MBB: American Southwest Conference

[golden_dome]

A lot of activity on the board for this time of year. I'm just starting the preseason work for the MS College basketball team so I'm not familiar with everyone yet, but here is some information off the top of my head. I'm sure I'll leave a few out because we have over 40 players, including 23 transfers on the roster. Here are the high points though.

We return five players from the 10-player rotation a year ago and 5 of the top 9 scorers. We lost the top three scorers. Forward Bryan Johnson (6-7 SR) and guards Mike Penson (6-0 SR), Andre Coleman (6-2 SR), Clarence Jeffery (6-2 SR) and E. C. Williams (6-5 SO) all return. 

The incoming class has 13 JUCO transfers, and a few very good freshmen. I don't have bios on everyone but here are a couple names off the top of my head.

Richard Worthy (6-4, 220, G/F) - Former MS JUCO All-Star who went to Oklahoma City last year and averaged over 10 points and 6 rebounds as a starter in the first semester. He left the program at Christmas and OK City went on to win the NAIA National Championship.

Christian Marshall (6-10, 235, C) - MS JUCO transfer from Co-Lin. Played in the JUCO all-star game. Was selected as one of MS's Dandy Dozen players by the Clarion Ledger his senior year of HS.

Jeff Webb (6-3, 200, SG) - JUCO transfer who was an overall Second Team All-State selection in MS as a senior in high school. Four of the five First Team selections that year are in the NBA now.  D. J. Jones is the only other MS first or second team All-State player we've had recently as far as I know. He was also a second team selection. Tim Broomfield was honorable mention.

Mark Wilson (6-7, 220, F) - MS JUCO who was selected as a starter in the MS JUCO All-Star game. We get a lot of players who play in the All-Star game, but I can't think of another who started.  Mark is a couple years older because he's already served overseas in the military.

Staddrick McDaniel (5-6, 160, PG) - MS JUCO selected to play in the MS JUCO All-Star game. Started all season for a very good MS Delta team.

Josh Harvey (5-8, 160, PG) - MS JUCO selected to play in MS JUCO All=Star game. Averaged about 16 points and five assists at Hinds CC.


I know I'm leaving some good players out. There were a couple other guards selected to play in the MS JUCO All-Star game but I don't have everyone's info and haven't had a chance to meet them all. There are also a couple high school kids the coaches are excited about who could play early. I'm pretty sure this group of newcomers includes the most MS JUCO All-Stars we've ever added in one year which is usually a pretty good barometer of talent for us.

I have no idea how good we will be, but I think it's the most good players we've had on the roster since the 05-06 season. We return five who have been successful in the ASC, and there seems to be another 10-12 new guys who are very talented.

Hopefully it will be another good season and we can host the ASC Tournament again, but the ASC East looks good early. LeTourneau will be very good looking at their roster, and UT-Tyler should also be very good. Coach Bizot does a great job and they picked up a few JUCO players we were also after.  We've been fortunate to have a lot of success at home where we are 167-12 since joining the ASC 12 years ago, so it would be huge for us to host again.

UMHB is the obvious favorite though. They were the best team I saw at the Millsaps regional last year and probably should have advanced, just a bit unlucky. They return a great squad and I'm sure they have a lot of new talent. Hopefully, we can be back to form this year giving our league two of the best teams in the South Region. Looking forward to the season.

[cp1123]

ETBU carries a JV squad, which accounts for the large roster.

[Ralph Turner]

ETBU carries a JV squad, which accounts for the large roster.

I have not seen a JV schedule on the ETBU home page.

How many games do they play, and whom do they play?

[etbualum]

The ETBU jv schedule is very fluid.  They have played southern (shreveport), Bossier Parish CC, Panola, and I think Letu before.   I don't believe they ever post the schedule or results of those games.

[ASCfan237]

Wow. MC looks like a powerhouse again. It will be hard to beat a team with that much talent. How do they get so many good players to play there?

No offense but if I was a JuCo all-star I'm pretty sure I could at least go play for a school that would pay for my school (D1, D2, ect.)

[bballlover]

I agree. Also, Bringing in so many JUCO's how do you ever get any Freshman to come?

[pistol pete 22]

Wow. MC looks like a powerhouse again. It will be hard to beat a team with that much talent. How do they get so many good players to play there?

No offense but if I was a JuCo all-star I'm pretty sure I could at least go play for a school that would pay for my school (D1, D2, ect.)

Yes, MC looks incredible as always. But they lost 3 key players and only return 2 starters so it might take them a little time to get things going.

Not to mention if I was a 6'10 JUCO all-star I would think I could find somewhere to go an play for free instead of going somewhere and paying to play. Are there not any D2 schools in MS? Or is the JUCO talent level in MS not good enough for D1 or D2.

I also noticed that Kiki Christmas was not on the roster.

[golden_dome]

Yes, MC looks incredible as always. But they lost 3 key players and only return 2 starters so it might take them a little time to get things going.

Not to mention if I was a 6'10 JUCO all-star I would think I could find somewhere to go an play for free instead of going somewhere and paying to play. Are there not any D2 schools in MS? Or is the JUCO talent level in MS not good enough for D1 or D2.

I also noticed that Kiki Christmas was not on the roster.

Kiki Christmas is not back this year. Tyler Winford, Prince Trotter and Jonathan Collins all graduated. We lost a lot so I'm not ready to say we'll be great, though I think we have as much depth of talent as we've had in a while. You just never know how chemistry will develop.

There are 24 players every year who play in the MS JUCO All-Star game, so there are a lot of players to choose from.  The only DII in MS is Delta State. There are several D1 schools but they take a lot of high school talent.

But you have to realize that the JUCO system in MS is a blessing and a curse. I think there are 15 junior colleges in MS, and it is hard to convince a high school kid to pay for four years of college when they can actually make money by going to a junior college on athletic scholarship.

But it does provide a very large talent pool every year to recruit from and limited options, there just aren't enough scholarships in the area for all of them. The JUCO system is a big hindrance to high school recruiting for us, but it does provide a lot of very good players who don't mind as much paying for two years as opposed to four.

We've had some very good high school players enter the program but usually a lot of them come from out of state.

Honestly, the success we've had has made it much easier to recruit. And the junior college kids are usually well connected to one another. When they see the great players going to MC from the previous class, it makes it easier to get past the negative stigma often times associated with DIII.

I think we look pretty good on paper right now, but we'll see how it pans out. Hopefully we'll have another good team and the ASC as a whole will have a good season.

[Ralph Turner]

Yes, MC looks incredible as always. But they lost 3 key players and only return 2 starters so it might take them a little time to get things going.

Not to mention if I was a 6'10 JUCO all-star I would think I could find somewhere to go an play for free instead of going somewhere and paying to play. Are there not any D2 schools in MS? Or is the JUCO talent level in MS not good enough for D1 or D2.

I also noticed that Kiki Christmas was not on the roster.

Kiki Christmas is not back this year. Tyler Winford, Prince Trotter and Jonathan Collins all graduated. We lost a lot so I'm not ready to say we'll be great, though I think we have as much depth of talent as we've had in a while. You just never know how chemistry will develop.

There are 24 players every year who play in the MS JUCO All-Star game, so there are a lot of players to choose from.  The only DII in MS is Delta State. There are several D1 schools but they take a lot of high school talent.

But you have to realize that the JUCO system in MS is a blessing and a curse. I think there are 15 junior colleges in MS, and it is hard to convince a high school kid to pay for four years of college when they can actually make money by going to a junior college on athletic scholarship.

But it does provide a very large talent pool every year to recruit from and limited options, there just aren't enough scholarships in the area for all of them. The JUCO system is a big hindrance to high school recruiting for us, but it does provide a lot of very good players who don't mind as much paying for two years as opposed to four.

We've had some very good high school players enter the program but usually a lot of them come from out of state.

Honestly, the success we've had has made it much easier to recruit. And the junior college kids are usually well connected to one another. When they see the great players going to MC from the previous class, it makes it easier to get past the negative stigma often times associated with DIII.

I think we look pretty good on paper right now, but we'll see how it pans out. Hopefully we'll have another good team and the ASC as a whole will have a good season.

You guys just re-load.  Y'all have a good system.

I have seen very few freshmen in this conference who have made a difference. (Women are different!  Tarra Richardson and Symbri Tuttle from McM, Meia Daniels from HPU, Kathryn Otwell and Kendra Anderson from HSU, Lacey Kennedy at Miss College and  Ashley Edwards from Concordia-Austin to name several.)

[ASCfan237]

Great comment Mr. Brooks. That information helps me understand a lot better. Goodluck to you guys this year and if any of those JuCo All-Stars do not work out please send them down here to Ozarks haha.

[Bearkat00]

Yes, MC looks incredible as always. But they lost 3 key players and only return 2 starters so it might take them a little time to get things going.

Not to mention if I was a 6'10 JUCO all-star I would think I could find somewhere to go an play for free instead of going somewhere and paying to play. Are there not any D2 schools in MS? Or is the JUCO talent level in MS not good enough for D1 or D2.

I also noticed that Kiki Christmas was not on the roster.

Kiki Christmas is not back this year. Tyler Winford, Prince Trotter and Jonathan Collins all graduated. We lost a lot so I'm not ready to say we'll be great, though I think we have as much depth of talent as we've had in a while. You just never know how chemistry will develop.

Is Kiki playing somewhere else?  One of the best names in College Basketball!

[pistol pete 22]

Its hard to imagine he would transfer out for his senior year, especially when you are already at a power house. Must of got into some trouble or somethin. Not sure though, seemed like a good kid on the court.
Thats for the post Chris, sounds like I need to establish a D3 school in MS that is not a private school! lol

[etbualum]

Its hard to imagine he would transfer out for his senior year, especially when you are already at a power house. Must of got into some trouble or somethin. Not sure though, seemed like a good kid on the court.
Thats for the post Chris, sounds like I need to establish a D3 school in MS that is not a private school! lol

Then petition the ASC for membership so you will have a big advantage like UTT and UTD.

[pistol pete 22]

Then petition the ASC for membership so you will have a big advantage like UTT and UTD.

haha.........dont forget SRSU

[golden_dome]

Its hard to imagine he would transfer out for his senior year, especially when you are already at a power house. Must of got into some trouble or somethin. Not sure though, seemed like a good kid on the court.
Thats for the post Chris, sounds like I need to establish a D3 school in MS that is not a private school! lol

No, he didn't get into any trouble. Just not eligible.