Men’s Basketball: Freshman-loaded Long Beach roster ready for 2015-16 season

Long Beach City College men's basketball coach Barry Barnes has his work cut out for him. Last season, Barnes led the Vikings to a 23-7 overall record and a second consecutive South Coast Conference South Division championship. The Vikings reached the fourth round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs and were just a win away from advancing to the State Championship Final Four.

But four of the Vikings' five starters, along with most of last year's roster, are gone. All-State guards Brandon Staton (Cal State San Bernardino) and Chris Spencer (Benedict College, South Carolina) have both taken their talents to four-year universities. Just sophomores Mena Saad (West Torrance HS) and Jammaal Roebuck (Cabrillo HS) return from last year's conference championship squad.

Despite having a rather young and inexperienced roster, Barnes is confident his Vikings can put together another winning season and make a run for a third straight postseason berth.

 "We are definitely in a rebuilding year," said Barnes, who was selected as last year's SCC South Coach of the Year. "We lost the cornerstones of our program for the last two years in Chris Spencer, Brandon Staton, and Elijah Gaines. But I think my overall team is going to be solid this year. As long as we compete and play hard, we'll win some games."

Saad started 25 of 30 contests he played in last season for the Vikings, averaging 3.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He was also fifth on the squad with 24 three-pointers. He's the lone LBCC returner with full-time experience as Roebuck saw limited playing time off the bench, scoring six points in 15 games.

But Barnes will look to newcomers Breamon Richard out of Los Angeles University High School, bounce back Rolland Pearsall, former Long Beach Poly High School standout Chris Camper, and Chicago native Ahmad Malone to lead this year's squad.

"We are really looking at getting help from Breamon (Richard), Rolland (Pearsall), and (Chris) Camper." said Barnes. "I think they could be the new cornerstones of our team. Another newcomer, Ahmad Malone, will be a big asset for our team this year as well."

Richard averaged 9.7 points per game over three varsity seasons at University High School, last playing in 2013. Despite his time off, he will bring maturity to the court.

Pearsall, originally out of Lawndale High School, returns to Southern California after playing one season at Connors State College in Oklahoma. At Lawndale, he helped lead his squad to a 20-win season and a CIF Southern Section quarterfinals appearance. He was at Antelope Valley College last year, but did not compete.

Camper starred at Long Beach Poly, leading the Jackrabbits to the quarterfinals of the 2011 CIF State Championships. He last played at Santa Monica College in 2012-13 before returning home to Long Beach.

Malone is the lone Viking from out of state, coming in from Illinois. He was a prep standout at St. Francis de Sales High School in Chicago.

According to Barnes, a big difference from his championship teams of the past is that this year's roster will be much deeper. And with experience gained this season, Barnes can see an even brighter future for the Vikings.

"I think over the last two years that we've had success, our bench wasn't deep," said Barnes. "I had very few guys coming off the bench. But this year we are younger and deeper. "I think next year will our better season than this year because we have a lot of young guys.  But overall, my team will be much better than it was the last two years because of having 10-11 great players that I can put in the game."

Barnes plans to go with a starting lineup of Pearsall, Camper, Saad, Richard, and another former Poly High School standout Jeremiah Blandin to start the season. Barnes will look to Malone and freshman Marvin Jaramillo (Lawndale HS) as his first players off the bench although both could play their way into the starting lineup.

Rounding out the roster are freshman Jarone Nelson (Wilson HS), Justin Richardson (Firebaugh HS), Ahmad Sofala (Jordan HS). Malik Price (Crenshaw HS), and Kendall Smith (Mayfair HS).

The Vikings open the season at the College of the Desert Tip-Off Classic on November 5-7, facing Glendale College of Arizona in their season opener. LBCC will also compete in tournaments at Irvine Valley College (Nov. 19-21) and Saddleback College (Dec. 17-19). Long Beach hosts Santa Ana in its home opener on November 24 at 5:30 p.m. and opens South Coast Conference South Division play on January 20, hosting LA Southwest College.