Carr kicks off 40th season as SJCC’s head coach

By Amy Nilson
Times Contributor

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Some of the best community college men’s basketball teams in the state gathered at San Jose City College for the Jaguars’ annual Tip-Off Tournament on Nov 6-8.
Merritt College of Oakland, the state’s No. 1-ranked team last season, headed the field that included SJCC and six other teams: Foothill College of Los Altos Hills, Monterey Peninsula College, Merced College, Riverside College, Cosumnes River College of Sacramento and Lassen Community College of Susanville.
The competition gives teams a chance to see how well they are doing early in the season.
“This is the first game of the season,” Merritt head coach Keenan McMiller said. “So it will be good to see where we are at.”
For coach Percy Carr, the tournament marks the beginning of his 40th season with the Jaguars. He has more wins than any junior college coach in the history of California. Along the way he has emphasized academic achievement, something SJCC President Byron Breland noted.
“They are student-athletes first,” Breland said.
Carr said SJCC has hosted the tournament for several years. He said he thinks he has a very talented team.
“I feel they are a capable team,” Carr said. “But they better not disappoint me.”
Oakland native Deundrae Perteete, a former player at Southwest Minnesota State who is in his second season an SJCC assistant coach, said he feels fortunate to be coaching under Carr.
“He is an excellent coach and a great leader,” Perteete said. “I am learning so much from Coach Carr and hope to learn so much more.”
Perteete said the Jaguars put in a lot of effort over the summer to prepare for this season.
“The guys have worked so hard, and I want to see them successful,” Perteete said.
The Jaguars were successful in their first game in the tournament, a 90-74 win over Cosumnes River.
SJCC led by 12 with 14:28 to go. With their head coach’s encouragement, the Jaguars were in front 83-74 with 2:13 left on the clock and were up 88-74 with 1:01 to play.
Consumnes River head coach James Giacomazzi, who worked for Carr at SJCC for five years, said his team “did really well except for the turnovers and missed free throws.”
SJCC freshman Justine Felix and Marie Mosqueda came to the tournament to support their school’s team.
“They are playing very aggressive,” Mosqueda said. “When I walked in I could tell that they were playing a very aggressive game.”
It was the first basketball game that either of them had attended at SJCC.
“They are not playing sloppy,” Felix said. “You can tell they are working together as a team.”
The game had added significance for one SJCC player. Maurice Joiner’s parents were in town from Chicago to watch him play for the first time as a Jaguar.
“He is doing a real good job,” said Kim Worship, Joiner’s mother.
Lamar Joiner, Maurice’s dad, added, “He is doing really well. I think he did 10 rebounds with 12 shots the last I counted.”

Amy Nilson is a San Jose City College student who contributed to the Times