This year’s version of East Central Community College men’s basketball is touted as one of the most talented squads to take the floor in some time.

Not only do the Warriors feature several top returnees from the 2009-10 campaign, several new faces – transfers with college experience – should add the ingredients needed for a successful campaign, which gets under way this week with road contests against Coahoma Community College Monday, Nov. 1 and Holmes Community College Thursday, Nov. 4. The Warriors’ home opener is scheduled at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 with East Mississippi Community College.  

“We have a lot of sophomores who have been involved in a junior college game to some degree and that makes a difference when you have experienced players,” said Maurice Bowie, who begins his fifth campaign as the Warrior head mentor. “I also like the fact that we are tough physically this year…the last couple of years we did not defend well and were not aggressive enough.”

Bowie further described his team as “an athletic, hard-nosed group that does not mind leaving all they have on the court night in and out.”

They will also be fun to watch. 

“I think our fans will be pleased to see a group that’s very charismatic and really enjoys getting the crowd involved in games to help guide us to victory,” said Bowie, who added he has “high expectations” for a successful season:

“I’m very pleased with this team because they all work hard every day not just when I am watching but on their own time as well. That’s what separates  a contender from a champion.”

Top returnees include guards Kenneth Barlow (6-4, 195), a product of Scott Central High School, and Keondre Hodges (5-11, 170) of Newton High School.

Barlow received All-State and All-Star honors and was a Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen selection at Scott Central prior to joining the Warrior program. Hodges helped lead the Tigers to the 2008 state title received most valuable player honors in the championship game. He was named division most valuable player in 2009 and received defensive player of the year honors at Scott Central.

Barlow averaged 13 points, six rebounds and two assists, and Hodges averaged nine points and two assists during last season’s 5-18 campaign. Hodges was also selected the Warriors’ top defensive player.

“While those two guys will anchor us, I’m really leaning on other sophomores and JUCO transfers Anthony Nieves, Curtis Loving, Kegan Houston and Sharavarus Wilson to play big roles,” said Bowie.

Nieves, a 6-4, 165-pound point guard, has reportedly committed to continue his career at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Nieves is a former standout at John F. Kennedy High School in Bronx, New York, where he also competed on the AAU circuit. He began his college career in 2008-09 at Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista, Calif., where he averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Nieves sat out last season at Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas, where he was enrolled in classes.

Loving, a 6-4, 200-pound guard, is a transfer from Gulf Coast Community College in Florida. He is a product of Wadleigh High School in Harlem, New York, and helped lead the team to a Public School League championship.

Houston, a 5-11, 170-pound guard, previously played at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville. A native of Chicago, Houston is a product of Quitman High School and was selected for the annual Mississippi High School All-Star Basketball Game.

Wilson, a 5-11, 165-pound guard, is a product Terry High School. He transferred to ECCC from Hinds Community College.

Additional returnees from ECCC’s 2009-10 squad include forward Kendall Jackson (6-1, 215), a product of Columbus High School and point guard Shelton Banks (5-9, 145) of Morton High School.  Jackson received the Warriors’ hustle award and Banks received the Panthers’ “Playmaker Award.”

Freshmen include point guard Thomas Slaughter (6’, 200) of Jackson, a product of Callaway High School; guards Gregory Hodo (6-3, 155) of Grand Rapids, MI, and a product of Northwest Rankin High School, Justin Bell (5-8, 140) of Philadelphia, a product of Choctaw Central High School, Glenn Thomas, Jr. (6’, 185) of Brookhaven, a product of Loyd Star High School; and Jimmy Broomfield (5-11, 190) of Scott Central; and forwards Jordan Smith (6-5, 215) of Jackson and a product of Provine High School, and Chris McLendon (6-5, 215) of Forest and a product of Morton High School.

Hodo received most improved and Michael Crouther awards.

Thomas was an All-District and All-Lincoln County selection and received most valuable player honors at Loyd Star.

Smith helped lead Provine to a Grand Slam championship and two state titles.

Joining the team at mid-year is Bilal Kelley, a 6-9, 205-pound center from Strawberry Mansion High School in Philadelphia, PA.

Serving his first year as assistant coach is TJ Johnson, who has several years coaching experience and most recently served in 2009 on the men’s basketball staff at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. He helped lead Tech to a Gulf South Conference championship and a 30-2 record.

Student assistants include Marquise Kennedy of Lake, Jeremy Jones of Newton, Larissa Ryans of Forest, Charles Smith of Durant, Mercedes Brown of Sebastopol and Kayasha Bowie of Lena.