Long Island Blackbirds

Head Coach

Jim Ferry	7th year
07-08	0-0
Northeast	0-0
FCR	312

Previous Season Wins

Last season, Long Island and Head Coach Jim Ferry, who’ll be entering his 6th year, were poised for a breakout season in the Northeast conference with five starters back and one of the top guards in the league in James Williams. But instead the Blackbirds limped to the finish, losing three of four, and were on the outside looking in come conference tournament time.

In the backcourt 6-1 sophomore guard Jaytornah Wisseh (8.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg) returns, Wisseh showed glimpses of greatness last season, he finished the season on the NEC All-Rookie team. Also back is 5-11 junior point guard Tyrone Mattison (6.3 ppg, 2.0 apg), who should have more opportunities to step up this year. The team has high expectations from freshman newcomers like 6-1 guard David Hicks and junior college transfers 6-4 swingman Ron Manigault, who’s a junior and Nehemiah Weicks a 5-11 combo guard who has three years of eligibility remaining.

The Blackbirds’ frontcourt is loaded with veterans as 6-7 seniors Paska Morkeliunas (4.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and Kellen Allen (4.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg) return. 6-8 sophomore center Aurimas Adomaitis (6.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg) started 21 games as a freshman and shot 51 percent from the field. “He’s extremely skilled and a good low post player, but he hit the wall during the year,” Ferry said. Eugene Kotorobai (9.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg) the 6-5 forward was slowed by a high-ankle sprain the first half of the season, but turned it up the second half. In addition to being the second leading scorer along with Scott, Kotorobai was second in rebounds and three-pointers made (52).

The Blackbirds return a solid core group that should be up for the nightly challenges in the NEC this season. With a little luck they’ll approach the .500 mark and end the season with 15 wins.