Sage announces Men's Basketball Team Captains
Jeff Stopera and Lamant Garland have been named the captains for the Gator hoops squad.
Albany, NY---The Sage Colleges men’s basketball team has announced the selection of the 2010-2011 team captains. Head Coach Brian Barnes waited to announce the captains before the start of the 2010-2011 Skyline Conference action and made the announcement to the team last night.
Sophomore guard Jeff Stopera (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville) and senior forward Lamont Garland (Albany, NY/Colonie) have been selected to serve as the program’s first captains.
Stopera is returning letterwinner for the Gators and was a 20-game starter as a rookie. He was among the league’s leaders in steals, assists, and assist to turnover ratio last season and has continued that strong performance already on the 2010-2011 season as a floor general. A two-year representative on Sage’s Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), Stopera has also been active on campus having participated in numerous community service projects and is majoring in physical education at Sage.
Barnes said of Stopera, “Jeff's work ethic and
competitiveness every day in practice has set a benchmark I hope
all of our players will strive towards.” Barnes, added,
“I look forward to helping Jeff develop into a strong leader
in our program. His passion for winning and desire to improve are
great building blocks."
Garland is a newcomer to the team this season and has already
emerged as a consistent performer for the team. A former student at
Hudson Valley Community College, has provided the team with
exceptional leadership with his high level of maturity. He has been
a capable locker room leader, and has already stepped up with his
skills at both forward positions.
In his free time, Garland works as a YMCA counselor in Troy, NY and has served as a youth and teen basketball coach. An interdisciplinary studies major at Sage, Garland would like to pursue a career in coaching upon graduation.
Barnes said of Garland, “Lamont has been a consistent worker in practice, while also being a great teammate and influence on the younger players in our program.” He added, “His consistent play in games thus far has helped us out immensely. His maturity is an attribute that I hope will allow him to lead with both his head and his emotion."
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