Glendora, CA (Men’s Basketball) -- The final three members of the Citrus College men’s basketball sophomore class have signed letters of intent to continue their playing careers. The signings of Virgil Buensuceso, Nate Richardson, and Jeremy Smith, brings Citrus’ grand total to eight players who have signed scholarship offers after playing the 2007-2008 seasons with the State Champion Fighting Owls.
After playing two outstanding seasons with Citrus, and earning 1st team All-WSC honors this past season, Virgil (JR) Buensuceso will be moving on to NCAA Division II BYU-Hawaii. Buensuceso, who averaged 9.3 ppg, 2.4 apg, and shot 34.1% from beyond the 3-point arc during the 2007-2008 season, will be joining a Seasiders team that is coming off an appearance in NCAA Division II West Regional Final this past season.
“I chose Hawaii BYU because their coaching staff is the closest thing I could find to what we have at Citrus,” Buensuceso said. “Citrus prepared me academically, physically, and mentally for moving on to the next level. There were a lot of components to my game that I didn’t have prior to coming here, but now that I’m leaving, I’ve got those things.”
"Virgil defines what our program is about,” said Citrus College Head Coach Rick Croy. “His ability to own the moment is unlike anything I have ever coached. BYU Hawaii is getting a sensational performer.”
Also continuing his playing career is Nate Richardson, who accepted a scholarship offer with NAIA school Rocky Mountain College. Richardson appeared in all 35 games for the Fighting Owls, dishing out 70 assists and averaging 4.4 points per game. The Battlin’ Bears are coming off a season in which they finished 22-9, just missing a berth in the NAIA National Tournament.
“Rocky Mountain College appealed to me because I wanted to get out of California and get a new experience,” Richardson said. “Citrus helped get me there by teaching me how to be unselfish. It was about taking care of everyone else, instead of just myself.”
“Rocky Mountain is getting a premier player and person,” Croy said. “Nate Richardson will be forever remembered as one of the greatest competitors to ever wear the Owl uniform.”
The final Owl from the 2007-2008 season to sign is Jeremy Smith. Smith came to the Owls last season after playing at Sonoma State during the 2005-2006 season. Smith played an integral role as one of Citrus’ best defensive stoppers during their State Championship run, and started all 15 of Citrus’ final 15 games. Smith will join NCAA Division II West Georgia University, and a Wolves team that went 16-12 last season.
“West Georgia was the best situation for me. They have great academics, they wanted me to come there, it was similar to Citrus, and it was a place for me to come in and play right away,” Smith said. “Citrus helped me get this far from the very beginning. It all started with our pre-season training. Coach ran our practices like how things are run at the next level. He pushed us hard, and continued to make us better, and that helped prepare me and the others for the next level.”
“Jeremy Smith is the kind of person you want to coach forever,” Croy said. “We will miss everything about him - West Georgia is getting a player that is ready to explode.”
With Smith, Richardson, and Buensuceso all signed, Citrus College has matriculated 17 players onto the four-year level over the past three seasons, including eight from this years State Championship squad alone.