Basketball teams have high hopes for upcoming seasons

What can be expected from a team that goes 10-15 overall and 6-10 in the Peach Belt Conference the year before? After a rebuilding season, the Georgia College & State University men’s basketball team looks ready for a good year.

This year’s team is returning seven players who know the system and are ready to make the plays necessary to win.

“We feel really good about the players we have returning from last year’s team and the amount of experience they have.” Coach Terry Sellers said, “We also feel good about the new guys we brought in.”

This year, unlike last, year there is a lot more depth at the guard position. Several newcomers will be battling for as much playing time as possible at the two guards spots. Johnnie Stafford, a transfer from Pratt Community College, looked good in the preseason and could see some playing time. Also, Durwan White, a transfer from George Wallace Community College, and Rodney Keener, who transfer in after helping Faulkner University win an NAIA National Championship.

“This team is going to be very exciting,” said Sellers.

Also, looking for some minutes will be sophomore Dondrea Geter, who played just one year of junior college basketball before becoming a Bobcat, and freshman Lamar Karim, is expected to turn into a really solid guard for this basketball team. The two players who could see the most playing time are sophomores Duke Gibbs and Ron Hood. Gibbs started 12 games as ,a freshman and was able to average 4.6 points per game. He was named to the PBC Presidential Honor Roll last year. Hood was GC&SU’s third leading scorer last year when he averaging 9.0 points per game. He was able to reach double figures nine times and tied a school record with eight three-point shoots in a game against USC Aiken.

“We have a lot more options and a lot more things we could do. We will have more combinations and this team is going to be very exciting and we will try to play as many of them as possible,” said Sellers, on the depth at the guard position.

Junior Roosevelt Whitney, who can play guard/forward, will get some chances to play after ending last season in the starting lineup. Rounding out the guard players is Karle Lacey, who transfered from Faulkner State Community College where he led his team with 18.7 points per game.

“Whitney is just a solid player, and we are looking forward to seeing him in action,” said Sellers.

With the loss of All-Conference member and leading scorer Maurice Smith, returning players must step up their game to replace him. One player who must have a good season is senior forward Chris Nelson. Nelson was second on the team in scoring with 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. He was able to reach double figures in scoring 19 times while posting four double-doubles (points-rebounds). During Peach Belt games, Nelson, as a junior, averaged 13.3 points per game.

“He has had a great career for us here, he has improved a little bit each season he has been here,” said Sellers “We are expected him to have a good season this year, and we feel really good about his consistency, for the entire season.”

Ivan Bracic, Whitney and Nelson the three seniors on the team will be asked to lead this team through out the year.

“All three of these guys have been consistent since the beginning, they set a good example, explaining to the new guys what are expected from them, also they have taken the new guys under their wings,” said Sellers on the team leaders. “They have also, be very encouraging for all their teammates, and if things are not going the way they are supposed to go in practice, one of the three will say something to get everyone going.”

Whitney and Lacey will also compete for minutes at the number-three position along with junior Joseph Harris and senior Emmitt Stephens, who returns to basketball after taking a couple of years off from his playing days at North Georgia.

Sellers said, “He worked really hard for this season and seems ready to step up his play.”

Harris had a leg injury last year and missed the first half of the season but was able to come back in the second half, averaging 4.4 points per game.

Fighting for the two final starting spots will be three will good and experienced players. Bracic, who led the team in three point percentage (54.3%), started eleven contests last year, while being able to average 8.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

“Ivan was looking really good before he got hurt, when he can come back we are looking for him to show some leadership, while playing good through out the season.” said Sellers.

Bracic tore some cartilage and should be out for another two weeks. Hopefully, when the Bobcats play Albany on the 24th, he could be ready to see some action.

Also, Derrick Nicholson returns for his senior year after sitting out last season. He helped the Bobcats win back-to-back Peach Belt Conference Championships during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons. Nicholson, a potentially explosive player, should be expected to battle for a starting spot at forward. Nicholson also played in every game as a sophomore, reaching double figures in scoring nine times. His best game could have come during the PBC Tournament when he scored 25 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“He has been working really hard and seems to haven’t even lost a step since sitting out last year.” said Sellers on Nicholson.

Daryl Ruffus, who played in every game last year, will be expected to raise his playing level. The 6’8″ center will be needed to grab his many rebounds as possible for the smaller Bobcats. Ruffus finished second last season in field goal percentage (.53%) and was able to reach double figures in three times and lead the team in rebounds once.

“I feel really good about this, and things look to be going in the right direction. I also see us having a good spot in the Conference
Tournament.” said Sellers. “Our team is going to run a lot more then last year, we should have a lot of exciting games with this team.”

The Bobcats have gained a lot of experience and are ready to take on the other Peach Belt teams. This team is young, fast, and ready to start another great year for Bobcat Basketball.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 9 2001. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry