TEN TIGERS JOURNEY TO "THE ATL" FOR NATIONAL PRESEASON HOOPS SHOWCASE

Northeast continues its preparations for the 2018-19 season when 10 athletes play in the annual JucoReport Top 100 showcase on July 21.
Northeast continues its preparations for the 2018-19 season when 10 athletes play in the annual JucoReport Top 100 showcase on July 21.

Atlanta, Ga. – The Northeast Mississippi Community College men's basketball program will exhibit its talent at one of the most highly regarded preseason competitions in the country.

 

Ten members of the Tigers' upcoming 2018-19 roster will participate in the JucoReport Top 100 showcase on Saturday, July 21 at the Holy Innocents' Episcopal School.

 

"This is the fifth year that Northeast has been represented in this event," said Tigers head coach Cord Wright. "It is very organized and well attended. We have a great group of guys going this year so it will be a chance to see where they stack up. I'm very excited to see them compete."

 

The tandem of Northeast standouts heading to the capital city of the Peach State is split evenly right down the middle between five returning sophomores and five incoming freshmen.

 

JaQuante Bell was part of a very productive post for the Tigers during the previous campaign. The New Hope High School alumnus tallied 8.4 points per contest with a solid 50.7 shooting percentage from the floor.

 

Jackson's Thomas Cain is one of Northeast's three-point specialists. He set a career-high during his first-ever game as a Tiger with 17 points in a victory over Faith (Ark.) Preparatory Academy.

 

Antares Gwyn of Corinth was the individual rebounding champion in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) last season with 9.4 per outing. He also accumulated the most starts of any Northeast player with 22 in 27 total games.

 

Arthur Johnson from Jackson was one of three athletes that ran the Tigers' offense from the point guard position. He poured in a career-best 18 points in Northeast's final pre-Christmas break matchup at Lawson State (Ala.) Community College.

 

Jackson's Denzel McDuffey, who is coming off a breakout performance at the JA32 showcase in Melbourne, Fla., completes the list of upperclassmen traveling to Georgia. The reigning MACJC All-State selection topped the Tigers with 14.3 points each contest.

 

Daryl McElrath was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Class AA All-State team after posting a double-double as a senior with 25.3 points and 13.5 rebounds. The Decaturville, Tenn., native also garnered All-West Tennessee first-team recognition from The Jackson Sun.

 

Jalen Perkins earned Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) All-State first-team laurels after leading Walker (La.) High School to the 2018 Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) Class 5A state championship. He averaged 14 points per outing while utilizing his seven-foot plus wingspan to block and alter shots.

 

Ladarrius Spears guided Okolona High School to the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 1A state title in 2018. He competed in the 2017 Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) North/South All-Star Game and was an All-Area pick by the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal after his senior campaign.

 

Jordan Temple ran the point for a Starkville squad that reached the MHSAA Class 6A semifinal round inside the historic Mississippi Coliseum and secured a top-five statewide ranking from The Clarion-Ledger during his final year at the prep level.

 

Three-time state champion DeAnthony Tipler had a storied career at Ashland, where he became the school's all-time leading scorer. He was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2018 Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game after accumulating 21 points, three assists, two rebounds and a pair of steals.

 

The JucoReport Top 100 has developed an outstanding reputation across the nation as one of the most elite invitation only events for rising freshmen and sophomores at two-year colleges.

 

Hundreds of coaches from NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA institutions are anticipated to attend this competition, which begins at approximately 9:15 a.m. (CT) and continues into the afternoon hours.

 

Northeast has the fourth most student-athletes enrolled in the JucoReport Top 100. Andrew (Ga.) College, Shelton State (Ala.) Community College and South Georgia Technical College each have 11 participants.