By Shawn Wansley
JCJC Sports Information Director

ELLISVILLE – The Jones County Junior College basketball teams each won a state championship this past season.

And if they are going to try and repeat that success in 2009-10, they will have to rely on several freshmen to step in and contribute immediately. Both teams celebrated their signing class with a luncheon here Wednesday afternoon in the banquet area of the school’s cafeteria.

Lady Bobcat head coach Sandra Sumrall signed six standouts, including three from Northeast Jones, while JCJC men’s coach Don Skelton added seven players to the roster.

“This is an important day for us,” said Sumrall, who guided the Lady Bobcats to a 23-7 record and a second state championship in her 10-year career at Jones. “We’ve got a good nucleus coming back, but we have got to have some kids help out quickly. One of the strengths of our teams in the past has been depth and I feel like several of these girls will come in and play for us right off the bat.”

Signing from Northeast Jones were 5-foot-5 guard Jessica McCann, 5-foot-8 guard/forward Kerri Simmons and 6-foot forward Crystal Tucker, the younger sister of Lady Bobcat Consuela Tucker, who will be graduating this spring. Other signees are 5-foot-7 guard Kianna Harris of Jackson Provine, 5-foot-3 point guard Candace Little of Lawrence County and 5-foot-10 forward Jenika McLaurin of Collins. The Lady Bobcats also signed Lindy Lyon of West Jones as a manager.

On the men’s side, the Bobcats went 24-5 and won their first state crown since 1946 in Skelton’s first year. Jones lost ten sophomores off of that club, so Skelton knows he has to find some quality replacements.

“I think we filled a lot of needs with this class,” he said. “The one constant we have with this group is we signed guys with good character and they will play really hard. They are versatile and can play several different positions.

“We lost ten guys and some guys who have been through this league. So, the new guys will have to come in and adjust to it. But we feel like we brought in players that can fill that void. When hey gain some experience, they can do a really good job.”

Men’s signees include 6-foot-2 guard Rico Rankins of Wayne County, 6-foot-5 forward Tiaj Kelly of Richton, 6-foot-6 forward Andrew Marshall of Pascagoula, 6-foot-1 guard Glen Collins of Jackson Provine, 6-foot-4 forward Torrey Brown of Northwest Rankin, 5-foot-11 guard Henry Harris of Warren Central and 5-foot-9 guard Demetrious Lee of Pass Christian.

Sumrall believes this class should fit right in with the returning Lady Bobcats. She also hopes to add another player or two to the class.

“I think we signed some players who like to play our style of ball,” said Sumrall. “They can score, they can play defense and they hustle. I think they will do a good job for us.”

“We still have a few slots to fill,” she said. “We are looking at an out-of-state player and maybe another one from here. But I’m very pleased with our recruiting class.”

Skelton said the success of last year’s team helped open the door for several players, both in and out-of-district.

“Tiaj from Richton has been here to see us and Rico from Wayne County has been over plenty of times,” he said. “They know the program already. They may know it better than I do because they have been coming over for two or three years. And some of these other guys came in to see us play this year.

“We only return three guys, so we need these players to come and play quickly. It’s going to be a competitive situation, but all of them will have a chance to play.”

Skelton added the Bobcats are still looking at adding more players to the class.

JCJC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNEES

Player Height Position High School

Kianna Harris 5-7 Guard Jackson Provine
Candace Little 5-3 Point Guard Lawrence County
Jessica McCann 5-5 Guard Northeast Jones
Jenika McLaurin 5-10 Forward Collins
Kerri Simmons 5-8 Guard/Forward Northeast Jones
Crystal Tucker 6-0 Forward Northeast Jones
Lindy Lyon Manager West Jones

JCJC MEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNEES

Player Height Position High School

Torrey Brown 6-4 Forward Northwest Rankin
Glen Collins 6-1 Guard Jackson Provine
Henry Harris 5-11 Guard Warren Central
Tiaj Kelly 6-5 Forward Richton
Demetrious Lee 5-9 Guard Pass Christian
Andrew Marshall 6-6 Forward Pascagoula
Rico Rankins 6-2 Guard Warren Central