New coach rebuilds team

Greg Clink has signed his first two recruits as the new men's basketball head coach and is one step closer to rebuilding the team.

Clink announced May 7 that 6-foot-4-inch Ethan Stone will be a Wildcat next fall after his senior year at Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova. Stone is a First Team All-Sierra League player and was the league's leading scorer. Clink had followed Stone's playing for the past two years and considered recruiting the player when he coached at UC Davis.

"When I got the job and heard that he was interested in Chico, I got really excited," Clink said. "I think he'll be a really good player at this level and for us."

During his senior season, Stone averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.3 steals per game, and shot 46 percent from the floor.

"He'll be a wing for us probably," Clink said. "He's very long and athletic and goes to the basket well, rebounds well and will be a perimeter threat."

Cam Fenley has signed a letter of intent to play for the 'Cats next season. Fenley, the two-time East Bay Athletic League first teamer averaged 16 points per game at Monte Vista High School in Danville.

Clink has been attempting to revamp the team through summer camps and recruiting after a 7-20 record last season.

After having played for, and coached with, former head coach Puck Smith, Clink now has a team that is looking to replace four players who just finished their senior years.

"We need to bring in as many impact guys as we can," he said. "But there are some pieces that are here."

A few players, who redshirted last season, are developing and might be able to fit the pieces together, Clink said. Right now, the main focus is for the players to finish the semester before offseason training starts.

"From a coaching standpoint, in terms of practice, my teaching style won't change," Clink said. "In terms of how I will coach on the floor, that will change and my role will be different. All the decisions will fall on top of me."

The focal point of the offseason will be to get the competitive edge back and turn the program around, he said.

"From a work ethics standpoint and a competitive standpoint, I want to be aggressive," Clink said. "I want the players to be aggressive and thinking they can go into every game and win."

Mike Wagner can be reached at mwagner@theorion

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