October 30, 2018
Members of the 2018-19 East Central Community College men’s basketball team, and their respective hometowns and high schools, include (front row, from left) freshman guard Preston Walker, Moss Point/East Central; freshman guard Devin Carter, Pearl/Pearl; freshman manager Matthew Riley, Jackson/Murrah; assistant coach Abdul Olusesi; head coach Robert Thompson; freshman manager Cameron Wingo, Carthage/Leake Central; sophomore guard Josh Green, Gulfport/Harrison Central; and freshman guard Nick Preyer, Mobile, Ala./Leflore; and (back row, from left) freshman guard Haden Boyd, Laurel/Stringer; freshman guard Jalin Nicholson, Decatur/Newton County; sophomore forward Brandon Williams, Lena/Leake County; freshman guard Jonathan Knight, Vancleave/Vancleave; freshman forward Marcus Bates, Tuscaloosa, Ala./Paul Bryant; freshman forward Tanner Owen, Scooba/Kemper Academy; freshman forward Dontavious Smith, Terry/Terry; freshman forward JaQuarius Smith, Macon/Noxubee County; sophomore guard Roti Ware, Morton/Morton; and freshman guard Zack Tucker, Starkville/West Lowndes. (EC Photo)
The East Central Community College men’s basketball team will be loaded with competitive spirit this upcoming season, and head coach Robert Thompson is hoping that will propel his youthful team back into the MACJC state playoffs after a year’s absence.
Thompson, who is entering his sixth year at East Central, is coming off a 2017-18 season where he coached both the men’s and women’s teams while the search was underway for a new women’s coach. He’s looking forward to having a singular focus this year.
“Coaching the women last season was a very rewarding experience, but it’s good to have my focus on just one team again,” said Thompson. “This year’s squad is going to be a fun group to coach because of the competitive spirit each one of them brings to the court.”
Thompson’s 2018-19 basketball team features a whopping 11 freshmen and just three sophomores set to tackle the always competitive MACJC South Division that features, among others, defending state champion Pearl River, 2016-17 NJCAA Region 23 champion Jones College, and 2017-18 state runner-up Gulf Coast.
Gone from last season’s East Central team that finished 10-13 are guard Jaquan Dotson (14.2 points, 7 rebounds), who is at Savannah (Ga.) State University; guard Thurston McCarty (12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds), who is at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.; and forward Cameron Diggs (10.8 points, 6.6 rebounds), who is at the University of North Alabama in Florence. Starting guard Tre Pinkston and his nearly five assists per outing is also gone. Pinkston, who graduated early in May, will play for MUW: Mississippi University for Women this season.
Only one starter returns and that’s 6-3 all-state guard Roti Ware of Morton. Ware led the team with 16.3 points per game as a freshman. He also led the team in steals, three-point shooting, and free throw percentage.
“Roti is a critical part of our team,” explained Thompson. “We need his leadership on and off the court to help carry our freshmen this season. He has embraced the challenge to be a leader, and it’s something he wants do to. Roti’s leadership will be important for us to be successful.”
5-11 guard Josh Green out of Harrison Central in Gulfport is the other sophomore, having started one game a year ago. His leadership on the floor this off season has earned him a starting nod.
“Josh is a natural leader who has really stepped up this off season,” noted Thompson. “He’s a very vocal and passionate leader. The team has a tremendous amount of respect for Josh and Roti, and it’s important that their teammates follow their lead this season.”
Among the newcomers expected to contribute heavily are 6-5 forwards JaQuarius Smith who prepped at Noxubee County and Dontavious Smith from Terry, and 5-8 guard Nick Preyer from Leflore High School in Mobile, Ala.
“Dontavious is another natural leader with tremendous passion for the game, and JaQuarius is our toughest player who also has a great passion and desire to win,” said Thompson. “Nick is quick and will run our team from the point. He can score and defend. I’m excited about what all three bring to their positions.”
Other players Thompson will count on include 6-0 guard Devin Carter from Pearl; 6-7 forward Marcus Bates from Paul Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; 6-2 guard Haden Boyd who prepped at Stringer High School; and 6-3 guard Jonathan Knight from Vancleave.
Tanner Owen, a 6-7, 220-pound forward out of Kemper Academy in De Kalb will provide a physical presence inside for the Warriors, especially on defense.
Thompson believes what the Warriors lack in experience and height can be made up by their competitiveness.
“Depth is obviously a concern,” said Thompson. “Our top five are tough and competitive, but we just aren’t as deep as we have been in the past. We aren’t as tall as some of the other teams, but we will make up for that by being defense oriented first.
“The recipe is there to be very good, but everyone in our league has gotten better. I like our winning spirit though, and this team will compete every single night they are on the court. There’s no question about that. With some luck, staying injury free, and playing with that competitive, passionate, and selfless team spirit will be keys to our season.”
Joining Thompson on the bench this season will be Abdul Olusesi, who most recently was director of basketball operations for two seasons at Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, Texas) of the Southland Conference.
“Abdul has a great rapport with the players, and he brings NCAA Division I experience from a winning program that I believe will help our players get to another level on and off the court,” commented Thompson.
After opening the 2018-19 season Nov. 1 with a road trip to Mobile, Ala., to face Bishop State Community College, the Warriors will play their home opener at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, when East Mississippi Community College visits Brackeen-Wood Gym in Decatur.
All home basketball games this season can be heard on WKOZ Cruisin 98.3, or watched via live stream video at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media.
A complete schedule of games can be found at www.ecccathletics.com.
