Prior to the start of the 2016-17 season, FullertonTitans.com sat down with head coach Dedrique Taylor to preview the Titans roster. We will be rolling out the players by position leading up to the fans first opportunity to watch this year's squad at the Blue/Orange Scrimmage on Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. at Titan Gym. We wrap up the team previews with arguably the most important in college basketball, the guards.
Depth has been the common theme with the 2016-17 edition of the Titans and the guard position exemplifies that this season. The Titans have 10 players listed at the guard position giving unprecedented depth and many options for head coach Dedrique Taylor.
"That was one of those things we wanted to attract, or attack, this spring and summer was to get ourselves some options and get some guys who can help us do different things," Taylor said. "Our staff has done a really good job of doing that."
Guard-play is one of the most important factors in college basketball and the Titans bring the most experience back at the position as four of the team's five returners that played last year are at the guard position, with returning redshirt Jamal Smith another tool at Taylor's disposal in the backcourt.
THE RETURNERS
Tre' Coggins, RS-Senior, 6-3, San Juan Capistrano, Air Force
The Titans leading scorer last season, Coggins returns for his final season after a great first impression after arriving at Fullerton from Air Force. Coggins averaged 15.6 points a game, which ranked fifth in the Big West Conference. He was named BWC Honorable Mention and ranked third in the conference with a .853 free-throw percentage.
"I think the experience for him last year was eye opening," Taylor said. "I think he matured and learned a great deal in some areas he may not have been familiar in terms of leadership and in terms of himself. He's on a mission to prove to himself how good he thinks he can be and add some facets to his game outside of scoring which I think we will all benefit from."
On Jan. 16 against CSUN, Coggins made his mark on the Fullerton history books as he was the first Titan to reach 41 points since Josh Akognon did it against CSU Bakersfield on Dec. 13, 2008, tying for second for most points scored in a single-game as Akognon reached the feat twice in 2008, while Bobby Brown tallied 47 points in 2006 against Bethune-Cookman. Coggins also made 17 free throws, which tied Leon Wood for first in single-game history (vs. Texas-Arlington, 12.19.81) and his perfect 17-for-17 effort at the free-throw line against the Matadors is the best all-time.
This year, Taylor only sees Coggins getting better and continuing to grow on the court to put out yet another stellar season to put an exclamation point on his collegiate career.
"I think we can expect a different kind of leadership from him in terms of just being a mature guy," Taylor said. "This is his fifth year in college and obviously the experience of being at the Air Force Academy plays into his favor. He also has 30 guaranteed opportunities left and wants to do everything he can to take advantage of those opportunities to be productive and successful with them."
Khalil Ahmad, Sophomore, 6-4, Corona, Calif./Centennial (Corona) HS
Ahmad was the first Titans player since Bobby Brown in 2003-04 to be voted the 2015-16 Big West Conference Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year. He also received Big West Honorable Mention. He broke Brown's single-season freshman scoring record of 369 points as Ahmad scored 429 and averaged 14.3 points per game overall.
"I don't think we anticipated him picking up the game and having the ability to impact the game as quickly as he did," Taylor said. "He got thrust into the fire quickly and he established himself as a guy who can score. He can score from all three levels in terms of being able to get to the rim, and be athletic enough to finish and then shoot the three and even the mid range and doing some different things and moving him around, he gives us a different ability to go make a play."
Along with his countless freshman records at Fullerton, Ahmad led the team with 22 double-digit scoring games including six 20-point games. Coming into his sophomore season, the coaching staff expects Ahmad to continue to improve on offense while also making an impact on the defensive side of the ball and they stressed that to him during the summer in "hopes he can pick up the same tenacity that he does on the offensive side of the game" to become a more well-rounded.
"I think as good as he is offensively, he possesses the physical assets to be that good defensively," Taylor said.
Kyle Allman, Jr., Sophomore, 6-3, Brooklyn, N.Y., H.S. for Construction Trades, Engineering and Architecture
Another player thrust directly into the fire during his freshman season, Allman enters this season more seasoned and has added strength during the summer.
"To be, physically, that big and that mature so quick at 19 years old is something we didn't anticipate but he's a super athlete and he's really good in the open floor," Taylor said.
Allman played in 30 games and made three starts last season, averaging 5.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. He recorded four double-figure scoring games and led the Titans in assists on five occasions. His ability on defense will also be a key factor on how the Titans use the second-year guard and the staff expects a lot of growth from Allman, on and off the court.
"I would anticipate being able to put Kyle on the team's best wing and expect Kyle to be able to limit the other player's touches and opportunities so that he doesn't get to his averages," Taylor said. "But Kyle is also a guy who is maturing and starting to understand the game and understand himself and who he is, what he can get accomplished in our program so we're going to rely heavily on Kyle to do a lot of things for us both on and off the floor."
Lionheart Leslie, Senior, 5-10, Houma, La./Blinn JC
Primarily handling the point guard spot last season, Leslie made 18 starts and appeared in 29 games for Fullerton. He led the team with 28 steals.
"I think our monster in my opinion will start with Lionheart," Taylor said. "I'm hoping that his second year in our system and his fourth year in college will lead us to be able to rely on him from an experience standpoint as well as a catalyst for the way that we want to play. He's very good in the open floor, he is a facilitator but he also can score if need be."
Leslie led the team in assists eight times last year while reaching double figures in scoring 11 times, posting a career-best 18 against UC Davis on Jan. 27. But the most important asset Leslie brings to the team is his effort and the key for him this season will be staying healthy and on the court.
"The one thing I was most proud of was he consistently would compete night in and night out," Taylor said. "Whether he was hurt or whether he was in the rotation or not, I thought he always had a good attitude and he competed."
THE RETURNING REDSHIRT
Jamal Smith, RS-Freshman, 6-3, Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde HS
Smith sat out last year but looks to be one of the many players fighting to get into the rotation this season and making a mark in practice. Smith also comes into the new season with more muscle.
"He works," Taylor said. "He's always in the gym, always in the weight room doing extra stuff. I think his level of maturity has improved. And he's the son of a coach so there's always something to be said about guys who see the game and understand the game through the eyes of a coach."
Smith played four years at Rancho Verde High School and averaged 19.0 points and 5.0 assists per game as a senior, earning First Team All-Inland Valley League. He also excelled in the classroom, as he was a Rancho Verde Scholar and made the Principal's Honor Roll, graduating magna cum laude.
THE NEWCOMERS
Riley Dearring, RS-Junior, 6-5, Minnetonka, Minn./Wisconsin
One of the most anticipated newcomers to the Titans, Dearring comes to Fullerton after transferring from the University of Wisconsin. He played in 15 games during the 2014-15 season with the Badgers including a game in the NCAA Tournament, an experience the coaching staff thinks will bring a great perspective to this team.
"One of the things that was intriguing to us with Riley is that he's been a part of two Final Four teams," Taylor said. "The experience itself of what it takes to start the year, go through a year, and end up in the Final Four and go through that whole tournament is something in itself."
At 6-foot-5, Dearring's size is an asset that should allow the coaches to use him in a variety of ways and lineups. He's also got a great stroke from the outside and his length will make it difficult for opposing guards to contest. The threat of his outside shot will allow the Titans to space the floor and give guards like Coggins, Ahmad and Leslie more room to penetrate into the lane and create for themselves or teammates.
"I think Riley frees up those guys to be able to do what they do and the defense hopefully has to make a decision as to who they have to take away," Taylor said.
Austen Awosika, Freshman, 6-3, Chino Hills, Calif./Ayala HS
Awosika was a two-star recruit out of Ayala High School as rated by ESPN.com. He was named to the All Sierra League First Team, All-CIF First Team and All Inland Empire First Team after averaging 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds per game as a senior.
"I think, most importantly, Austen is a local product," Taylor said. "We've been very excited about the fact that we've been able to mind our own backyard, if you will, and reap the benefits of those recruiting efforts and I think Austen is one of those guys who gives us the opportunity to hang our hat on that."
The 6-foot-3 native of Chino Hills, Calif. is a big, strong player with a point guard's mentality and has great ability to be a facilitator when he's on the court.
"He's quickly established himself as a willing passer and a guy who has an elevated understanding of the game and an elevated understanding of how we want to play; with spacing and creating for your teammates and he has really bought into that," Taylor said.
Loren Brill, Freshman, 6-0, Gaithersburg, Md./Georgetown Prep
A walk-on, Brill can play the point and shooting guard positions.
"I think his experience is unique in terms of the toughness category," Taylor said. "He's a physically strong guy who just has a worker's mindset and any time you can have a plethora of that, it always helps and I think he's part of this freshman group that really embodies that."
Jose Garcia-Gonzalez, Freshman, 6-3, Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos HS
Garcia-Gonzalez comes to Fullerton after playing two years on the varsity squad at Los Alamitos. He averaged 18.8 points and 3.2 assists per game as a senior with the Griffins and was named All-Sunset League First Team and to the Orange County Register All Star Team. He possesses a solid outside shooting threat with a quick release and plenty of range with his jumper, giving the Titans another option to use to help stretch and space the floor.
"He's another guy who provides us with a unique opportunity to be able to stretch the defense and gives us the opportunity to roll the ball out and compete in practice with a realistic look at a guy who can knock down shots," Taylor said.
Dwight Ramos, Freshman, 6-5, West Covina, Calif./Walnut HS
Another shooter with great size, the 6-foot-5 guard out of Walnut High School comes to Fullerton after three years on the varsity under head coach Joe Khouzam.
"He's one of those guys where, when he steps in the gym and he's in range," Taylor said. "If you don't where he's at, he will quickly let you know you so you probably don't want to leave him open."
Ramos was named to the All-CIF-Southern Section 2015-16 Boys Basketball Division 1A First Team after averaging 28.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game as a senior. He scored 40 points or more on five occasions during the year and helped lead the Mustangs to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section 2016 Boys Basketball Championships, leading Walnut to a 24-6 record.
"Dwight is another local product like Austen," Taylor said. "For our staff to be able to identify and actually go get them speaks volumes for this staff."
With so many options, Taylor knows it will be difficult to find minutes for everyone, but it's a challenge that he is happy to have and will only aid the team in getting better in practice.
"It's a different level of comfort, if you will, to be able to look out there and see so many bodies that do give you some options," he said.
With the 2016-17 season approaching, Taylor and the rest of the coaching staff want to instill a simple message for the team to take with them once the real games begin and they are facing players with a different logo on their chest.
"Everyday, we are on a quest to bring great energy, create great effort, and compete; all in an effort to be the best individuals we can be and the best team we can be," Taylor said. "And it literally is that simple for us – energy, effort, compete, be the best you. That is what we anticipate seeing not only from today but from the next couple months for the remainder of our time here. That's what we want to preach, that's what we want to teach, that's what we command, that's what we demand. I feel like if we can get that from everyone, we will experience our share of success."
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Titans fans can catch the entire 2016-17 Cal State Fullerton Titans for the first time this Saturday at the Blue-Orange Scrimmage at Titan Gym. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with tip-off set for 11 a.m.
And read up on the rest of our team previews below.