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Marlin Vilius hopes to bring back winning tradition at Brevard Community College

Playing basketball at Brevard Community College appealed to Marlin Vilius for several reasons.

One had to do with trust. The other, ambition.

"I came here to help turn the program around," the 6-foot-3 freshman small forward said.

That could be a tall order, given the Titans 2-27 finish last season. Then again, overcoming obstacles is Vilius' specialty.

And tonight, the Titans will take their first step in what is expected to be a much more successful season when they host Florida Community College-Jacksonville at 7:30 in the Melbourne campus gym. The game will be preceded by the women's season opener at 5:30 p.m. against Seminole CC.

Vilius, an honorable mention all-state pick at Eustis High last season, has been named team captain ) -- an honor not usually reserved for freshmen.

"When you see him play, you'll see why," Titans coach Terry Parks said. "It's not so much his skill -- although he is skilled -- it's what he brings to the floor every practice. Every time he touches the floor, it's all out."

The 19-year-old's passion extends far beyond the basketball court. He wants to make a better life not only for himself, but for his mother, Stacey, who raised him along with four other children and a grandchild she has custody of.

He's hoping to parlay his time at BCC into a Division I scholarship that could lead to bigger and better things. But if it doesn't work out on the court, he's got a plan for that, too.

"Criminal Justice is my No. 1 goal, but if I've got to go into nursing, I'll go," he said. "Whatever gets my mom out of the 'hood -- off canned goods -- whatever makes her successful, I'll do anything. I'll cut grass and pick weeds. Anything for her."

Eustis High coach Rob Gordon, who recommended BCC and Parks to Vilius, has been a father figure in his life. Marlin, the third of five kids, is the first one in his immediate family to graduate from high school.

"I don't have a father," Vilius said. "He's from Haiti. He was deported like four days before I was born. Soon, I'll be able to go get him from Haiti because I'm the only child over here. I only talked to him two times. It was in March, before the state tournament."

That would be the state tournament in which Vilius helped his team reach the Final Four. Coming from a successful program as he did, Vilius believes he knows what it will take to help turn things around for the Titans.

"It's going to take dedication, heart, hustle, team chemistry, defense and coaching," he said.

Parks certainly feels better about being able to hold up his end this season. Last year, the Titans had eight players for most of the season -- six for the final three games -- which made practice hard. In fact, the only true five-on-five, full-court work BCC got in was during games.

That's definitely not the case this season. Parks feels his team is deep and talented.

Kareem Carter, a 6-8 forward, has a solid, all-around game. Jarrod Clark, a 6-7 power forward, is a transfer from New Mexico Junior College. The starting backcourt will consist of Wendell Coates and point guard Shanard Williams, who won two state championships at Dwyer High School.

Nat McNeal, a high school teammate of Williams, provides depth up front and guards Bryant Anthony (Satellite High) and Virgil Marshall (Cocoa High) will also bring energy off the bench.

"I love watching our team practice," Parks said. "They talk, they defend, they smile, they give each other high fives, they push each other . . . If there's a group that can change the tradition around here, it's this one."