March Madness Alive at OCC as Men’s Basketball Wins District Championship, Qualifies
for National Tournament
March 10, 2025
First Time OCC Men’s Basketball Has Qualified for National Tournament Since 1987
OCC’s Men’s Basketball has quaiified for the NJCAA National tournament for the first
time since 1987.
Oakland Community College’s Men’s Basketball team has won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)Division II Great Lakes District A Championships and earned a spot in the NJCAA National
Basketball Division II tournament. This is the first time OCC’s Men’s Basketball team
has qualified for the NJCAA national tournament since 1987.
With a first-year coach and a new group of players, OCC defeated Marian University Ancilla 89-79 in the championship game of the District A Championships.
The team is the #17 seed in the NJCAA Division II National tournament and will play
#16 seed SUNY Niagara on Monday, March 17 at noon EST in Danville, Ill.
OCC is one of only 20 teams to qualify for the NJCAA National Division II tournament.
Coaches and Players Honored
In addition to winning the Division championship, there were several individual accolades
including:
Coach of the Year Gjon Djokaj and Tournament MVP Nick Speiser.
First year OCC Men’s Basketball Coach Gjon Djokaj named Great Lakes District A Coach
of the Year
Nick Speiser named Tournament MVP
Linden Holder and Justin Latham were named to the All-Tournament Team
“I am so proud of the championship season this team has achieved thanks to the leadership
of Coach Gjon Djokaj and this outstanding group of student athletes, “ said OCC Athletic
Director Jamie Corona. “After finishing in last place in our conference last year,
Coach Djokaj and the players have accomplished an amazing turnaround.”
Djokaj, who joined OCC as the Men’s Basketball coach last summer after a successful
high school coaching career at De La Salle Collegiate High School, said winning the district championship and qualifying for the national tournament is a testament to how dedicated and focused his players are.
Linden Holder and Justin Latham were named to the All-Tournament Team.
“We are excited for the opportunity to play in the national tournament and on the
biggest stage. These young men have bought into the pillars of our program and our
philosophy since day one,” said Djokaj. “With so little time together in the offseason,
they understood that hard work and dedication each day was the only way for us to
succeed. This journey into the national tournament is their reward for all their sacrifices
for our program. “
Visit OCC’s Men’s Basketball for the team roster and latest news. For more information on all OCC sports, visit
OCC Owls. The game can be streamed live on the NJCAA Network.
###
About OCC
Oakland Community College offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs with
the resources students need to be successful and advance our community. As a top transfer
institution, OCC offers one of the state’s most affordable tuition rates and flexibility
in scheduling. The College is nationally recognized for its high-demand career training
and expert faculty in their fields. More than 1 million students have enrolled in
the College since it opened in 1965. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
