             |
Cox announced seven newcomers to the Laker fold, which consists of two NCAA Division II transfers and five signees from the junior college ranks.
The two transfers are from within the Peach Belt Conference with the additions of forward Shanrika Hardeman and guard Arlanderia Whitlock from conference rival Columbus State. Cox also continued to use his Florida junior college connections effectively with the signing of guards Chineree Wins from Indian River Community College and Dominique Jennings from Miami-Dade Community College, forwards Lisa Jackson from Tallahassee Community College and Shantavia Hampton from Miami-Dade and center Kim Larry from Florida Community College-Jacksonville.
This group of seven join the Lakers’ first high school signee under Cox – All-State point guard Brittany Hall from Campbell High School in Smyrna, Ga. Together, these eight newcomers join a Clayton State squad that finished a program-best 29-6 last season, winning both the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships and advancing to the “Final Four” of the 2006-07 NCAA Division II National Tournament.
There’s no doubt the Lakers are familiar with both Hardeman and Whitlock, being that Clayton State defeated Columbus State four times this past season. Hardeman, a 5-foot-9 junior, averaged 10 points and eight rebounds a game last season for head coach Jay Sparks at Columbus State, while shooting 44 percent from the field at the power forward position.
She ranked second on the team in both scoring, rebounding and field goal shooting percentage. Hardeman prepped at North Atlanta High School for head coach Kathy Washington and lettered two seasons at Columbus State. In the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game against Clayton State, Hardeman recorded a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
“Shanrika is an addition we never counted on, but will gladly take,” said Cox, who is 79-19 in three seasons at Clayton State. “She will fit in well with our style, she is very aggressive and plays extremely hard. We welcome her home and look forward to seeing her on our side of the court.”
The same can be true for Whitlock. The 5-5 sophomore from Gulfport, Miss., saw action in 28 games this season with one start, averaging two points and one rebound a game while shooting 31 percent from 3-point range. She prepped at Harrison Central High School in Gulfport before signing with Columbus State.
Now, she will bring a new level of athleticism that fits the Laker style of play.
“Arlanderia didn’t see much court time as a freshman, but she has one attribute that we cannot teach, but must have – speed,” Cox said. “She may be our fastest player, and we look forward to coaching her.”
The quintet of junior college talent coming to Clayton State
includes five All-Conference selections, four All-Region selections
and three junior college All-American-caliber players. Winns is a 5-4 guard from Deltona, Fla., that was the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Southern Florida Conference Player of the Year for Indian River. She averaged 16 points, four assists and four steals a game this season, garnering both All-Region 8 and All-Southern Florida Conference honors in the process. In addition, she shot 36 percent from 3-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line.
As a freshman in the 2005-06 season, Winns averaged 20 points, six assists and four steals a game. She hails from the same junior college that produced former Clayton State forward Crystal Brown.
“Chineree is a complete guard in our system,” Cox said. “She shoots with range, sees the floor extremely well and has great anticipation skills on the defensive end.”
The same is true for Jennings, a 5-6 junior from Glen Burnie, Md. She’s a two-time NJCAA Kodak All-American, a two-time All-Region 8 selection and a two-time All-Southern Florida Conference selection. In addition, she was the 2005-06 Southern Florida Conference Player of the Year.
As a sophomore in 2005-06, Jennings averaged 17 points and four rebounds a game for Miami-Dade. She also averaged 23 points, four assists and three steals as a freshman.
“Dominique is a very dynamic and exciting player,” Cox said. “She knows only one speed – full. She will shoot the three, penetrate and dish, as well as finish. She’s a big-time player and once she shakes off the rust of sitting out a season – watch out for this one.”
Hampton, Jackson and Larry make the Lakers bigger and deeper in the post.
The 6-0 Hampton is coming off two stellar seasons at Miami-Dade, where she was teammates with Jennings for one season. She averaged 16 points, three assists and two steals a game this season, garnering first team All-Southern Florida Conference honors, All-Region 8 honors and NJCAA Kodak All-American honors in the process.
During her freshman season, Hampton averaged 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals a contest.
“Shantavia is an extremely gifted athlete that does everything well,” Cox said. “She shoots with range, pulls up off the dribble and finishes at the rim. At six feet, she will be a match-up problem on the perimeter and adds another rebounder.”
While Hampton can excel both in the paint and on the perimeter, the 5-11 Jackson is a pure lunch pale blue collar worker in the paint. The junior from Miami averaged 13 points and nine rebounds a game this season, garnering first team All-Florida Panhandle Conference honors. As a freshman, Jackson averaged nine points and six rebounds a contest.
Jackson continues the strong pipeline of players from Tallahassee Community College to Clayton State, following the likes of former Laker standouts Sharon Wiles and Tracey Browne.
“I love Lisa’s aggressive style of play,” Cox said. “She’s a tenacious rebounder and attacks the basket hard off the dribble. She’s very seasoned, having played in the tough Pandhandle Conference in Florida.”
Larry is a 6-2 center from Tupelo, Miss., that was a two-year standout at Florida Community College-Jacksonville from 2003-05. As a sophomore, Larry averaged a double-double – 12 points and 13 rebounds a game to garner both first team All-Mid Florida Conference and All-Region 8 honors. That followed a stellar freshman season in which she averaged 11 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks a game.
In her two seasons at Florida CC-Jacksonville, Larry led Region 8 in rebounding and was one of the top rebounders in the nation at the junior college level. She should be a great complement to returning Clayton State senior center Lynette Jackson. “Kim is a prolific rebounder with a nose for the basketball and a quick leap,” Cox said. “After sitting out two seasons, we are looking forward to her contributions as she returns to form.” |
_web.gif){kind=spacer}