January 22, 2021
The Warriors of East Central Community College are finally ready to return to action after a delayed start to the 2021 basketball season due to COVID-19. The Warriors are coming off a 9-14 record that saw seven losses by five or fewer points.
"There have been a lot of emotional and physical challenges that COVID has presented our team over the past year," said ECCC men's basketball coach Rahim Lockhart. "Having this sport and this group of players though has really provided an outlet for our guys and has allowed them an escape, and they have responded with a lot of hard work to prepare for the season."
The Warriors have six sophomores on the roster with JaMichael Wilson, who averaged 11.6 points, as the returning leading scorer. The Rayville, La. native also leads all returning players with 80 rebounds. He is joined by sophomores Devin Carter, Darien Newchurch, Tate Ryder, Landyn Shows, William Thompson, and Fredrick Jefferson.
"Junior college sports is all about recruiting and replacing players because we only have them for two years," said Lockhart. "We have several sophomores with some experience that we expect to elevate their games and some freshmen that can come in and be our leading scorers."
A group of eight freshmen join the ranks and hope to utilize their speed and size to add depth to the roster.
"We are going to play with speed and run the floor," said Lockhart. "We are going to make the game exciting, put up some points, get up some shot attempts, all while simultaneously utilizing all the strengths that we have."
Overall, the Warriors are prone for another exciting season of basketball in Brackeen-Wood Gymnasium. Though the crowds, atmosphere, and season may look different, the Warriors' tradition of hard work, dedication to their craft, and sheer toughness will remain the same.
East Central tips off the season on Monday, January 25 at 6 p.m. as the men play host to the No. 5 Pearl River Community College Wildcats. To view the college's attendance guidelines click here. For others, all home games can be streamed live www.eccclive.com/gold-channel or heard live at WKOZ Crusin 98.3 FM.
