Five former area prep basketball players are set to play at the collegiate level this season for East Georgia State College.
Former Liberty County High School players Sayvon Wilson and Shakur Cook, Bradwell grads Malcolm Dingle and Reasha Stokes and former Faith Baptist standout Jaquez Motley are listed on the Bobcats’ roster for the upcoming season.
The team started pre-season action with four games in October, and were set to kick off the regular circuit yesterday at the College of Central Florida.
East Georgia College started recruiting local players when they formed a basketball program under then head coach Neil Bailey in 2009.
Bailey formed a strong bond with former Coastal Crew Rebels’ basketball coach Ernie Walthour. The Bobcats searched for players for their inaugural year and Walthour had several Rebel players make the first year Bobcat squad.
Since then several Liberty, Bradwell, First Presbyterian Christian Academy and Faith Baptist players have paved the path to the Bobcats’ success.
When Bailey left for another coaching opportunity, assistant coach Leroy Jordan was named head coach. Jordan also had a strong relationship with Walthour and the local prep schools, and has steadily recruited hoop talent from our vicinity.
Guided by local talent, the Bobcats won the 2013 Georgia College Athletic Association Division I Men’s basketball championship in only its fourth season of competition.
Stokes, Dingle, Cook and Motley are listed as guards, Wilson is a forward.