There will be several new faces on the court this year for the Jefferson Davis Community College Warhawk basketball team and head coach Allen Gainer.
That has had Gainer busy on the recruiting trail over the summer.
Gainer, who led JDCC to the South Division conference championship this past season and to the Final Four of the regional tournament before falling to eventual champion Wallace-Hanceville in the semifinals of the ACCC regional tournament in Tuscaloosa 74-60, said only R.J. Bowers will be back from a team that went 19-10 last season and came up only one game shy of a berth in the title game.
Chris Oden, Adrian Rich, Dee Jay Braggs, Fletcher Forte, Devonte Pope, Anthony Bell, Keaynon Gulley, Demetrick Goodwin, Drea Cobb, Laquario Jenkins, Corderrio Hasewood, Matt Bass and Kenny Nabors join Bowers and Gainer from last year’s team.
“Oden is a 5-10 point guard from Sylacauga,” Gainer said. “He sees the floor extremely well and knows how to manage the team. Very good at calling the right plays and getting everyone in the right spots. Rich is a 6-4 player from Georgiana and is a multi-talented player. He is strong inside and out. He has a chance to be one of the top players in our league as a freshman.”
Braggs comes to JDCC from Louisiana.
“Dee Jay is from New Roads and is a 6-6 post player with perimeter skills,” Gainer said. “He can be the difference maker we need to score points in the paint. Fletcher is a 5-11 guard from Pensacola. He is very quick to pick up all of our offenses and defensive schemes. He is an intelligent player that must get playing time. Pope is a 6-2 guard also from Pensacola. He is a slashing scorer able to get to the rim and finish.”
Anthony Bell comes to JDCC from Mobile.
“Anthony is a 5-10 guard,” Gainer said. “He is a deadly 3-point shooter that will force teams to play man to man instead of zone. He is a very good defender. Keaynon Gulley is from Pensacola and is a 6-3 strong inside/outside player. He is quick enough to guard on the perimeter, but strong enough to guard post players as well. Demetrick Goodwin comes to us from York, Alabama. He is a 5-10 guard. He is a lightening quick guard that really pushes the ball and gets us easy points on the fast break.”
Drea Cobb is the second player to come to JDCC from New Roads in Louisiana.
“He is a 6-5 post player,” Gainer said. “He is strong and a physical presence inside. He will be able to handle the physical play in our league and dish out as good as he gets. Laquario Jenkins is 6-3 post payer from Jackson. While undersized, his tremendous leaping ability lets him rebound and defend the best players we will face.”
Corderrio Hasewood, Matt Bass and Kenny Nabors round out the final three new players for the Warhawks.
“Corderrio comes from Grove Hill,” Gainer said. “He is 6-2 and is a hard working guard that does the dirty work. He believes every lose ball belongs to him, and he gets most of them. Matt is a 6-7 player from Guntersville. He is a post player with 3-point shot range. He has been our best post defender in the preseason. Kenny is a 6-7 player from Alabaster. Even at his size, he is still a pure shooting guard. He will really cause match up problems for everyone we play.”
As for the lone returning player in Bowers, Gainer says the 6-foot guard has provided tremendous leadership to the young team.
“He has been just as much of an assistant coach as a player so far,” Gainer said.
The Warhawks played three exhibition games in October before beginning their season Friday, Nov. 2 on the road at Pensacola State.
JDCC will have their first home game on Saturday, Nov. 10 when they host William Carey College.
Game time is set for 2 p.m. in Brewton.
The Warhawks will play a 24-game regular season schedule with 11 home games scheduled and 13 away games.
JDCC will play 14 conference games with seven being home and seven away.