The Pilots have a slew of talented Seniors who Coach Al Negratti will be counting on to lead this team into the upper echelons of the WCC.  One of the is actually getting a mulligan as in a do over for last year as he missed all but six games.  The powers that be deemed the injury significant enough to give him a medical redshirt.  That process is really a crap shoot as you never know what that committee will decide with thier arbitrary outcomes. Negratti has went to the far reaches of this country to bring in some talent to this small Catholic school hidden in this Metropolis of a city in the Pacific Northwest.  Negratti will take some chances on some of these guys knowing they had some issues but their talent was so overwhelming that he had to bite the bullet.  The returning players who missed far too many games by the Seniors and the fact the Pilots could not seem to figure out a way to win a close game (3-13 in games decided by four points or less) does not bode well for your overall record. Not surprisingly, the Pilots did end up finishing dead last in the WCC but there is hope that with most of the primary pilots coming back and are supposedly healthy, this team can jump up the totem pole in the WCC. 

The Pilots go into the season with high expectations with the large group of upperclassmen returning including one of the best big men on the West Coast in Senior Ray Scott.  Scott gets a second chance to prove he is the man here after transferring in from a tech school in New York.  This Philadelphia born kid has size at 6’9 and 2220 and all kinds of skill.  Scott is one of the best long-range shooters in the country who can also do the dirty work in the middle.  Sadly, as state above Scott only played in 6 games as he had eligibility and injury issues.  He never got into the groove but with his smarts and overall game promises to help the Pilots if he is indeed eligible to play.  And healthy. Scott’s unique season defined the dashed hopes the Pilot fans (or lack thereof) would endure in this disappointing season. If Scott plays he is good enough to at least get them out of the cellar and perhaps into the top half but he will need much more help then what is already on this team’s roster to accomplish that.  

The two biggest players that Negratti will hang his on are the aforementioned Scott and fellow senior Cincinnatus Powell.  That is if the veteran Coach is invited back to Portland after this dismal year?  They have not been on the court much together but may be the best set of big men in the conference outside of San Francisco. Scott is a great offensive player who can also board with the big guys of the West Coast.  A power forward, who can also play the center if needed, Scott, is most gifted taking other big men out to the perimeter and torching them with a variety of moves to the hoop and his superb range for a six nine 220 pounder.  His favorite shot is the corner jumper as he is a multidimensional player who is well suited for the modern game that this sport is evolving into.  Still this athletic space eater can take it on the blocks and do some damage and when he is guarding fours he is a pretty solid defender.  He also understands basketball about as anyone on the court and that includes Mr. Russell.  Scott is a leader by example but he is not afraid to let his teammates know how he is feeling.  He does not mince words but this Philly product never really assimilated to the Northwest lifestyle (some people can tolerate the rain and some just don’t like the darkness).  He is an eastern kid but the dude has serious game and if he could have stayed healthy would have been a legend in this oh so rainy city.  Scott’s ability to communicate set well with his teammate Powell who also likes to verbalize a little bit.  Especially to officials!  Scott and Powell may have been the most talkative pair in the entire Northwest. They love to get on officials and refs don’t like that as can be seen by their multiple suspensions.  On the court they are marvelous however.  Cincinnatus (now that’s a name) Powell grew up in the bayous of Baton Rouge Louisiana.  You might wonder like we do how this pair from vastly different parts of the country (and worlds) ended up in Portland.  But there is no wonder who the big brother is in this wonderful relationship.  Powell came into the season as a supporting player who was fine being the number two option on the offensive end as this fits his inside-out game well.  With Scott’s problems he stepped in and became the number one option for most of the season.  Powell can light it up from anywhere and has the perfect size-speed combo for a combo forward.  At six seven 220 Powell can bang with the big boys or run with the gazelles.  Most of this season however he was stuck playing the four (or even five sometimes with this team’s lack of a true center and when they went to the modern small ball) which he handled well (3rd team All WCC even with missing five games due to injuries and his suspensions) but Cincy is better suited as a true swing forward who does everything well.   Both are that old school tough as nails playground style and man can they play.  If they can keep on the court and off stay off the refs butts they will have phenomenal careers! 

As good and as vocal as Scott and Powell are there is no doubt who the leader of the Pilots was.  And the best thing for the Pilots is he is coming back.  And they will need him!  Junior Darwin Cook took the reins of the team the minute he stepped on the court as a freshman and has not let go.  A point guard with great quickness, Cook’s best ability is his leadership.  He is a general on the floor and always knows where to get the ball. And more importantly to who no matter how much his teammates might complain.   He is a ballhawk on defense who is adept at hounding the ball and taking it away from others.  He is also, like his two older teammates, old school.   He is always prepared and putting a days work for what he gets back. The combination of Cook and the noisy boys up front was as solid as any in conference and that is saying an awful lot.  But Cook unlike his peers did not miss any games as he has started every game since he arrived in Portland from Crenshaw High in Los Angeles.  As you can see much like the city it is located in this program and University are diverse getting a wide range of talent from across the country. 

Senior Andy Johnson provided ample support for the big two up front for the Pilots but like his two sidekicks he had some injuries and off the court issues, none of which were to his doing.  Johnson came from North Hollywood High in LA but bounced around some before Negratti found him.  Johnson is a solid wing who does everything well but nothing exceptional and relies on supreme athleticism to get the job done.  At six five he has the perfect size for the swing position as he is strong enough to guard bigger guys and quick enough for the faster guards.  Johnson missed some games due to some off the court stuff that resulted around his being African-American.  As liberal as Portland is there is still a huge faction of skinheads and one night Johnson got jumped and hurt his shooting hand in the scuffle.  He missed several games with the injury but even had more trouble convincing the administration what had happened!  This whole issue was a blind spot on this program as it did not look like Johnson was going to be welcomed back to the team but his persistence prevailed and some of his teammates (including the three team leaders Cook, Scott and Powell) stepped up for him and he did play the last few games.  Too bad about this incidence as not only could he have helped this team but this kind of black eye on a program that was recruiting kids like Johnson with his kind of unique athleticism but not on the beaten path will be hard to forget for others wanting to come up this way in the future.  Johnson was putting up some solid numbers when he got hurt and they regressed when they came back and hopefully the pro scouts will see through nonsense to the type of player he can become.  He might not be as talented as Scott or Powell but he is not far behind.  The perfect role player he is also leaving for greener pastures and his consistency and toughness will give him a shot at the next level.  The Pilots had a pair of big men who went into the season with the idea of backing up Scott down low with their unique and different skill sets.  Bill Garner gave the team some much needed size up front though it is a big drop off on offense when he comes into the game.  Garner is a big center (six ten) who eats up space and makes his living defending big centers. Garner is not gifted offensively but is solid on defense and really likes to use his big body for rebounding and screen’s and played much more than he was expected starting two thirds of the games for the Pilots.  Fellow post Steve Anstett is not near as big as Garner but he does have size (six eight) and is better offensively.  He has a solid array of hooks around the basket and is also solid on the boards though not as intimidating defensively.  This duo combined to average over 25 minutes a game in the post and pulled their weight though neither one is near as gifted as the guy they were filling in for the talented Mr. Scott.  Both might get a cup of coffee at the next level in different roles and if you combined the two you might just have one terrific player ala Scott!  One other senior came back after a long journey to once again sail with the Pilots.  Jim Winters was once the star of this team when the competed at the highest levels of the NAIA basketball world.  Born in Arkansas he moved west with his family (it was long time ago but no he was did not come out on the Oregon Trail but does predate the infamous video game we played in school in the 80’s) and went to Roosevelt High School in downtown Portland where he led his team to an Oregon State High School championship.  Overshadowed for years by big brother Jackson (who actually came to play for the Pilots first) the diminutive (5 foot 11) quickly became the focal point of those glorious teams. After a trip to the final four in his junior year Winters joined the Military to serve his country which he did for four years. When he came back for his final year no one though this kid would play much but he surprised them all.  Winters started the year deep on the bench but soon became an integral player off the bench with his outstanding jump shots.  Winters must get two feet off the ground with his picture perfect form and though he is probably too small to get much of a shot at the next level I would never count this warrior out on achieving anything.  And if that doesn’t work this true Trail Blazer would be one hell of a coach somewhere and Oregon (little St. Paul has an opening) would be a good place for this warrior to land!

Sophomore Jose Slaughter gave the Pilots some scoring off the wing.  A solid all-around scorer, Slaughter is a physical presence for a wing and uses his strength to post up smaller and less physical guys and is tough on the boards.  He like many of his teammates comes from the street ball world and has the toughness you would expect from a Compton kid.  He can shoot the long ball but is better mid-range using his strength to physically dominate twos or threes.  He did a good job in this role and the Pilots are glad they have him for another two years.  His size (six five) is a tough matchup for other shooting guards though he can sometimes get beat by quickness.  Still, Slaughter will almost undoubtedly lead the team in scoring next year (he led the Pilots in total points this year with all of the injuries) and combines with Cook to give the Pilots one of the best courts in the WCC and that is saying something.  Of course whoever the coach is might just put him at the three which he can easily handle to get some more quickness and long range shooting on the court.  Either way this stud will be getting a plethora of shots for the Pilots next year! 

Junior Rick Raivio was the only other player who got much consistent PT up front and he gave the Pilots a little more offensive firepower off the bench. This home town kid comes from a basketball playing family and had been a solid contributor since he walked onto campus three years ago.  He is best suited for the wing but has a big man’s mentality and played way too many minutes at the four for the Pilots.  The fans love his effort Raivio was expected to only caddie for Powell and Johnson as a swing forward but started 15 games and became a vital part of the Pilot offense.  He is a great passer and solid board man and scorer.  At six five he is undersized however and the Pilots lost a lot of size when he was in the game. He is a gamer and will battle (he is a terrific rebounder for his size) but it is hard to guard Russell or Hank Gathers when your giving up four or five inches and a truckload of athleticism. 

The rest of the bench for the Pilots was inconsistent at best. Negratti had a mixed bag of experience and athleticism but did not have the players he needed to fill in the holes of a leaking bucket. Negratti tried several players up front with mixed success.  Senior Jim Armstrong had already lost his starting job to Cook a few years back but this year he and some fellow seniors were basically led out to pasture as Negratti had to get some of the younger guys on the court for the future especially with the season going down the toilet so quickly.   Speaking of openings up front Juniors Leonard Williams and Quinton Braxton got their shots but were not the kind of defensive forces Negrati was looking for with Scott gone.  Both are more true score and board forwards though Braxton showed some diversity as he one heck of an athlete who for six seven guy.  He can throw it down and has solid handles and wants to be a wing but Negratti had him banging down low as that was what needed and kind of did his own thing a few times and it cost him some serious playing time.  Braxton could be the best athlete on the team but did not like riding the pine and got in Negratti’s doghouse for most of the second half of the year.  Braxton had some crazy moments in his brief time and the fans love him and not because he has the funkiest doo this side of Philly.  Williams got into more games but lacked the size to get the job done in the tough WCC especially since they had him guarding fives when he got on the court.  He did not complain but the dude is only six seven and trying to guard Awtrey or Cartwright was just asking too much. Both are more swing forward and with Powell and Raivio around playing the same positions they were just not going to get enough minutes to make a huge impact.  Both can play and should battle for one spot up front next to Cincy and whoever is playing center.  Senior Jim winters finished off last year backing up Slaughter at the two spot.  He had started season as the starter but Slaughter’s size and scoring punch got him into the lineup and Winters gracefully stepped aside as the class act he is and had some big moments off the bench. He also missed way too many games but has one more year to redeem himself.  He is a legend for the Pilots as he was the first black player to suit up here but has already missed an entire year. Negratti hopes he has some left in the tank and knows at his age (24) he will be a nice leader to the young recruits that are coming in to the Rose City. 

The Portland Pilots had a much worse than expected season in the West Coast Conference. They did, however, show that on a given night they could keep up with the elite teams.   They had some gifted players contribute to this lost year especially big man Ray Scott (at least for some of the year) and Cincy Powell and point guard Darwin Cook.  It is hard competing with the horses of this league especially when you lack depth.  And Size!  And everybody gets injured.  Or is not eligible.  Some of these players may find the air is a little thinner and more for their liking at the next level because they definitely have pro type skills and attitudes.  The Pilots, however, are going to have to reboot on the fly (though a slew of injuries to the seniors did allow some underclassmen to get some valuable playing time and needed experience) and that means some new bodies are going to have to fill that front line with some bigger and better bodies.  But no matter who is there with Cook running the show and Jose Slaughter and Rick Raivio filling it up from the wings they should be in every game.  Of course that was the case for most of the season as Coach Al Negratti could not find the answer to pulling out the close ones which led to their underwhelming 9 and 20 record and last place finish in the WCC.  Negratti is almost for sure gone and whoever the new coach is this season will be all about finding some big men to replace the departed seniors and figuring out who can make some big shots when the game is on the line.  After all the WCC is not getting any less competitive and unless the Pilots want to be left out to sea they better find someone to man this wayward ship!