AUBURN — Dave Gonyea glanced out over the basketball court and saw a group of kids playing.

That’s really nothing new for the men’s basketball coach at Central Maine Community College. He watches potential recruits often. He coaches and teaches his own batch of players constantly.

But this group was different. They were young kids, barely old enough to dribble. Far too small to hit the rim with the best of heave shots. This halftime display during last weekend’s alumni game featured the kids of Gonyea’s former players.

“I counted 12 little kids running around,” said Gonyea. “It’s all their kids. They’re all playing basketball. They had taken over the court. They were running everywhere and their fathers were kind of hovering around.”

It was a moment of clarity for a coach that cares about the life of his players as much as he does their hoop skills.

“I’m thinking this is what it’s all about,” said Gonyea. “I’ve got all these little kids and these good guys. They’re all going to be good fathers. It’s just so good to see. That, to me, I could have framed that. That was worth the night to me.”

Gonyea is proud of the fact that he doesn’t just coach basketball players. He coaches young men and good citizens. He wants his team to win on the court, but he also wants them to succeed in life.

“Basketball is important,” said Gonyea. “School is just as important. Getting a good job and being self sufficient is critical, not just important.”

So, as Gonyea and his Mustangs prepare to embark on a new season this weekend, the coach is excited about the potential of his team and this season but also the chance to mold this group into something special.

The Mustangs have 10 freshmen on the squad this year. It will be Gonyea’s task to mix them together with a group of returnees and build another winner. CMCC lost in the quarterfinals of the Yankee Small Conference last year.

“It’s very challenging but fun,” said Gonyea. “It’s a very eager and coachable group. They want to learn and want to play.”

This year’s Mustangs are comprised of players from England, Florida, West Virginia, South Carolina and Maryland. There are a few locals like Brandon Giguere from Edward Little and Cody Hadley from Oxford Hills.

“It’s a mix of personalities and they only know what they came from,” said Gonyea. “The challenge of coaching, it’s like a puzzle. You try to see how they fit together and play together, not just on the court but off the court.”

Samson Oleyami, Justin Cocroft and Jason Hughes are all returning starters. Along with other returnees like Gigure and Hadley, they’ll be the leaders on this young squad. Newcomers Jalen Lincoln, a standout from Lincoln Academy, and Ismail Rios, from Haverhill, Mass, are expected to start as well.

“I think we have a lot of good character guys,” said Gonyea. “I like the guys that we have.”

His team doesn’t have great size. He expects them to get up and down the floor well. They should defend well and have some good shooting. He’s excited about their athleticism and eagerness.

“This group has a little more character,” said Gonyea. “This group has a little more commitment. This group really wants to get at it and play. That’s a little different from what we’ve had the last couple of years.”

Gonyea’s team has the goal of winning the conference title and reaching the nationals. He says the talent isn’t quite where it needs to be yet, but he’s excited about the potential.

“Talent-wise, it’s going to be a longer road, but I feel very positive in the direction,” he said. “Their commitment to work and play is very refreshing.”

With CMCC hosting the conference tournament in February, that ups the ante a little more for this group.

“When it’s at home, the expectations are that much higher,” said Gonyea.

That’s a long ways off right now. Gonyea is just excited about seeing what his team can do this weekend when they kick off the season by hosting Dalhousie University Saturday at 8 p.m. and St. Thomas on Sunday at 4 p.m.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Gonyea. “I like working with kids. They work hard at practice. They go at it every night.”

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