Six former area student athletes are on the roster for the East Georgia College basketball teams’ second season.

In the inaugural season the Bobcats went 9-6, including winning nine out of their last 10 games, under new head coach Neil Bailey.

Bailey worked closely with Liberty County, Long County high schools, Bradwell Institute and Coastal Crew Rebels founder Ernie Walthour in recruiting local talent. Bailey has set his 2010-11 roster with former high school standouts Dana King Jr., Derek Nesbitt, Greg Richardson, Andre Holliday, Terrell Johnson and Lazaruss Baggs.

EGC will be playing a full schedule this season under the Georgia College Athletic Association and will be eligible for post-season competition.

"We are playing a full GCAA, 18-league game schedule in a tough league but we have the talent to be competitive," Bailey said. "We are full members of the National Junior College Athletic Association now and we are eligible for national and state tournaments as well."

On Oct. 10, the Bobcats played in the JUCO Jamboree where they beat Marion Military, but lost to Chattanooga State and Cleveland State.

Last Sunday, the Bobcats played a scrimmage against East Point, a semi- pro team, and won 89-85.

According to coach Bailey, former LCHS Panther, and Bobcat freshman Richardson put up 27 points in that game. The coach said he has been the top scorer for the Bobcats thus far.

"We are a much improved team, but we have a much tougher schedule," Bailey said.

Among the coach’s toughest opponents this season is Georgia Perimeter College, which the coach said spent most of last season ranked in the top 10 teams in the country.

But Bailey said he is confident, saying he has two strong guards in King and Nesbitt.

"They are experienced and can do a lot to help us win," he said.

Bailey said the one area he needs to work on is the depth on the inside due to a lack of size.

"We have a chance to be pretty good," Bailey said. "Our goal is to be competitive right out of the shoot."