San Diego City College men’s basketball Head Coach Mitch Charlens knew his 2023-24 team would be tested from the get-go when the California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association preseason rankings were announced in late October.
“We have the toughest schedule in the state to start the season, so we will have our hands full and hope to keep getting better every day,” Charlens said.
Knights fans will be able to judge the competition for themselves as the team hosts three preseason top 10 CCCMBCA teams in the Knights Invitational tournament on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 9-10, in Harry West Gym.
The Knights, ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll, open home play Thursday at 3 p.m. against the No. 9 Chabot.
The men will then face off against the No. 3-ranked West Valley Vikings on Friday at 12:30 p.m.
The Knights started the season 2-0 with road wins against Rio Honda, 104-75, at Santa Monica College’s O’Fallon and Singui Classic and against the No. 12 ranked host team Santa Monica, 72-65.
The Rio Hondo win secured Charlens his 350th as the Knights’ head coach.
The Knights offense has been led this season by returning sophomore guards Al Green and KJay Bradley, with Dexter Stratton and Keavie Love leading the team in rebounds.
Chabot, the Knights’ Thursday opponent, will come to San Diego after three wins in as many days, including a triple-overtime victory in the championship game of the John L. Wagoner Classic at their home gym in Hayward.
Early offensive standouts for the Gladiators include guards Noah Thomas and Zach Broadous, with Broadous and freshman guard Marcellus Edwards leading in rebounds.
West Valley, the Friday matchup for City, has an early season record of 2-0 after wins with margins of 51 and 27 points.
Scoring for the Vikings has been evenly distributed so far with four players averaging double figures. Freshman Shakir Odunewu leads the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks.
Knights assistant coach Joe D’Ambro is looking forward to facing these top teams with a City squad filled with players from last year’s Sweet 16 appearance.
“It will be a great early season test for this group that has been together for a couple of months at this point,” D’Ambro wrote in an email. “(It’s) nice to have a strong group of returners to lean on this season. Both opponents have different styles of play. It will be fun to compete on our home floor in the Castle!”
Knights Invitational Schedule – Harry West Gym
- Thursday, Nov. 9
- No. 1 Fullerton vs. No. 3 West Valley at 1 p.m.
- No. 4 San Diego City vs. No. 9 Chabot at 3 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 10
- No. 4 San Diego City vs. No. 3 West Valley at 12:30 p.m.
- No. 1 Fullerton vs. No. 9 Chabot at 2:30 p.m.
All games will be streamed live on the Knights YouTube channel.
