QUINCY – When Doug Scott founded the Quincy College men’s basketball program four years ago, he understood that being overlooked came along with the brand of junior college athletics.
Within the team’s first season of existence in 2018, though, a 22-2 record helped the Granite resist that underdog feeling. Zoom out a bit, and Scott was well aware of what challenges JUCO programs like his would face in the big-picture realm of athletic recruiting.
“I think it has a stigma that we get bad students and that is not the case at all. We get really good students,” said Scott, a Quincy High alum whose 2022 team had an average 3.3 GPA. “It just gives guys an extra year to learn, to grow that maybe aren’t as ready to go to that four-year (school), living away from home. And the financial part of it is huge.”
Attempting to erase the stigma has joined player development and the pursuit of victories atop the list of Scott’s most pressing priorities. With members of the most applauded wave of talent in program history now on their way to Division 2 and 3 four-year programs, three of whom on full scholarships, perhaps the stigma’s days are numbered.
“It’s just having pride in your path. I think everyone’s path is different,” said Scott. “It’s not about what level or if it’s a Division 3 NCAA (program, out of high school), it’s really about the people and who’s really here supporting you in where you want to go and who can get you where to go.”
Like a stepping stone, Scott’s group of five sophomores have each leveraged the Quincy College opportunity into a chance more prestigious:
Dougy Alves, son of the Bridgewater-Raynham boys basketball coach Doug Alves, is a Taunton native headed to Division 2 Francis Marion University in South Carolina on a full scholarship.
Jerome Stephens, of Dorchester, is also headed to South Carolina on a full ride, to Division 2 Eskine College.