TALENTED ROSTER FOR HAWKS MEN’S BASKETBALL READY TO HIT THE FLOOR TOGETHER

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College men's basketball team is ready to face someone other themselves in what they hope will be an extremely-successful season. The Hawks will begin their 2024-25 campaign in a battle with Concordia University JV at 7:30 p.m. at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk and will open the conference portion of their schedule at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4 against Des Moines Area Community in Boone, Iowa.

Josh Clark is beginning his second season as the head coach of the Hawks and he was impressed by his group this year from the moment they first talked as a team.

"When we first sat down and talked, we talked about the process," Clark said. "In junior college, you need to do a lot of the little things in order to be successful. In junior college, you have players from all different parts of the country and all different playing levels. To put those 15 guys together, they need to trust the process and know the role that they are in. Their role will change over the course of the season. We talked about knowing your role, starring in your role and trusting the process throughout the season."

Clark and his team traveled to Norman, Oklahoma at the start of October to compete in the JUCO Advocate Jamboree, but there's no doubting that they are ready to line up against teams other than themselves.

"We have been going at this for 11 weeks," Clark said. "The guys are ready. It's all we talk about. The guys are ready to play new competition. When we went to Oklahoma, we were excited to see the talent that we have. We are going to be deep, which is a strength of ours. I'm ready to get started."

Entering his second season at the helm for Northeast, Clark is looking forward to taking the lessons he learned in his first year and applying them to his second season.

"The first season was tough because we had a lot of freshmen," Clark said. "We had to create leaders in that compacity. We are trying to change the culture while also making them better men. We talk about that a lot. It usually takes three years for a culture change, and maybe at a junior college it might take four because of the two-year cycle. Year two is much easier because we have guys that are established and they know what is expected of them."

Of his returners, who is Clark looking upon to lead the team?

"Bryson Faines (Lincoln, Neb.), Vincent Garrett (Lincoln, Neb.) and Collin Nick (Lincoln, Neb.) are three along with Luke Brown (Hobart, Australia)," Clark said. "Chase Williams (Omaha, Neb.) will also play a big role. Jacob Martin (Omaha, Neb.) will be big for us. Jaxon Claussen (Wausa, Neb.) will be a big part of it."

Having a strong sophomore class is something that Clark is hoping his freshmen will learn from.

"It's hard for our younger guys to break that ceiling of the sophomores because they are so talented and athletic," Clark said. "They do what is expected. That core guys of returners are tough. Every single day it's a competition at practice. It's so competitive. We are looking forward to seeing how they can lead on the team this year."

There have been plenty of bright spots from his newcomers that has Clark excited.

"We missed a point guard last season," Clark said. "We had a hole in that position. That was our first priority in the offseason. We brought Sunny Singh (Queens, N.Y.) in and he has been great for us. He sees the floor really well. We want to run fast, and he is a guy that will run it up the floor. He makes the right reads."

Size is something that the Hawks will also look to as a strength this season.

"Scottie Johnson (Denton, Texas) is one of the most athletic guys that we've had in a long time," Clark said. "The guy can guard any position on the floor. He is a highlight every game. He is going to do something every game. He works hard. He does things the right way, both on the court and off of the court. He is a guy that a lot will be expected of him as the season goes on."

Overall, Clark has been most impressed by one thing from this team as a whole.

"They are a high-IQ team," Clark said. "We are putting in a lot more offensive and defensive schemes. They are picking it up. If there is something we need to put in, we put it in one time and the next group comes in and they are running it right away."

Clark has added Dylan Fischbach to the bench as an assistant coach this year in a move that Clark believes will be a true difference maker.

"Dylan has experience at a high level of basketball," Clark said. "He has been around basketball his whole life. We are on the same page of how things should be. It's our program. It's not just my program, it's ours. He has taken responsibility and ownership of it. I'm just so glad that he is here."

Lofty goals aren't something that Clark is shying away from when it comes to the potential of this team.

"I want them to be better men.," Clark said. "The character they have off the floor is important. Last year, we played our best ball at the end of the year. When it's all set and done, our goal is winning the ICCAC outright. With the talent we have now, I think that we can do it. We are going to surprise some teams. We want 20 wins, and to do that we have to beat teams on the road. At the end of the day, I want them to be successful and be good leaders."

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