Cyril Djoukeng, in his last year as point guard for the Nicholls State men’s basketball team, is averaging eight points a game and leads the team in assists with 63. Djoukeng is the lone senior on head coach J.P. Piper’s team, and his work ethic is unlike anything Piper has seen in other players he’s coached.”He’s probably one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever coached,” Piper said. “He’s always in the gym early and constantly works at being a good basketball player.”
Djoukeng was recruited by former men’s head coach Ricky Blanton and said that he wanted to be a part of the rebuilding process here at Nicholls. “When I was going through the college process, he told me that I could have a chance to be a part of something here, and I thought it was a good fit for me,” he said.
As a junior, Djoukeng played in 27 contests and started in six of them; this season he has played in all but one game due to an injury. “I don’t think starting made me a better player, but working hard everyday and listening to the coaches did,” Djoukeng said.
Being the only senior on the team can be a heavy burden for most, but Djoukeng has found his own way of becoming more of a leader for his teammates. “It was difficult at first because I wasn’t used to being such a vocal person,” he said. “But with me and Stefan, we’ve tried to help the younger guys along, and I think it’s worked so far.”
When Djoukeng signed to play with Nicholls after attending Chesapeake Community College, Blanton resigned, and Piper was named the men’s head coach. “It was tough going through that because every coach is a little different and has his own style,” Djoukeng said.
Piper, who is in his second year as head coach, has already seen an increase in conference wins under his tenure, and Djoukeng is not surprised by the effort the team has shown under him. “He’s committed to getting things done,” he said. “He’s not about excuses: just hard work, and that’s what you need to be successful.”
While here at Nicholls, Djoukeng has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and hopes to one day possibly practice law. Piper credits Djoukeng’s grades to the person he is off the court.
“He’s such a positive kid and never complains,” Piper said. “It shows what happens when you apply yourself fully to whatever it is that you’re doing.”
Only a few games remain in the regular season, and if things fall the right way, the Colonels could find themselves in the Southland Conference tournament for the first time in years. Djoukeng’s career at Nicholls will be over after that, but the experiences he’s had here will stay with him.
“Being with these guys is definitely the one thing I will remember,” Djoukeng said. “The camaraderie that we had is unlike anything I’ve ever been around.
