CLAYTON STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL
2007-08 SEASON PREVIEW
Lakers continue to raise the standard of excellence following banner 2006-07 season

There’s a new standard of excellence around the Clayton State Laker men’s basketball. One not only of high standards in the Peach Belt Conference, but one of high standards on the national Division II level as well.

The 2006-07 season was evident of that as Clayton State finished 24-8 overall, was ranked in the Division II Top 25 the entire season, advanced to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship for the first time ever and garnered the program’s first ever NCAA Division II National Tournament berth. Only a last second shot by Virginia Union in the second round of the NCAA National Tournament kept the Lakers’ season from being more special.

That, in mind, puts the program at a new level of excellence, according to head coach Gordon Gibbons.

“You don’t recruit tradition – tradition is established by the previous teams,” said Gibbons, who is 121-57 entering his seventh season at the Clayton State helm. “The attitude of this team is setting goals and laying out the plan to accomplish them. That’s the best way to take advantage of tradition.

“There is a certain level expected of this team now.”

Clayton State will look to maintain this level despite losing four starters off last season’s squad – standout guards Todd McLaurin and Brandon Kelley, steady power forward John Beugnot and 7-foot-1 towering center Aristide Sawadogo. Despite those losses, however, there’s plenty of optimism coming from Gibbons about the 2007-08 Lakers.

For one thing, it’s a team built around strong cohesiveness as a unit, and second, a team that will take pride in its traditionally-strong defensive game – especially the press. Expect this season’s Laker squad to be a defensive nightmare to opposing teams with the full-court pressure defense.

“We are as athletic or more athletic than any team that I’ve ever had here,” Gibbons said. “This team has the potential to be an outstanding defensive team with the athleticism and work ethic. Overall, we’re bigger on the perimeter, and this team has embraced the press unlike the last two seasons. They enjoy playing the pressure defense and that’s the way to approach it.”

GUARDS/PERIMETER

There is one aspect different on this season Clayton State squad than in recent seasons – more size on the perimeter.

Unlike the last two seasons when the 5-10 Kelley and the 5-11 McLaurin controlled the perimeter for Clayton State, the Lakers will have bigger bodies on the perimeter, but also one’s that are just as or even more athletic than their smaller counterparts of recent seasons.

“Whenever you’re longer, that’s more pressure on the opposing team’s offense,” Gibbons said. “We like having the bigger perimeter guys on defense.”

Headlining this group is senior captain and three-year starter Michael Sloan. The 6-4, 185-pounder has been an important aspect of the Clayton State attack over the last three seasons with his superb shooting touch from the perimeter, smooth ballhandling abilities and stellar perimeter defense.

Last season, Sloan averaged 12 points and three rebounds a game and set the Clayton State single-season record for 3-point baskets with 72. He is only 173 points away from becoming the sixth player in Clayton State history to reach 1,000 career points, and will also set the Laker career records for 3-point baskets and 3-point field goals attempt early this season.

More importantly, in Sloan’s three seasons, Clayton State has posted an impressive 63-28 record. This makes Sloan a legitimate All-Peach Belt Conference and Division II All-American hopeful.

“Michael is a model player,” Gibbons said. “From day one, he’s accepted our coaching and has improved every season. He’s added facets to his game and improved his body. We look for him to have an outstanding season.”

Sloan won’t be alone on the perimeter. New to the Laker fold this season is key junior college transfers Bernard Fields and Ricky Garrett, as well as returning redshirt sophomore Jordan Windisch (6-5, 198), redshirt freshman Cory Cameron (6-3, 175) and junior Eric Wilson (6-1, 165), a transfer from Division II Tuskegee.

The 6-4, 190-pound Fields is similar to Sloan in many ways with his size, athleticism and shooting skills. At Aiken Tech last season, Fields averaged 19 points and shot 44 percent from 3-point range to garner NJCAA Region 20 Most Valuable Player honors and second team NJCAA All-American honors.

At 6-5 and 195 pounds, Garrett will provide the Lakers the versatility both on the perimeter and at small forward with his size and athleticism. Like Fields, Garrett is also deadly from the perimeter with his shooting, but he excels more on the defensive end with his range and wingspan.

He was NJCAA All-Region 24 last season at Wabash Valley Community College, averaging 14 points a game.

“Bernard is a do-it-all guard, and his role will continue to be defined for us this season, especially on offense,” Gibbons said. “Ricky is just an outstanding athlete that will great in the press. He really fits in nice for us with his size and athleticism.”

With the graduation of Kelley and his 13 points and four assists a game, there will be a new leader of the Laker attack at the point guard. Gibbons feels he has a gem in junior college transfer Tracy Williams.

At 6-0 and 190 pounds, Williams is bigger and brings more to the table as a true point guard in a sense. During his two seasons at Indian River Community College, Williams was a two-time NJCAA All-Region 8 performer and two-time All-South Florida Conference selection.

He was ranked in the Top 20 in the nation for two straight seasons and was a Top 20 Junior College prospect by The Sporting News prior to last season.

Backing up Williams and returning for his junior season is Trey Goss, who will show a lot of improvement after learning the Laker system over the last two seasons. In addition, freshman transfer Jonathan Austin is showing a lot of promise in a short period of time in a Clayton State uniform.

“Tracy makes everyone better around him,” Gibbons said. “He’s different in what he does and what the team needs him to do to win. Goss is outstanding offense as an effective ballhandler and a tenacious defender.”

FORWARDS

Unlike previous seasons, Clayton State may its best set of forwards in terms of size, ability and athleticism.

The Lakers must replace the sturdy Beugnot and his 10 points and eight rebounds a game, and that could come from a healthy Brian Kelly.

A 6-8, 215-pound junior, Kelly had a lot of promise last season transferring from NCAA Division I Duquesne. However, a leg injury forced him to miss the entire conference slate of the schedule and put more minutes on Beugnot’s shoulders.

This season, Kelly is back at full strength and should be a rebounding force in the Peach Belt Conference as well as a tremendous scorer in and around the basket at power forward.

“Not having Brian for much of the season was unfortunate,” Gibbons said. “But he’s done a great job coming back strong and continually improving himself. Brian will be very active on the glass and an effective defender in the post.”

Gibbons is high on two newcomers that could wind up having tremendous careers at Clayton State in sophomore forward Will Lewis and freshman forward Torrin Greene.

Lewis is a 6-6, 205-pound transfer from nearby Truett-McConnell, where he was the NJCAA Region 17 Freshman of the Year. He averaged 16 points a game, while shooting 43 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the free throw line. With his size and athleticism, Lewis will create a lot of matchup problems for the opposition, playing as many as four positions on the floor.

“Will is big enough to be effective in the post and skilled enough to excel on the perimeter,” Gibbons said. “It’s a tough role when you play more than one position, but he’s ready to be a starter and contribute.”

The 6-6, 200-pound Greene is a “Player of the Future” for the Lakers. A local product out of nearby North Clayton High School, Gibbons firmly believes that Greene will continue to progress and mature at Clayton State with his character and work ethic, not to mention his untapped potential.

“He’s working hard and making some big strides in a short period of time,” Gibbons said about Greene. “His character and work ethic is unbelievable and his potential is tremendous.”

CENTERS

It will be different not seeing the intimidating presence of Sawadogo in the middle for the Lakers. But don’t think for a moment that Clayton State won’t be productive in the post with the return of senior Jerome Boyd and the addition of Division I transfer Armel Traore Dit Nignan.

The 6-7, 245-pound Boyd showed some tremendous flashes of excellence last season in a reserve role behind Sawadogo. He averaged six points and four rebounds a game, while ranking third in the Peach Belt Conference in field goal shooting percentage at 55 percent.

However, Boyd has worked hard in the off-season to improve his overall game. He’s shed some 20 pounds off his frame, thus improving his quickness and footwork in the paint and on the glass. Gibbons is hoping for a productive season from Boyd.

“He will be a tremendous offensive threat in the low post,” Gibbons said. “He’s also improved his defensive skills from last season, and that will be a plus.”

Ironically, Traore Dit Nignan hales from the same city as Sawadogo in the African country of Burkina Faso. The 6-8, 240-pound transfer from Drake will fit in well in the Clayton State system with his sheer hustle, determination, work ethic and rebounding prowess.

“He’s appreciative of the opportunity here at Clayton State,” Gibbons said. “His style of play fits in well here, and his attitude is simply unbelievable.”

SCHEDULE/OUTLOOK

A season is not a season at Clayton State without a stellar schedule, and it’s no different for the 2007-08 season.

In addition to the rugged Peach Belt Conference slate which this season will be home-and-home against each opponent, Gibbons has a strong non-conference slate as well.

The Lakers renew their annually in-state showdown against West Georgia with a home-and-home against the Wolves, plus a home showdown against traditional Division II power North Alabama. In addition, Clayton State will battle traditional CIAA power St. Augustine’s in the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic and a take a road trip to Arkansas-Monticello prior to the bulk of the Peach Belt Conference schedule.

“There will be a true conference champion with the full slate of games,” Gibbons said. “And our non-conference slate is loaded. This team has a chance to be real good and continue to get better as the season progresses.”