By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
It is an exaggeration to say the Jefferson Davis Community College Warhawks basketball team has to replace all of its scoring from a year ago.
Just 87 percent of it.
JDCC's five returning sophomores combined to average just nine of the Warhawks 68 points per game average. Micah McKinney's five points a game average &#8220leads” that list.
Offense and defense are not the only areas where the Warhawks are seeking improvement. JDCC will be trying to improve last season's 11-19 overall record, 6-10 in Alabama Community College south division play. The performance of nine newcomers to the program will have a big say as to whether or not that happens.
While McKinney is the Warhawks only returning starter from a year ago, 5-11 sophomore point guard Lyndon Butler (Slidell, La.) played the equivalent of starters minutes. Norman Griffin, a 6-1 freshman from Theodore, and Quintereal Kelley, a 6-1 freshman from Goodwater, have the inside track to back up Butler.
Tim Rodgers, a 6-2 sophomore from Valdosta, Ga., and Chad Martin, a 6-1 sophomore from Baker, Fla., are slated for the shooting guard role. Both saw limited time last year.
Two other versatile Warhawks are Brandon Stewart, a 6-2 freshman from Niceville, Fla., and former T.R. Miller Tiger DaWaun Johnson, a 6-0, sophomore.
Donald Smith, a 6-2 freshman from Goodwater, could also play inside or outside.
The combination of Alabama Southern transfer Jake Nelson, a 6-5 sophomore from Jay, Fla., McKinney, a 6-5 sophomore from Birmingham, and Tyler Hammond, a 6-5 sophomore from Ponce De Leon, Fla., will help fill the small forward spot.
Power forward Thomas Tunberg, a 6-8 sophomore from Destin, Fla., missed most of last season with an injury. He will be joined down low by Justin Owens, 6-5 freshman from Concord, Ga.
JDCC will not have the services of what is expected to be its top post player until January when Maurice Edmonson, a 6-7 freshman from Douglas, Ga., becomes eligible.
The Warhawks finished in a tie for sixth in the ACCC south last season. Gainer admits it will be a tough chore for his club to climb the league ladder.
level. Our conference has a lot of size with several seven-footers. We don't have any seven-footers, but we should be more athletic than what we have been.”