By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
June 11, 2004
George Brooks didn't throw the baby out with the bath water, but he got close.
The Meridian Community College head men's
basketball coach revamped his roster during the offseason after the Eagles went 13-12 last season.
Brooks signed 10 high school players and acquired two transfers from Central Division rival East Central Community College, and he returns just two players Rodney Hampton and Greg Powell from last year's squad.
The Eagles singed Jordan Payne from Heidelberg, Chris Seaphus from West Lauderdale, Jasper Hall form Brookhaven, Derrick Thomas and Jonathan Parker from Provine, Rashard Provitt and Robert Johnson from Carver in Montgomery, Ala., Kalani White from Northeast Lauderdale and Sean Johnson and Steve Johnson from Lanier.
Shawn Daugherty, who graduated from Choctaw Central, and Keno Winston, a former Northeast Lauderdale product, transferred to MCC from ECCC.
The team may have been easy to assemble, but Brooks will have to work on getting all of his new parts to function as one to improve on last season's record.
The dozen new Eagles add a new dimension to the team from the past few seasons height.
While MCC doesn't have anyone over 6-foot-7, the Eagles average height jumped with the latest signing class.
MCC has eight players who are taller than 6-foot-4, and only Seaphus, a 5-foot-11 guard, is listed under six foot.
Hampton and Powell will be expected to help the latest additions to the Eagles adjust to playing for Brooks.
As the lone holdovers from last year's squad, Brooks said he will be looking for the two sophomores to lead the team and help teach the new players how he operates.