Auburn, ME – Central Maine Community College Men's Basketball Coach, Dave Gonyea, is pleased to announce two of the members of the 2019 squad will be moving on to fulfill their dream of playing basketball at a higher level.
Josh Chery (Weymouth, MA) and Kenny Huynh (Melbourne, Australia) have both been recruited to play at the NAIA/NCAA level. Josh received all but $4000 for his package at a college that costs $44,000 a year and Kenny has received a hefty package of over $37,000 for his commitment.
Chery, a graduate of the Business Administration program, will graduate with honors, and follow the footsteps of former CM great, Pietro Badalassi, and play for Coach Ryan Marks at St. Francis University in Joliet, Illinois. He was a USCAA All-American while at CM and the focus of the Mustang attack.
Coach Marks comments, "We are particularly fortunate that Josh has chosen to continue both his educational path and collegiate basketball career with us at St. Francis. His work ethic and passion for being a high achieving student-athlete has been evident both in the classroom and on the court at Central Maine. Over the past two seasons, former CMCC Mustang Pietro Badalassi has been a cornerstone of our program, in part to the tutelage and preparation he received under Coach Gonyea during his time in Auburn. On the court, Josh plays with a great energy and passion that has made him one of the best all-around players and rebounders in the Yankee Small College Conference. For all these reasons, I am excited to Coach Josh and know he will make an impact here as a Fighting Saint!
According to Coach Gonyea, "We take great pride in moving Josh on to St Francis. He is an incredibly hard worker on the court and in the classroom. His teammates and coaches love him and have looked to his leadership the past two years. It was a privilege to coach him. Along with being a good basketball player with a strong upside, he is a quality human being. We have worked with Coach Marks before with Pietro and have the upmost respect for not only his knowledge of the game but the manner he treats his players. Josh picked the right school! Coach Marks is getting one great kid and our entire CM community are very proud of his accomplishments."
Kenny Huynh is off to Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin to play for the Buccaneers. A solid performer for the Mustangs, Kenny is one of the most dedicated players to come through the Mustang system in years. He handles the ball, looks for teammates and possess a high basketball IQ. He will graduate from the Life Sciences program with honors.
Head Coach Jon Hinz from Beloit offers, "We are very excited to have Kenny join next year's incoming class of Beloit College Student-Athletes. I believe Kenny will bring a drive and passion for the game that will only help us to grow as a team as we strive towards success. Having two years of college playing experience under his belt has prepared him well in terms of knowing what it takes to compete at the collegiate level. We look forward to seeing the positive impact that Kenny will provide both in the classroom and on the court!"
Coach Gonyea adds, "I would not be telling the truth if I didn't say Kenny (originally from Melbourne, Australia) is one of my all-time favorite kids. He works hard, is honest, respectful to his teammates and coaching staff, and a player who thinks of team first. He will be sorely missed from our program. Moving forward, I think he will be a person who will be very successful in life. Congrats to Beloit for recognizing Kenny's abilities."
