Magic Wins Bracket @ Slam N Jam . . .

The working supposition for this article is about a new direction and positive change for a long dormant Bay Area basketball program, the San Jose State University men's basketball team. This is a team generally producing about a highlight every decade or so--see the 1980 and 1996 Big Dance appearances. One that has deservedly ranked last among Bay Area squads for some time. Dare it be written that San Jose State is going to be the regional college basketball program demonstrating the greatest improvement within the next couple of years? Yes, and here's why.

There are many ways to measure improvement. Some involve employing numbers and statistics-metrics as the business types call it. Other methods, like perception and reputation, don't. The latter generally shift first. Let's focus on today's perception and reputation of the San Jose
State program and coach, highlighted by assessments from local coaching luminaries immersed in youth basketball.

"He's polite, passionate and professional, a class act," says Lou Richie, coach of the Oakland Soldiers club team, describing second-year San Jose St. coach George Nessman.

When is the last time such a description could be used for the mentor of the SJSU men's basketball team? It would have to be way back in 1989-98 when Stan Morrison was the head coach of the Spartans.

When contacted, Valley Christian High boy's basketball coach Steve Cotton stated candidly: "George Nessman brought instant credibility to San Jose St. men's basketball. He was successful and demonstrated his coaching ability at De La Salle, Porterville and at Cal."

Another voice chiming in is that of Capus Hope, coach of the Norcal Magic club team and former Spartan Marquin Chandler: "I've known [George] for years. Wow, was I happy when he got the job. He's an outstanding coach."

Diablo Valley College coach Steve Coccimiglio calls Nessman "an educator who builds character in people and ultimately builds teams that way."

Cal associate head coach Louis Reynaud went even further. "[George] is the most honorable man I know...a great father, teacher and coach...someone with immense character and integrity," said Reynaud, adding "he's a quick wit...well read...well versed in many subjects and one of the most intelligent coaches and human beings
around." Reynaud actually branded Nessman as "a new breed of coach, not one dimensional, he's multi dimensional."

These are well-respected coaches, who are integral components of the local and regional basketball community, talking about the person in charge of the San Jose State's men's basketball program. There's only one way to label these endorsements--a seismic shift in both image and reality.

Preceding SJSU coaching regimes either wrote off Bay Area and northern California basketball prospects or for some reason failed to put in the effort to develop the ties necessary to become a 'player' for local and regional talent.

According to Cotton, "In the past, there was never really a link to our basketball community. Previous San Jose coaches didn't do a good job of networking and didn't pursue local players all that prevalently. When I was running an area club team, the SJSU staff never recruited or even inquired about my kids and I had some good ones in Jason Norman (Harvard), Jayson Obazuaye (Colorado) and Brandon Worthy (Loyola Marymount)."

Per Richie, one former Spartans coach would come around, "chewing tobacco and wearing cowboy boots." Anyone with cognitive activity intact knows such an approach is not the way to develop rapport with city hoopsters.

Returning to the subject of Nessman, Richie said, "He's got a good track record from Porterville JC. We had a kid, David Bell, who played there and then went on to Montana. He's now playing overseas. From what I know, the Cal players liked him (Nessman was an assistant at Cal two seasons ago). I haven't heard anything negative at all."

Cotton added, "[Nessman] and his staff understand what it means to recruit locally. They are reaching out and showing their faces, making San Jose State visible and developing good relationships with area high school and junior college coaches," said Cotton. "San Jose hosted two successful basketball camps this summer, extending their facilities and coaches. I now get offers to bring my team to a San
Jose State game. Cal and USF have been doing this for years. In the past, SJSU hadn't."

Reynaud lauded Nessman's "understanding of the process of effecting young men's lives, of getting, developing, graduating players, of mentoring, teaching and coaching young men...[San Jose State's recruits] will be fortunate in spending four or five years with George Nessman."

Hope also put in special mention for SJSU assistant coach Donald Williams. "I talk to him a lot," Hope said. "Donald has a great rapport and reputation with the kids. He is willing to help out even if they aren't heading towards San Jose State. People remember that."