Laker men to play host to Martinique Golden Star in first basketball exhibition
Relationship between Gibbons and Star Club dates back more than 20 years

MORROW, Ga. --- OCTOBER 31, 2006 --- After two-and-a-half weeks of preseason practice, local fans will get a sneak peak of the 2006-07 Clayton State Laker men’s basketball team on Wednesday night when the Lakers play host to Martinique Golden Star at 7:30 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

Expectations are sky-high this season for the Lakers and head coach Gordon Gibbons. With the top four scorers and eight veteran players returning from last season’s 21-7 team, the Lakers are the preseason pick to win the Peach Belt Conference. In addition, Clayton State is ranked in the Top 15 in two Division II preseason polls – eighth in the Street & Smith Preseason Yearbook Division II Top 10 and 12^th in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25.

Gibbons has had a long relationship with the Golden Star Club, located in the Martinique capital city of Fort-de-France. In 1985, when Gibbons was a boys high school head coach at Tampa Catholic, he took an Under-15 American travel team to Martinique. That team featured future collegiate stars Livingston Chapman (Florida) and Chris Corchiani (North Carolina State).

That started a relationship for Gibbons with the Golden Star Club that has lasted 21 years.

Presently, Gibbons organizes an American tour for the Golden Star Senior Men’s team to the Atlanta area. In addition, he also runs a camp for the Martinique juniors during the summer both at Clayton State and in Fort-de-France.

In the last 15 years, three Golden Star players have been signed by Gibbons at both Clayton State and Florida Southern.

“The Golden Star organization is managed by an outstanding group that’s made an impact on the lives of many young men and women,” said Gibbons. “My association with the club has been a highlight of my career.”

This is the first of two preseason exhibition games for Clayton State. The Lakers will also play host to Baseline USA on Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.