Oakton loaded for a major run

Oakton Community College coach Steve Pratt makes no bones about his goals for the 2006-07 juco season.

"Our goal is to compete for the national championship," Pratt said.

It's easy to see why after finding out about some of his players.

6-foot-3 guard Ryan Brown will play his sophomore season at Oakton after transferring from Northern Illinois last season. Ryan Piernan played at Loyola-Chicago two years ago. According to Pratt, 6-foot-8 forward A.J. Mahar is transferring in. He could team with 6-foot-9 Stephen Evans in a talented frontcourt. Out top, 6-footer Marlon Johnson will be getting attention.

However, Pratt said that attention has not really started yet.

"Well to be honest with you, people don't even really know," Pratt said. "We've had coaches stumble in to watch them, Ryan Brown just recently got in, some of these kids are not even here yet. People are really sleeping on our kids. We haven't had some of them on campus yet."

If they're as good as Pratt thinks, it shouldn't take long.

Teams also might keep an eye on Oakton in 2008. Ronald Ross is redshirting this season, but Pratt thinks he is a D1 player down the road.

And Pratt should know talent. As a trainer, he has worked with several NBA players, such as Elton Brand, Brad Miller, Brian Cook, Luke Jackson, Ryan Humphrey, Dan Dickau, Jake Voskuhl, and Darius Songaila.