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CHATTANOOGA---Volume I of the Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball preview was last week focusing on the post positions. We shift from the frontline to the backcourt with today's look at the point guard position. The talk about versatility continues with the 1s and notably returning starter David Jean-Baptiste.
 
Jean-Baptiste is what we affectionately call a combo guard. He can play the 1 or 2, but ideally you focus on them at the wing. Each year in the preview process, this is where we tell you we'll talk about him in the next installment. Since a large number of his 40 career starts have been at the 1, we'll keep him right here.
 
Last season, Jean-Baptiste shook off a sluggish start to average 9.7 points and 2.1 assists per game shooting a team-best 41.0 percent from 3pt range. He was second on the squad in assist/turnover ratio at 1.64. He's at 1.61 for his career.
 
What kind of comfort does it provide a coaching staff with someone so flexible in the backcourt?
 
"It's important and a nice thing to have," Coach Lamont Paris explained. "He was solid for us at the point. I don't think it's his natural position which is why I want to play him more at the 2 this year. But having said that, he did a good job at the 1 getting us settled down at times and making sure we ran stuff.
 
"It's nice to have the flexibility having another person you feel comfortable with at the point. He's had good success at both positions."
 
As previously mentioned, Jean-Baptiste is a combo guard so his ability to play either guard positions opens a look at the point for sophomore Maurice Commander. Commander started at the point in the Bahamas exhibition games and showed promise in his first season in Gig City.
 
Averaging 17.6 minutes per game, he came off the bench in all but two of his 23 appearances averaging 3.9 points and 1.5 assists per contest. That came with a team-best 1.67 A/TO ratio. He showed the potential mentioned in the headline.
 
In his one start against a DI opponent, he had 13 points and a trio of treys with three rebounds, assists and steals each. He was also 4-5 from long range in the win over Tennessee Tech. But he sustained a lower-body injury that kept him out of the lineup for six weeks.
 
That limited opportunity the rest of the way. He played 20 or more minutes in each of the first nine games. After returning in mid-January, he hit that mark just once the rest of the season as the lineup rotation settled.
 
"Maurice was on a good track before the injury," Paris noted. "It's hard to come back sometimes from an injury when the rotation gets set. He's a high-character guy with a great opportunity this year. I'm sure he's eager to show what he can do for our team at that spot."
 
There were still highlights. None were bigger than his play down the stretch in a three-point triumph at The Citadel. His defensive effort chasing shooting guard Matt Frierson (who hit four 3pt in first 36:06) over final 3:54 keyed the win. The Bulldogs did not score again after taking 65-62 advantage on three Frierson free throws at 3:54 on Donovann Toatley's fifth foul opening door for Commander's strong finish.
 
"It's one of the hardest things in college basketball, especially for young guys...just making that transition," he continued. "It's hard for any athlete not being able to play or perform the way you want or as much as you want to. It's always impressive in those circumstances when your number is called, you're ready to play. It happens in all levels of basketball.
 
"He was ready to contribute when we needed him. He was really good for us in the tournament against ETSU. Just his whole demeanor and what he brought to the game especially defending well."
 
 
There are a few newcomers to the position. Maryland transfer Alex Tostado and freshman Ashton Smith are competing for playing time, while West Virginia transfer Trey Doomes played the 1 a little in the Bahamas as well. He's more likely to affect the game on the wing with this group.
 
Tostado missed the Bahamas tour due to his own international travel. He made the Mexican National Team roster for the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. His experience playing in that environment as well as high-level opportunities at Maryland and Montverde Academy should serve him well in competing here.
 
"Alex has good experience playing with the national team this summer as well as Maryland and Montverde," Paris said. "He'll be in the mix for reserve minutes at the point. Whoever steps into that role, defends at a high level and makes good decisions with the ball will get opportunities."
 
Smith brings exceptional quickness and tenacity joining the program from Southwind High School in Memphis. He also played at premier schools at Lausanne in Memphis and Findley Prep in Las Vegas as well as with AAU circuit powers Bluff City Legends and Team Penny, averaging 10.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in 13 contests with the Legends.
 
"Ashton's always played on high-level teams and always found an important role on those squads," Paris added. "He always found a way to be relevant at that high level. He competes really hard. His demeanor is good at that position and will serve him well at the position."
 
The first look at the squad in game action comes Saturday, Oct. 26, in an exhibition game with Covenant. The season opens Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Eastern Kentucky, followed by the home opener that Saturday against historic rival Tennessee State.

TICKETS ON SALE
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now. They can be purchased on GoMocs.com (at the link above) or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or 425-5740. Fans can also stop by the Gate 1 ticket office at McKenzie Arena.
 
Full season tickets range from $105-190 for lower-level reserved seating. While your best per-game pricing is with season tickets, single game is now available as well with pricing is from $12 ($10 if bought in advance) to $22 ($20 advance) on game days for sections at the 100 and 200 levels.
 
There are several group discounts with savings of up to 60-plus percent on 100 and 200-level seats. That starts with a minimum of 10 tickets. Contact A.J. Lewis and Mark Curtis at (423) 425-5740 or 425-5872.
 
ROSTER REVEAL SERIES
GoMocs.com's summer roster reveal series is complete. Here's the list with the links to the feature stories on each in order of release:
 
4 – Maurice Commander: http://bit.ly/Commander4
1 – Jonathan Scott: http://bit.ly/Scott01
0 – A.J. Caldwell: http://bit.ly/Caldwell0
15 – Ramon Vila: http://bit.ly/RVila15
32 – Matt Ryan: http://bit.ly/Ryan32 
5 – Jaden Frazer: http://bit.ly/Frazier5
3 – David Jean-Baptiste: http://bit.ly/DJ-B3
11 – Rod Johnson: http://bit.ly/rjohnson11
14 – Grant Ledford: http://bit.ly/ledford14
24 – Prosper Obidiebube: http://bit.ly/Prosper0bi24
13 – Malachi Smith: http://bit.ly/MSmith19
12 – Ashton Smith: http://bit.ly/ASmith12
10 – Alex Tostado: http://bit.ly/Tostado10
2 – Jamaal Walker: http://bit.ly/JWalker2
25 – Justin Brown: http://bit.ly/JBrown25
23 – Trey Doomes: http://bit.ly/TDoomes23
 
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Trey Doomes (dooms)
David Jean-Baptiste (GENE-bapt-TEEST)
Stefan (stef-fun) Kenić (ken-NICH)
Prosper Obidiebube (oh-bee-dee-EH-BU-bay)
Alex Tostado (toe-STAH-doh)
Ramon (ruh-MOAN) Vila (VEE-lah)
 
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