One of the starters for this year's Scouts is Erin Jones. He is a 6'2" freshman who
plays the guard position.
Jones went to Oak Park high school. He came to MCC-Penn Valley to get his skills ready for the next level.
He says, "I like the one-on-one help I get from the coaches. They challenge me to be better and want me to be a more vocal leader. Coach wants me to 'take the brakes off' and use my God-given talent to my advantage."
One of the reasons Jones came to MCC-Penn Valley was he was a fan when he was seven years old. His kids’ basketball team was named the Scouts and got their jerseys from Penn Valley. When he was ten, he went to a Scouts game.
Jones is studying business at Penn Valley.
"Play solid defense, score as much as you can, and play non-selfishly as a team." That sums up Coach Marcus Harvey's philosophy as he enters his ninth season as head coach.
This years' Scouts team is ranked #8 preseason in the NJCC Division II, even in what might be called a rebuilding year. Why? Because the program has consistently fielded exceptional teams, whether rebuilding or not.
The team has won its regional championship 12 times, been runner-up nine times, has gone to the national tournament 12 times and won the national championship in 1995-96.
Home of the Scouts is the A. Fred Pohlman Fieldhouse, named after the revered coach who started the MCC-Penn Valley program in 1967 and won more than 600 games.
The program has not had to recruit too heavily, because of referrals from former players. Says Harvey, "Treat the players you have right, and they'll bring others."
The program draws quality players from throughout the area-players who look to get a year or two of experience in an excellent program before moving on to division one. Says Harvey, "If you do what you're supposed to do and do what we ask, we can almost guarantee a scholarship for you when you move on."
