Article copied from Jamestown Post Journal (http://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2017/11/jayhawks-ready-to-go/)

The Jamestown Community College men's basketball team opens its 2017-18 NJCAA Division II season Thursday night against Tompkins Cortland CC at the Physical Education Complex.

Fans would be wise to grab a program as they enter the building.

"I'm only bringing back three players," Jayhawks head coach George Sisson said. "The other 10 guys are all new."

Welcome to life in junior college.

"We coach everything," said Sisson, who is entering his 28th year at the collegiate level, including the last three as the Jamestown CC men's mentor. "We have to coach what it means to go through the preseason work. We have to coach what we expect off the floor and we have to coach what we expect in the classroom. We have to coach everything.

"How have we done the first seven or eight weeks? It's just about what I expected. We've had some good, we've had some bad and we've had some ugly, but we're moving. The ship is no longer tethered to the dock. We're now afloat."

Where the wind takes them is anyone's guess right now, because Sisson has to find a way to replace his six top scorers from a year ago when the Jayhawks finished 18-13 and advanced to the Region 3 Division II semifinals.

"We lose our six top scorers and (leaders) in minutes played and rebounds," Sisson said. "We lost all of them. Three have signed with Division II, one is playing Division III and the other two are finishing up their school work. … All six will be moving on and playing at a different level and I'll be replacing those positions on the floor.

"What am I looking for? I'm looking for us to get better every day, engage the process and allow us to move in the direction of capturing our potential."

The lone returnees in the program are forwards Carter Davidson (Mayville/Chautauqua Lake) and Williams Overo, who sat out last season, and guard D.J. Branch.

"Carter and D.J. have done a good job of leading by example through the preseason," Sisson said.

In addition to the three players mentioned above, the remainder of the roster — most of which hails from New York City and Florida — includes guards Zachary Kiadii, David Williams, Vince Green, Averi Parker, Keshawn Hoard, Germaine Wright and Chris Robson (Sherman/Sherman). The forwards include Tavion King, Kenny Pitt and Demond Parker. Terrance Cosby, another forward, and Jason Gullien, another guard, won't be eligible until the second semester.

Robson, a first-team Post-Journal all-star last season, is expected to allow Sisson to stretch opponent's defenses, thanks to the freshman's outside shooting ability.

"It's an interesting mix of guys," Sisson said. " … You don't start your best five players, you play the five who work best together. We have to find guys who are willing to help us take a good shot, take a good shot and make it a better shot and take a better shot and make it a great shot. We need to start to figure out a way to score simpler. Right now we're a little bit anxious on the offensive end."

Not blessed with much size, the Jayhawks will have to be "scrappy,"especially until Cosby returns after the first of the year.

"Obviously, we don't have (all-Region 3 forward) Jean Toussaint (who is now at Roberts Wesleyan), where we can park him on the block," Sisson said. "The forwards are going to have to hit some shots at the 'elbow,' put it on the deck on the dribble and utilize a little more of their athleticism. I'm OK with that."

The guards, meanwhile, will be on the go.

"Our overall team quickness is really good," Sisson said. "The style of defense I want to play is very aggressive — out in the passing lanes, pressure the ball — but we have to get them all doing it all the time. … We can get down the floor. That's something that has been my style for a while. When we get possession of the ball, we have to be cleared on the runway and have to be going."

Where the Jayhawks will be headed in the short term is a stretch of six games during a 10-day span, including a Region 3 Division II game at home against Mercyhurst North East on Nov. 8. Of note, Jamestown CC will play its regional opponents three times each this season.

"The first semester is no longer for warm-up games," Sisson said. "You're playing that (fourth) game and it counts (for seeding purposes) because it's a region game. … We're lucky if we run down the court three times the same way (that early in the season)."

Last year, the Jayhawks posted an 18-13 record, losing to Genesee CC in the regional semifinals.

" … Now it's time to write a new story," Sisson said. "There are a lot of blank pages ahead that we have to put pictures in and put a narrative in, but I'm looking forward to it."