The Sinclair Men’s Basketball team has had an incredible season—by far one of the best season’s Coach Jeff Price has ever had. With eleven different talents on the court, Sinclair men’s basketball team has dominated with their largest undefeated streak (21-0), staying undefeated throughout half of the season.
The undefeated record all changed for the Tartans after facing their conference opponent Lakeland Community College on January 3. Lakeland Community College took the win. This loss not only ended the Tartan undefeated record, but fell 79-73 at Lakeland, ending the best start in Sinclair Community College school history 21-0. The Tartans finished the week 1-1 and improved its conference record to 8-1, still in first place.
“Losing to Lakeland, I felt bad because I wasn’t 100 percent and couldn’t give my all to my team,” said Deangelo Gates.
Last week was one of those unexpected basketball weeks where three of the top five teams lost—number 1 Lansing, number 2 Sinclair and number 4 Johnson County, all lost, which allowed Triton and also South Suburban to move up to the top two spots.
Even though Sinclair lost on Saturday January 3, they only fell one spot to number 3 and is still receiving first place votes. This type of talent is one of the best Sinclair has ever had.
Gates, a sophomore, has made a huge impact on the Tartans. He is 2009 graduate from Thurgood Marshall High school, Sinclair guard and small forward, along with being sometimes a power forward. He has lead the Tartans with incredible stats, along with multiple wins.
It all started freshman year at Trotwood High School when Gates finally had the courage to try out for the men’s basketball team. However, his success on staying on the team for Trotwood High School was a struggle for Gates after getting cut from the team his freshman, sophomore and junior year.
Gates transferred to Thurgood Marshall High School with the help of the men’s head coach Dwayne Chest, who also worked with Gates during the summer. After transferring to Thurgood Marshall, he witnessed his first game of organized basketball his senior year of high school.
“I have been playing rec basketball, which is more like open gym type of basketball, since I was a kid. I have never played organized basketball until my senior year of high school,” said Gates.
But where does Gates get most of his “behind the back, no look passing” and better yet, the Kobe Bryant moves come from?
“Yeah! That’s where it all came from, played too much of streetball,” said Gates. Transferring to Thurgood was a successful year for Gates. “It’s crazy to say that my first year of organized basketball we made it to State. Coach had me playing in every game—I was part of the team—averaging a double, double, it was a good year,” said Gates.
After graduating high school, similar to every student athlete, Gates planned on doing so much with his life. Playing basketball is one thing that he wanted to continue within his future. Coming into Sinclair Community College was a different vibe for Gates. Usually when a new recruit goes for a visit to a school, he or she has selected to play for, they are filled with excitements and also curiosity; for Gates, it was different.
“Honestly, my first visit here, I wasn’t really impressed because at the time I verbally committed to University of Cincinnati. I was supposed to go there, but with my ACT scores—didn’t work out. I was on campus down there a lot thinking that I was going to go there, so when I came here the campus itself was small compared to University of Cincinnati,” Gates said. “My opinion changed when I actually started running with the guys. Coach Princ, Coach Herb and myself clicked and everything worked out perfectly.”
Gates had a lot of plans for his future after committing to Sinclair which motivated him to play the best game and train hard.
“Going into this season, talking to Coach Price and Coach Herb, my whole plans were to get a lot of films and also my legs back. I also planned on playing overseas, but the school part came back into my life and I fell in love with school all over again—that motivated me. Why not get a bachelor’s degree? Then hopefully after that, go overseas with hopes of entering the NBA draft,” Gates said.
Outside of basketball, Gates is now a proud father of a daughter, who came to support her father at his very first intensive game here at Sinclair against Columbus State Community College. After being down sixteen point and under six minutes left in the second half, Sinclair took over with a win 67-65.
“Just the feeling, my goodness! After the first half, I told myself this in my head, ‘I cannot take a LOSS in front of my daughter, period—on no type of level. No matter what it might be, and I also can’t have a performance like this in front of my daughter,” Gates said. “Once I came back out, I knew that if we were down 50 or up 50 points that I was going to put a stamp on the game. I had to do it for my daughter.”
This type of motivation lead Sinclair to a victory against Columbus State Community College. “Having a win and also holding my daughter after a win was very special. My biggest challenge in life is to be a great father to my daughter and also my fiancé, I grew up with a father, but he wasn’t always there, although he was a good father to me. I want my daughter to have that actual father figure in her life,” said Gates.
In the past, the Sinclair Men’s Basketball team has never had the bound that these guys have—of course, being a team wasn’t enough for the Men’s Tartan Basketball team, according to Gates. These guys have also built a bound that can never be broken on or off the court.
“As a team, starting off I knew we were going to be good and we also developed alright and came together good picking pieces of talent outside of the state. We bonded together quick. Which was kind of weird for a JUCO team, but we have a great bond. Consider these guys my family,” said Gates.
So far, Deangelo Gates has had a successful year here at Sinclair Community College with now 22 won games and 1 loss Sinclair is now ranked number three along with a record of (9-1) in conference won games. Deangelo Gates described his skills of playing in three words “relentless, patient, and also heart” with this, Gates and his teammates have been able to take control of this year school record of (22-1).
The Tartans have not yet let a team score go over 100 points all season. “The day I stop worrying about stats will be the day we will start winning games. I have always been a confident person, and also a player that a teammate looks up to when in danger. And very optimistic. I consider myself a captain without the caption, ” said Gates.
Sinclair has had one incredible season, not letting their (22-1) won games and (9-1) conference won games record get to them. As a team, they are remaining very humbled and ready for the next game every practice.
“One big advice I would give a new recruit that will be coming into the system would be to just trust and believe it. It might start off as you questioning everything coach has you doing, but at the end of the day, it will pay off and also change you as a man,” Gates said. “Coach Price, he puts you in a position where as a person it might change your life outside of basketball. One thing I will say is, ‘Take your time, be patient, and stay focused on the big picture.’”
Gates plans on ending his year with high hopes of bringing home that championship trophy and also finishing his last semester here at Sinclair on the Dean’s list, as well as transferring to a four-year university.
The Tartans have two more home games before ending the season: February 17, against Ohio State University-Lima and also February 27, against Edison Community College. Come support the Tartans in Building 8 for their last two games.
Afi Ntonolo
Reporter