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Program Spotlight: Miami Dade College

By HoopMIA, 09/07/20, 12:45PM EDT

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Coach Kevin Ledoux is entering his 5th season as the head coach with Miami Dade College. Ledoux's first year as a head coach saw a record breaking season as the Sharks broke the NJCAA record for most points scored in a single game. They scored 189 points in Ledoux's debut as a head coach. Two Region VIII records were broken which included 348 three pointers made in a season and most 3 pointers averaged per game, 12. The Sharks where ranked #1 in numerous statistical categories in NJCAA Region VIII and many in the top 5 in the NJCAA nationally.  In Ledoux's four years, ten student-athletes have been named to the FCSAA Region VIII All-Academic team and one Hal Chasey Award winner. Athletically, 22 of his players earned All-Southern Conference honors, 2 FCSAA All Region VIII honors and 22 have moved onto four-year universities. Today our staff caught up with Coach to talk about the upcoming 2020-2021 season:


2019-2020 MDC Signees:
-Gus Okafor - Southeastern Louisiana
-Randy Rickards – Wilmington University
-Elton Walker – Austin Peay State University
-Marques Watson – Manhattan College

Miami Dade College 2020-2021 Returners & Newcomers:


(Returners)
1. Victor Hart
2. Bobby Miller (RS Freshmen)
3. Jerome Johnson

(Newcomers)
1. Jordan Brown 6’0
2. Kemari Brown 6’5
3. Denari Garrett 6’7 (Juco Transfer S GA Tech)
4. Jyre Mccloud 6’5
5. Dashaun Joseph 6’6
6. Jakob Medina 6’3 (Transfer SE Missouri St.)
7. Kyin Healey 6’8
8. Josh Reid
9. Ciaran Sandy (RS Freshmen)

10. Alex Sanchez 6’0
11. Khalil Shaheed
 
What are your expectations for MDC this coming year?


My expectation for this ball-club is the same as our past teams. That is to win the Southern Conference Championship, make the Region VIII Tournament and make it to the National Tournament.

 

How do you feel about NJCAA decision to move basketball to a spring session?


The decision was a very thought out and viable decision for everyone involved in my opinion. Hopefully, we can have a better handle on the virus and games can go on as normal come late January. I see it as a positive for the student-athlete and the team too. The student-athlete can focus more on their school work and more time on skill work on the court. Our team will be able to learn our system better and build better chemistry. I see it as a positive and a win, win situation.

 

What players will you miss the most from last season? Who are you most excited to coach next year?

I will miss all of our players from our 2019-20 team. We certainly had our ups and downs as a team last year. I will take away some great memories of each and every one of them. I will miss them as a group and each one individually. I am excited to coach all 14 of them. Each player is highly competitive, very skilled, has a thirst for basketball knowledge and want to win.

What changes do you expect to see in all of college basketball this coming season due to COVID-19? (Non-NJCAA how it effects 4-year schools recruiting calendar)


I envision that 4-year schools will be limited on the amount of days they can physically
come watch our players play live, if any. Recruiting will mainly consist of watching games online. I would imagine 4- year schools will rely on their network of coaches they trust with evaluations on certain players. Our staff will be reaching out with scouting reports and video of our players more this year than years past due to COVID19.

 

Will you be open to playing more geographically located prep schools this year? How does the new law in the state of Florida allowing college athletes to accept endorsements affect the junior college student athlete?

This year is obviously a tough year for us to schedule prep schools since we are allowed only 22 games. Although, the full schedule is not out yet and there may be a possibility for us to play prep schools. That will be determined by the final schedule. With that said, due to Region VIII’s new conference alignment our strength of schedule
may be the determining factor if we make the tournament or not. The committee will evaluate playing prep schools as a negative and playing 2-year colleges as a plus. I am not sure, but I hope our student-athletes can find a way to take advantage of the
new law. I don’t foresee the junior college basketball player being able to take advantage of the new law due to the small fan base. Although, you never know, these young men now-a-days are very creative.

 

Who would be your all time-starting 5? (Of the guys you coached at all schools)

I have had the privilege and honor to coach some great, talented young men in my 4 years as the Head Coach at Miami Dade College. Since you asked, I will give you my All-Time starting 5 as a Head Coach:


-Darnell Dunn came to us as after transferring from a D2 school where he averaged 1.1 points and 0.9 rebounds per game. As a Sophomore he averaged 18.2 points and 7.4 rebounds for us. He made the All- Southern Conference 1st team and earned a
scholarship to Pepperdine University. He currently is playing professionally in Germany

-DJ Russell was my first player to make the All-Region VIII Team and be ranked a top 50 player in the country. He made 1 st team All Southern Conference while averaging 19.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He signed a scholarship to Robert Morris University.

-Gus Okafor came to us after transferring from Longwood University where he averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. As a Sophomore he averaged 12.6 points and 8 rebounds per game. He helped led us to a first in MDC history by beating 2 top 13 teams in the nation. He signed a scholarship with SE Louisiana.

-Elton Walker played high school locally and had zero scholarship offers. He became a top 50 player in the nation and All-Southern Conference 1st team. As a Freshmen he averaged 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 56.6 from the field and 80% from the free throw line. As a Sophomore he helped make MDC history by beating 3 panhandle teams in a season. He signed a scholarship with Austin Peay University.


-Victor Hart came to us after transferring from a D2 school as a Red Shirt Freshman. He is a top 50 player in the country, made the All-Region VIII Team and 1st Team All-Southern Conference team. As a Freshmen he averaged 16.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while having a game high of 35 points. He is being recruited by several high
major and mid-major schools this year. Victor has the potential to be the best player I coached as well as the best player to