Men’s Basketball Opens Season At Springfield Tech

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- Entering his 13th season at the helm of the Massasoit men's basketball program, head coach Jim Stapleton features plenty of new faces on the 2014-15 roster. The Warriors are set to open the season on Saturday at Springfield Tech, with tipoff set for 2 p.m.

Stapleton can now shift all his attention to the hardwood, as the last month he had been juggling coaching duties for both the Massasoit women's soccer and men's hoop programs.

This season's edition of the Warriors only returns two student-athletes – guard Trey Jones and forward Dashawn Brathwaite - from a squad that went 12-10 last season, but had plenty of close contests. In fact, 10 games were decided by five points or less during the 2013-14 campaign.

Massasoit will feature depth and athleticism at all positions and boasts a number of players with roots to Brockton.

Five student-athletes hail from the City of Champions, featuring three from Southeastern Voc Tech and two from Brockton High.

POINT GUARD: William Baker (Brockton), Steven McCall (Brockton), Trey Jones (Mattapan)

SHOOTING GUARD: Trey Jones, Tristin Morris (Canton), Aidan Ryan (Carver), Ralph Wilson Jr. (Boston), Jerome Penn Jr. (Boston)

FORWARD: Jahleel Moise (Brockton), Leland Jackson (Brockton), Fernando Quade (Brockton), Carl Occeus (Foxboro), Dashawn Brathwaite (Somerville), Kaylin Pina (Lexington), Brendan Butler (Weymouth)

CENTER: Andrew Groh (Bridgewater), Mike Ward (Brockton)

TEAM NOTEBOOK

• Jahleel Moise and William Baker both played at Brockton High School in 2011-12 as the Boxers advanced to the MIAA Division I State Finals before falling to Central High School. Brockton High went 27-3 that season.

• Trey Jones, who will see time at both guard spots this season, averaged 12.4 points and 5.9 assists last season for the Warriors. He played in 13 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

• Moise played one season at UMass-Boston where he averaged 5.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. He was a three-time Little East Rookie of the Week selection during his lone season with the Beacons.

• Last season in the lone meeting with Springfield Tech, Massasoit claimed a 70-69 victory at home.