SAINTS BASKETBALL OPENS REGULAR SEASON ON THURSDAY AT NORTH GREENVILLE

The Limestone College men’s basketball team will open the regular season at North Greenville on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. in Tigerville, S.C. Limestone is entering 2007-08 after one of the Saints’ best seasons ever in 2006-07. Limestone ended last year with its first 20-win season since joining NCAA Division II (20-9 overall). It was the third straight season the Saints finished with a winning record and the third consecutive season the team advanced to the conference tournament semifinals.

The Saints have a tough schedule in 2007-08. Included in the team’s conference slate are three teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament: Barton College, the defending NCAA Division II National Champion, Queens University of Charlotte, and Mount Olive College. Limestone was the only team in the conference to defeat Barton last season as the Saints handed the Bulldogs an 83-80 loss at the Timken Center on January 20. The Saints also beat Pfeiffer twice during the regular season and eliminated the Falcons from the conference tournament last year.

The Saints need to do well in Conference Carolinas play since only the top eight teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the conference tournament. The standings become even more important in 2007-08 since the top seeded-team will host throughout the entire tournament.

Limestone lost three talented starters including guard Shawn Poppie (359 points, 108 rebounds, 176 assists), guard Terrell Smith (491 points, 151 rebounds, 45 steals), and forward Marq Bell (259 points, 137 rebounds), all of whom had outstanding senior seasons with the Saints in 2006-07. However, the team has brought in a solid recruiting class that includes three JUCO transfers, one sophomore, and three freshmen.
Limestone will also be under new leadership this season as Brandon Scott takes over head coaching duties. Scott, an assistant for the Saints in 2006-07, replaced Larry Epperly who took a position at East Carolina University. Scott is no stranger to Limestone’s system, having played for the Saints from 1995-1999.

Guards

Junior All-Conference honoree Andre Coleman (Clermont, Fla./6-4/220 lbs.) and senior Marques Williams (Rochester, N.Y./5-10/160 lbs.) are the Saints’ only two returning guards. Coleman finished last season ranked 27th in NCAA Division II with a 43.6 three-point field-goal percentage and reached double scoring figures on 16 occasions. Williams led the team with a 85.1 free-throw percentage and a 44.2 field-goal percentage last season while recording 56 assists.

Several newcomers will look for playing time this season. Junior Erik Atkinson (West Palm Beach, Fla./6-1/170 lbs.) averaged eight points and four assists as a sophomore at Palm Beach Community College. He brings much experience to the team and is an all-around player who can pass, shoot and defend. Junior Shawn Creal (Spartanburg, S.C./6-1/200 lbs.) played for Spartanburg Methodist’s program as a freshman and sophomore. Creal is a strong shooter who averaged 9.2 points per game as a sophomore and 11.3 points per game as a freshman.

Freshman Bobby Grier (Powder Springs, Ga./5-10/185 lbs.) had an outstanding career at McEachern High School. He led his team to a 22-4 record last year while averaging 9.2 points and 6.5 assists per game. Jerry Hughes (Spartanburg, S.C./6-1/195 lbs.) gained experience at Spartanburg High School. D-Juan Thurmond (North Augusta, S.C.) is another newcomer. He played for North Augusta High School.

Centers

Two centers are back from the 2006-07 campaign: seniors Andraé Franklin (Fort Pierce, Fla./6-6/210 lbs.) and John Prioleau (Charleston, S.C./6-3/205 lbs.) Franklin saw action in 15 games in his first season with Limestone last year. In 2006-07, Prioleau led the Saints with 56 offensive rebounds and 18 blocks. Freshman James Hudson (Atlanta, Ga./6-5/205 lbs.) will compete for court time, too. He was a four-year starter at Mays High School.

Forwards

Limestone has several familiar faces vying for playing time as forwards: seniors Jamison Clark (Fort Pierce, Fla./6-4/220 lbs.) and Kenny White (Columbia, S.C./6-3/222 lbs.), and sophomore Tyron Evans (Leesburg, Fla./6-3/208 lbs.). Clark gained great experience in his first seasons with the Saints last year. White reached double-scoring figures on four occasions in 2006-07 as he played in 22 games. Evans saw limited action as a freshman on the varsity squad, but saw significant playing time on Limestone’s junior varsity team. Hampton had a solid freshman season as he ranked second on the team with 15 blocked shots. He also scored 105 points and grabbed 64 rebounds. Prioleau may also see playing time as a forward.

Junior Roderick Wilson (Jacksonville, Fla./6-6/190 lbs.) and freshman Marcus Price (Fort Meyers, Fla./6-3/200 lbs.) will look to make an impact in their first season at Limestone. Wilson already has college playing experience as a transfer from Wallace Community College. Price is a strong athlete who can shoot and handle the ball. He was a three-year letterwinner at Fort Myers High School ,where he averaged 14.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He led his team to three district championships and two appearances in the regional finals.

-LIMESTONE-