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There’s a new level of excitement and excellence in the status quo for women’s
basketball at Clayton State that’s evolved over the last couple of seasons.
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Since Dennis Cox’s arrival as head coach of the Lakers prior to the 2004-05
season, Clayton State has enjoyed more success in the last two seasons than ever
in the program history. Records of 25-7 in 2004-05 and 25-6 last season, coupled
with the 2004-05 Peach Belt Conference championship and two straight trips to
the second round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament has helped put
Clayton State on the national map for Division II women’s basketball.
The Lakers aim to further heighten the status quo in 2006-07 as Cox enters his
third season at the Clayton State helm. Clayton State returns eight players,
including three starters, from last season’s team that was ranked as high as 18th
in the nation at one point. Add to it a recruiting class of four Florida junior
college stalwarts, and the Lakers have the makings of a team that can reach new
heights this season.
It’s being recognized both regionally and nationally as well. Clayton State is
the preseason favorite to win the Peach Belt Conference this season, and the
Lakers are ranked 24th in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25
poll.
“I certainly would be happy with 25 victories now,” said Cox. “We’re not
concerned about the number of victories, but the victories at the end of the
season. Advancing past the Round of 32 would be unchartered waters for us, but
we have a lot to do just to get there.”
That starts with implementing a system on what Cox calls a “versatile team.”
Most coaches would die to have the problem that Cox is having trying to find the
right spots for his talented players.
“This is the toughest time of the year for me, because I’m still trying to piece
everything together,” Cox said. “I’m still experimenting with a starting lineup
and getting a player rotation together. We’re going to be asking some of these
players to do roles that they haven’t been accustomed to before.”
GUARD/PERIMETER
An example of
Cox’s “problem” is in the backcourt, where the Lakers are deep and strong.
Clayton State lost All-Peach Belt Conference standouts Jasmine Patterson, plus
Cynthia Conseil to graduation, and 3-point specialist Teri Willis decided not to
return for her senior season. But that won’t stop the Lakers from possibly
dominating on the perimeter with their pressure defense and wide-open offensive
attack.
 The
backbone of the team on the perimeter is senior wing Sharon Wiles. Last season,
the 5-foot-9 Wiles averaged 13 points and five rebounds a game, and was one of
the nation’s leaders in steals with a Clayton State single-season record of 113.
Wiles gained some valuable experience this summer representing her native
Jamaica in the Caribbean Games. According to Cox. Wiles has come a long way
considering this season will be only her fourth in organized basketball.
“There is no doubt about what Sharon can do defensively, but she’s playing with
a lot more confidence on the offensive end,” Cox said. “She’s a true slasher and
scores effectively inside, but now she is more willing to shoot from the
outside.”
The same holds true for fellow senior Crystal Brown. Last season, the 5-10 Brown
was solid at power forward, averaging nine points and five rebounds a game while
shooting 44 percent from the field and a team-leading 75 percent from the free
throw line.
However, with a new influx of talented post players, Brown is moving out the
perimeter where Cox hopes she can take advantage of her ball-handling skills and
speed to excel.
“For a player her size, Crystal handles the ball well in the open court,” Cox
said. “She’s a true slasher that penetrates well with the dribble and shoots
well from medium range. She just needs to get more confidence in her long-range
shot.”
Junior college newcomer Nikkisha Pritchett will also see some valuable minutes
on the wing and she is a dangerous shooter form the perimeter. The same is true
for sophomore Marie St. Fort, the only non junior-college transfer on the Laker
squad. St. Fort is aiming for a productive season after missing last season with
a knee injury.
As many as four players have the capabilities of directing the team at point
guard. Junior Roberta Phillips makes her Laker debut this season after sitting
out last season with a knee injury. However, Cox said Phillips is still a few
weeks away from being 100 percent ready for action. Once she does return, Cox
believes Phillips will be one of the best defenders in the Peach Belt.
That leaves the starting role to junior college transfer Shantel Ragin. At 5-9,
Ragin will be one of the bigger point guards in Peach Belt and will use her size
to see the court well to run the Laker attack. Steady senior Basia Bukowska, who
has actually played all four of her seasons under Cox (with one season at the
junior college ranks), should solid in a support role.
“The type of players in our system is very versatile,” Cox said. “We don’t
really recruit true position players. We want the point guard to score in our
wide-open system.”
POSTS
While is speed
and athleticism in the Clayton State backcourt, there is size and athleticism in
the Laker post. All-Peach Belt standout Shelcey Harp has graduated, but there is
not shortage of talent with the return of seniors Alecia Humphrey and Tracey
Browne and the addition of exciting junior college transfer Lynette Jackson.
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6-2 Humphrey was the Clayton State center last season, but she makes the move to
power forward from her senior season. Last season, she averaged six points and
five rebounds a contest a game, while shooting 72 percent from the free throw
line and 47 percent from the field.
“So far, Alecia has been the biggest surprise of the preseason making the
transition from the five to the four,” Cox said. “At power forward, she will
cause a lot of match-up problems.”
The addition of Jackson is the reason for that. The 6-4 junior is a post player
by trait, but actually played on the perimeter last season at Seminole Community
College. Getting back on the block makes Jackson dangerous both on the inside
and from medium range.
“Lynette is dangerous on the perimeter with her footwork and shot, and she
attracts so much attention in the paint,” Cox said. “She and Alecia are
interchangeable. Her footwork is great, but she needs to work on her hands. The
thing I like is she is long and she’s deceptive.”
Third in the rotation is the 6-3 Browne, who battled injuries constantly last
season. She averaged two points and two rebounds in 23 games last season,
shooting 58 percent from the field. A healthy Browne will give Clayton State a
tremendous three-player rotation in the post.
Cox can also used Crystal Brown and Wiles inside when needed.
SCHEDULE/OUTLOOK
With newfound success
comes a more challenging schedule, and the Lakers face that in 2006-07.
Clayton State opens the season at the Sleep Inn Classic at St. Leo against
Flagler and Northwood, followed by four key road games at Elizabeth City State,
Lander, Francis Marion and West Georgia. The Lakers then open their home slate
in big fashion, squaring off against 18th-ranked Delta State on Dec.
9 and perennial CIAA powerhouse Shaw on Dec. 15.
The Lakers also play at Valdosta State and host West Georgia and Elizabeth City
State in the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic. On top of that is the Peach Belt
Conference, where as many as four teams should contend for NCAA Division II
National Tournament berths.
“This is a very challenging schedule with plenty of quality games,” Cox said. “I
really like this team. The chemistry is there and there is plenty of good
leadership to go around.”
Dennis Cox took over the helm of the Laker women’s
basketball program prior to the 2004-05 season, and his impact has been immediately
felt.
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