Clayton State announces 2006-07 men’s basketball recruiting class
Two Division I transfers, two Division II transfers highlight Laker newcomers

MORROW, Ga. — JUNE 8, 2006 — Fresh off its second 20-victory season in the last three years, the Clayton State Laker men’s basketball team announced its recruiting class for the 2006-07 season on Thursday. The Lakers, who went 21-7 last season and were ranked in the Division II Top 25 for a majority of the season, return eight of their top 10 players from last season to go along with another stellar recruiting class.

Two Division I transfers headline the class. Senior guard Rob Venner comes to Clayton State by way of Atlanta Metro College and Jacksonville State, while sophomore forward Brian Kelly joins the Lakers from Duquesne. In addition, the Lakers added two Division II transfers in forward Jaquas Dobbs (Clark Atlanta) and guard Trey Goss (Fort Valley State), and junior college All-American guard Austin DeAngelis from Oxford of Emory.

Freshmen Jordan Windisch (Fayetteville, Ga./Fayette County High School) and Cory Cameron (Chamblee, Ga./Chamblee High School) round out the Laker recruiting class.

“We return our top four scorers and eight players from the rotation,” said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. “However, our newcomers provide quality depth and experience.

“This group not only fills the void of our departed seniors, but further help balance our classes and bring competition in every position area.”

A 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard from Morrow, Ga., Venner will give the Lakers instant offense on the perimeter with his tremendous shooting range. He saw action in 11 games for Jacksonville State in the 2004-05 season, averaging five points and one rebound. Prior to that, he was a second team NJCAA All-American selection as a sophomore at Altanta Metro, averaging 22 points and five assists a game.

Venner was a prep standout at Morrow High School, averaging 20 points and four assists a game as a senior in leading the Mustangs to a 30-2 mark and a berth in the GHSA Final Four. In addition, he was a two-time All-State selection as a junior and senior. For his career, he averaged 21 points and six assists at Morrow, and was the school’s all-time leading scorer.

While Venner will add instant offense on the perimeter for Clayton State, Kelly should do likewise in the post.

The 6-7, 195-pound forward from Decatur, Ga., saw action in 27 games with five starts this past season at Duquesne. He averaged three points and two rebounds, while shooting 49 percent from the field. Kelly prepped at Atlanta’s Columbia High School, where he averaged 18 points and 13 rebounds as senior, leading Columbia to a 21-9 mark and a berth in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals.

Another boost to an already-strong Laker front line is the addition of Dobbs. A 6-6, 215-pound power forward from Conyers, Ga., Dobbs saw action in 23 games this past season at Clark Atlanta with 15 starts. He averaged nine points at six rebounds a contest, including a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double against Stillman.

Dobbs prepped at Heritage High School in Conyers, averaging 18 points as a senior to lead the team in scoring.

A high school teammate of Venner at Morrow, the 5-10, 173-pound Goss will add another weapon to the Laker perimeter. In the 2004-05 season at Fort Valley State, he saw action in 27 games, averaging three points and two rebounds a game, while shooting 46 percent from 3-point range. At Morrow, Goss was the Mustang’s all-time leader in 3-point shooting percentage.

DeAngelis is a 6-2, 185-pound guard from Portland, Me., who averaged 17 points and four rebounds this season at Oxford, while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range. He was selected second team NJCAA Division II All-American and was the Region Most Valuable Player.

A 6-4, 185-pound wing, Windisch set the record for the most 3-point baskets in a career at Fayette County, and averaged 18 points a game as a senior. The 6-2 Cameron was team captain at Chamblee this season as a senior, averaging 18 points a game.

Lakers’ Baldwin hired as men’s head head coach at Truett-McConnell
Former Clayton State player served seven seasons as a Laker assistant
 

MORROW, Ga. — JULY 25, 2006 — Cory Baldwin has enjoyed a wonderful tenure at Clayton State in the men’s basketball program, both as a player and an assistant coach. However, Baldwin is taking the next step in his collegiate coaching career as the new head coach at Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Ga., effective immediately.

Clayton State men’s head coach Gordon Gibbons made the announcement on Tuesday, and wished Baldwin the best in his new endeavor. Baldwin inherits a Truett-McConnell program that finished 13-14 this past season in the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association.

“We are all excited to see coach Baldwin get this opportunity,” said Gibbons. “He has been an essential part in the success of our program. We wish him well at Truett-McConnell and know he will do an outstanding job.”

Baldwin was a part of the Clayton State program for 11 years – four years as a player and seven as an assistant coach. The Jonesboro, Ga., native played for head coach Jimmy Hebron from 1996-99 and was team captain on the first Clayton State team that was nationally-ranked in NCAA Division II in 1998-99.

Following his playing career, Baldwin spent two seasons as an assistant under Hebron, and the last five seasons under Gibbons. During that time, he has helped transform the Laker program into a national power with a 97-49 record and the Peach Belt Conference championship in the 2001-02 season.

As an assistant under Gibbons, Baldwin has been responsible for assembling each of the last five Clayton State recruiting classes that ranked among the nation’s best. He recruited nationally in junior colleges and in four-year transfers. Baldwin also concentrated his high school recruiting in the Georgia only.

Prior to coming to Clayton State, Baldwin was a two-time all-region and one-time all-state selection at Lake City Christian High School. As a senior captain, he averaged 24 points, nine assists, and five rebounds per game in leading the Suns to a runner-up finish in the state tournament. He was also academically successfully, receiving the H.O.P.E scholarship out of high school.
Baldwin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management from Clayton State in 2000. He also holds a Masters degree in Instructional Education from Central Michigan University.