Jan. 10, 2006

Jan. 2, 2006

By Theresa Smith Courtesy of the Denver Post

With 900 full-time students, Northeastern Junior College is small, but its basketball players can go big, big-time.

Michael Harrison is the latest success story from Sterling's Northeastern JC. He earned National JC All-America honors and the Region IX most valuable player award while leading the Plainsmen to the Sweet 16 of the National JC Athletic Association Tournament last spring.

Today, he's Colorado State's second-leading scorer, averaging 11.6 points for the Rams, who at 11-2 are off to their best start since 1997-98.

"He was well-coached in junior college and has adjusted quickly to our style," CSU coach Dale Layer said.

Derek Wabbington led NJC from 2003-04

Derek Wabbington also made the jump from small college to Division I, trading in a Plainsmen's jersey for the Wyoming uniform he will wear Tuesday when the Cowboys come to town to play the University of Denver.

Brian Joyce, Northeastern's fourth-year head coach and former assistant, has earned a reputation for teaching fundamentals and ensuring class attendance. His 13-2 team will play its only game in Denver on Saturday against Buckley Air Force Base. The Plainsmen trounced Buckley in their season opener, 111-51 in Sterling.

Tyler Smith, a transfer from DePaul who did not attend school last season, is Northeastern's leading scorer, averaging 19 points on 45.9 percent shooting, including 40.3 percent from the 3-point line.

Tyler Smith leads current group of Plainsmen

Smith, a Baltimore boyhood friend of Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, leads the Plainsmen in assists with 4.7 per game.

Freshman Nik Raivio, a 6-foot-4 guard, averages 11.8 points on 42.9 percent shooting and is the brother of Gonzaga point guard, Derek Raivio.

Reserve center Calum MacLeod appeared in only nine games for 15 minutes for Gonzaga last season. In an attempt to gain experience, the 7-footer from New Zealand transferred to Northeastern, where he averages 8.0 points on 65.9 percent shooting and 5.0 rebounds.

In his season debut against Buckley, MacLeod hit 10-of-11 field goals for 20 points.

The Plainsmen feature five Coloradans: Sterling residents Cory Fehringer and Shane Gertner, Kelvin Franklin from Aurora Central High School, and Tyler Wortham and Clyde Johnson from Aurora's Eaglecrest High School.