cape Fear (NC)
10. Trinity Valley (TX)
11. Northwest Florida State (FL)
12. Columbia State (TN)
13. Daytona State (FL)
14. Coffeyville (KS)
15. North Idaho (ID)
16. Kilgore (TX)
17. Seward County (KS)
18. Saddleback (CA)
19. Salt Lake (UT)
20. Connors State (TN)
21. Eastern Florida (FL)
22. Hutchinson (KS)
23. Redlands (OK)
24. New Mexico (NM)
25. Chaffey (CA)
Courtesy of Sporting News