By MICHAEL MIDDLEHURST-SCHWARTZ Special to the Daily Press
SMC Jesse Teplitzky had never been so proud to watch his players sign a sheet of paper.
The first-year Santa Monica College men’s basketball coach started the season with a list of goals for his team and his players.
After the Corsairs earned their first winning season and state playoff birth in five years, Teplitzky had most of his list covered.
On Friday, he achieved one of his outstanding goals by watching six of his players sign paperwork to transfer to four-year schools and further their basketball careers.
While two players are still discussing opportunities with schools, Teplitzky said he expects all eight players interested in transferring, including all six of the team’s sophomores, will play basketball for four-year colleges.
“We always want to strike at 100 percent (for transfers),” Teplitzky said.“I’m proud to say we did that.”
Two SMC players joining Division II schools missed Friday’s signing day ceremony at the school. New York Institute of Technology signee Art Braswell was not in attendance while Chris Blackwood had been in a car accident Thursday evening and was hospitalized overnight.
Blackwood sustained an injury to the knee, Teplitzky said, leaving it unclear how his playing career would be affected. Blackwood had been set to sign with Cal- State East Bay.
Sophomores Keivan Cross and Carl Kindborg did not sign with specific schools on Friday but are expected to make their decisions in the coming weeks.
“This is a long process and it’s not over for those guys,” Teplitzky said.
For the six players at Friday’s press conference, the ceremony marked an end to their careers as Corsairs and gave them a chance to reflect.
“I’m happy that it’s over and I don’t have to run the track at 5 a.m. anymore, but I’m going to miss it,” said Dennis Twumasi, who signed with Whittier College. “We made history and I’ve never been a part of history like that.”
Atlanta native Derrick Thompson balked at the idea of moving to California and playing at SMC when Teplitzky first called him to pitch the idea. Thompson said he didn’t know if he could make the transition to living on the west coast.
But even though he is returning to the south to play at Stillman College in Alabama, Thompson said he found a home away from home in Santa Monica.
“Coming out to the west coast, I didn’t know what to expect,” Thompson said. “But after talking to Coach T more and more, I began to trust him and realize he had my best interest in mind.”
Thompson thanked Teplitzky for providing assistance and moral support when Thompson withdrew from school at one point to take care of family concerns.
John Brown, III also expressed his gratitude to Teplitzky for his help in the recruiting process. Despite having another year of eligibility remaining to play at SMC, the Cincinnati native decided to sign a scholarship with Lynn University.
The players also took time to briefly look forward after reflecting on their past achievements and accolades.
Venice High graduate, who finished fifth all-time on the Corsairs’ career scoring list and signed with Chaminade University, noted that each player had an opportunity ahead of him, as well as plenty of work to do.
“It doesn’t end here,” Gottlieb said. “You don’t play as hard as you do on the playgrounds and the courts and have it all end at SMC.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 7, 2008. Read the original PDF.