JCSU Men's Basketball To Open Season at Atlantic Region Challenge
Charlotte, N.C. (Nov. 12, 2014)-- Johnson C. Smith men's basketball looks to build on its strong finish from last season as the 2014-15 season tips off this Friday when the Golden Bulls travel to the Atlantic Region Challenge hosted by Indiana (Pa.). JCSU will play California University at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14 and will square off with host Indiana (Pa.) at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15
The Golden Bulls finished the 2013-14 season with a 18-12 overall mark, 7-9 in the conference, including an 8-4 record at home. The team added two more wins to their overall total from the previous year and received its second consecutive Team Sportsmanship Award during the CIAA Tournament. JCSU men's basketball has established a reputation for excellence and their sights are set much higher than regular season accolades and sportsmanship plaques.
The Golden Bulls have lost four of their five starters from last year with senior forward/center
Emilio Parks (Ashtabula. OH) as the
only returning starter.
Robert Williams, LeMarquis Latchaw,
Antwan Wilkerson and
Richard Daniels, Jr. have all departed, taking nearly 40 points and 17 rebounds per game with them. Parks was named All-CIAA for the second consecutive year last season and finished the year with the best field goal percentage in the conference. He was the second leading rebounder and shot blocker (behind Wilkerson) on the team last year.
Joshua Linson (San Antonio, TX) is expected to step into a starter's role this season. The former CIAA All-Rookie Team member from two years ago was the top three-point shooter on last year's team. He and Parks are the only returnees with double-figure scoring averages.
"We're going to be young," said head coach
Stephen Joyner, Sr., an observation verified by a preseason roster that includes six freshmen.
Joyner, Sr. enters his 28th season at the helm of the Golden Bulls men's basketball program and brings 483 coaching victories with him. He has the most wins of any active head coach in the CIAA and holds the school record for most wins all-time.
In addition to Parks and Linson, some notable returners are juniors,
Alandre Davis (Florence, SC),
Stedmon Lemon (Lithonia, GA) and
Diondre Pratt (Morven, NC). Seniors
Raston Brown (Hephzibah, GA),
Markell Lotharp
(Marshville, NC) and
Marcus Walker (Raleigh, NC) will join Parks as team leaders.
The freshman crew includes
Timothy Bates II (Salisbury, NC),
Michael Bowman (Salisbury, NC),
Robert Davis (West Friendship, Md.),
Brian Egejuru (Lawrenceville, GA),
Malik Ford (Salisbury, NC) and
Gabon Williams (Charlotte, NC). Bowman, Ford and Williams will provide frontcourt support while Bates II, Davis and Egejuru will work from the backcourt.
One of the clear overall advantages for JCSU last season was on the offensive end. The Golden Bulls averaged 75.2 points per game and stood fourth in the CIAA in free throw shooting percentage. With renewed attention to rebounds and turnovers, the Golden Bulls hope to get significantly closer to giving Joyner, Sr. his 500th career win.
