Big success stories among small colleges

THOUGH DWELLING behind the shadows of big-time Division I basketball and the hoopla that surrounds it, there are schools in the Philadelphia region that have staked their own claim to fame. And while they may not receive all the accoutrements of say a Villanova or a Temple for winning big, the Daily News eliminated divisions, conferences and size and found the area's five best programs that also can lay claim to keeping the Delaware Valley a mainstay as a college basketball mecca.

1. Community College

of Philadelphia

Location: 17th and Spring Garden, Philadelphia

Coach: Robert "Dondi" DeShields (11th season)

2010-11 record: 30-2 overall, 16-0 Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference

About CCP: Proving it's not the size of the dog in the fight, CCP and its driven coach have been the standard for small schools. Over 11 seasons, DeShields has compiled a 311-71 record, collecting eight EPCC championships and six Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association titles. All of this while offering no scholarships, no room and board, and working on a shoestring budget. "My secret is finding kids with PHDs - poor, hungry and driven," said DeShields, who picked up his 300th career win in January with an 83-40 rout of Luzerne County Community College. "I consider myself a people person and if you can instill in these kids a passion for learning and use basketball as the medium, the sky is the limit. I just tell these kids that if you come to CCP, you will be the big fish in a small pond. We aren't a national program, we are just state, but these kids are dedicated to the program and to getting an education. Trust me; people know we have a great basketball tradition here. At the end of the day, that's all I can ask for."

2. Cabrini College

Location: Radnor

Coach: Marcus Kahn (third season)

2010-11 record: 24-5 overall