Stock rises in young Cal Poly men's basketball team

Derek Stockalper has seen his share of ups and downs.

The Cal Poly men’s basketball team’s 6-foot-5 senior forward has yet to strike a balance between personal and team success. Although he was named to the All-Big West Conference First Team last year, he has yet to experience a winning season at Cal Poly.

“Sure, (the awards) are nice, but at this point I just want to win,” Stockalper said.

The Mustangs have taken the first steps to ensure that Stockalper will not end his career on a sour note, starting the year with a 3-2 record, Cal Poly’s best start since the 2003-04 season.

Cal Poly has continually gotten better since a rock-bottom 5-22 season in 2004-05 in which Stockalper redshirted. The Mustangs were 10-19 last year.

“That was a tough year, we had no team chemistry and it only gets worse when you lose,” Stockalper said of the five-win season.

Conversely, Stockalper describes the current Mustangs squad as a close-knit, hard-working group in which “everyone knows their role.”

Stockalper’s role on offense may decrease this year.

He averaged 12.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest last year, but will not be relied upon as heavily this season with a deeper frontcourt and more balanced scoring attack.

“We need consistency and leadership from Derek,” Cal Poly head coach Kevin Bromley said. “We need to know he’s going to show up every night.”

Bromley also hopes that Stockalper will also have a noticeable impact on the Mustangs’ blossoming young front line, which features players like sophomore forward/center Titus Shelton, junior power forwards Dreshawn Vance and Matt Hanson and sophomore center Coby Leavitt.

“They can watch him and learn from him; he’s got great basketball instincts, though he is not as vocal as I’d like him to be,” Bromley said.

The Carlsbad native echoed Bromley’s sentiments, saying, “I’ll put my two cents in, but I prefer to lead by example. The young (frontcourt) guys are pretty strong-willed. You don’t really have to help them much.”

Despite taking a more balanced approach this year, both coach and player know Stockalper is still capable of carrying the offensive load when necessary.

“We know (Stockalper) can go for 20 on any given night,” Bromley said of his preseason all-conference pick.

While Stockalper doesn’t expect to score 20 a night, he says he has no qualms about firing away, “as long as they are good shots.”

Stockalper did just that in an exhibition against Notre Dame de Namur, tallying 20 points in just 19 minutes.

With the exception of Stockalper’s quiet approach, both coach and player cite defense – speed in particular – as one of Stockalper’s few weaknesses on the hardwood.

“I have to get quicker,” Stockalper said.

Bromley is quick to point out Stockalper’s strengths as a player, describing Stockalper as a “very strong passer, shooter and excellent offensive rebounder.”

Stockalper said his goal for this season is to win the Big West tourney and move on to the NCAA Tournament.

“The easiest way to (win conference) is to do well in league, we know what we have to do,” Stockalper said.

For now, the team is plugging away at its nonconference schedule.

The Mustangs, who are 2-0 against West Coast Conference teams, wrap up a three-game home stand against Division III Occidental College of Los Angeles (2-3) at 7 tonight in Mott Gym.

Stockalper is averaging 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, is shooting .522 from the field and has turned the ball over only seven times. He is one of three players on the Mustangs – along with junior shooting guard Dawin Whiten (14.4) and Vance (10.4) – to average double figures.