Photo Gallery: Men's Basketball Alumni
A number of former Marshalltown Community College Men's Basketball players have found new homes at the next level, whether it be a four-year institution or on the professional stage. The Tigers have had a strong history of moving players on after their stint at MCC.
Former two-time All-Region XI selection Mike Rodriguez has helped NCAA Division I Southern Illinois University jump out to an 8-1 start this season. Rodriguez has started all nine games for the Salukis, and ranks third on the team with 10.9 points per contest. Rodriguez was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 23.
While at MCC, Rodriguez became just the second player since 2001 to join the 1,000 point club after finishing his career with 1,154. The guard was an All-Region XI First-Team choice for the 2014-15 season.
Jamal Gatali, a two-year starter for the Tigers from 2012-14, has started all nine games for Slippery Rock University during his senior season after starting all 32 games as a junior in 2014-15. Gatali ranks third on the team with 11.1 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game this year. Slippery Rock reached the NCAA Tournament last season.
Gatali started 55 career games for the Tigers and scored 578 points and grabbed 367 rebounds during his tenure.
Kenny Strong, also a member of the 2014 class at MCC, is currently a member of the West Virginia State University Men's Basketball team. Strong has appeared in seven games for the Yellow Jackets and scored a season-high 10 points on 3-4 shooting from three-point range against Tiffin University on Nov. 27.
Strong appeared in 46 games for the Tigers from 2012-14 and scored 149 points during his two seasons.
More than a dozen former Tigers have moved on to the professional level under the guidance of MCC head coach Brynjar Brynjarsson.
Will Clyburn, an MCC and Iowa State University standout, spent last season at the top level in Germany before moving on to Hapoel Holon of the Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball. Clyburn is currently leading the team with 18.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Clyburn was a two-time All-Region XI selection at MCC, including a first-team pick for the 2009-2010 season. While in Germany last season, Clyburn won the 2014 Beko All Star Dunk Contest after being named to the All-Star team.
Chris Caird, who finished his playing career at MCC in 2013, signed his first professional contract this year with FSU Selfoss, a team in the Icelandic Dominos League. Caird is currently the top scorer on the team with a 21.7 average and his 8.6 rebounds per game rank second.
Caird, a native of Daventry, England, was also named to the Great Britain National Team roster in the summer for a tournament in the Netherlands. Prior to his professional career, Caird was an All-Region XI selection at MCC before playing two seasons at NCAA Division I Drake University.
Sherman Blanford played for Brynjarsson for two seasons from 2010-212 and also earned All-Region XI honors. Blanford is currently playing for Oulun NMKY in Finland where his 21.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game lead the team.
Blanford moved on to Eastern Illinois University following his career at MCC.
Douglas Kurtz is currently a member of the Franca Basquete Sao Paulo of Brazil where he has appeared in all seven games for the team. Kurtz led the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) in field goal percentage and free throw percentage while at MCC and earned All-Region XI Honorable Mention honors before moving on to the University of Hawaii.
Also playing professionally in Brazil is Nilson Santana, a member of the Universo/Vitoria Salvador team where he has appeared in six games. Santana played at MCC from 2010-12.
After moving on to Iowa State University following his career at MCC, Jiri Hubalek is currently listed on the Centro Juventud Sionista de Parana team in Argentina where he has appeared in nine games and is shooting 50.0 percent from the floor.
Tigers Moving On Tigers in the Pros
