East Webster will be well represented on junior college and college playing fields and courts for the 2019-20 school year. At least nine EW graduates are expecting to be participating in athletics on the next level this coming school year, while four others are on cheer squads across the state.
Those playing football are Josh McMullen at the University of Central Florida and Luke Wilson at Mississippi College, while Miller Hancock is set to be part of the baseball team at the University of West Florida and Walker Johnson returns at East Central Community College.
Bailie Springfield will be playing softball at the University of Southern Mississippi, while Jessica Davis and Josie Reed will be doing the same at Itawamba Community College and Holmes Community College respectively. Two will be playing tennis on the junior college level — Jake Wofford at East Central and Cooper Reed at Holmes.
Those on cheer squads are: Sydney Ferguson at Mississippi College, Jordan Johnson at Northwest Mississippi, Kaitlin Ray at Itawamba, and Kadasia Bryant at East Mississippi.
There are likely some former East Webster student athletes who have been left off this list. Please e-mail the names of those students, the sports they play, and the schools they attend to Austin Bishop at starsportsboss@yahoo.com or by text to 601-938-2471.
We are also still compiling a list for Eupora High School and need all available information on those students sent to the aforementioned e-mail address and phone number.
— Austin Bishop
HOLMES HIRES VETERAN COACH AS HOOPS ASSISTANT
A 13-year veteran of collegiate coaching, including two on the NCAA Division I level at the University of Nebraska, has been hired as the men’s assistant basketball coach at Holmes Community College.
Eric Colbert, a native of Compton, Calif., is set to join veteran head coach Jason Flanigan on the Goodman campus. His junior college stops have been at Angelina College, Navarro College, Pratt Community College and Independence Community College. While he was at Navarro the school advanced to the NJCAA Final Four in 2010.
The HCC Bulldogs, who finished 17-10 last season, will open the 2019-20 season at Co-Lin in Wesson on Monday, Nov. 4
— Austin Bishop
PROSPECT CAMPS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL ATHLETES
High school athletes ranging from ninth graders through seniors who have interest in pursing playing college softball or men’s college basketball have an opportunity to develop their skill sets and experience athletics on a junior college level this weekend.
East Central Community College is hosting an Elite Camp for boys basketball players Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m in the Brackeen-Wood Gymnasium on the school’s Decatur campus, while on Sunday the softball program is hosting a Prospect Camp from 2-5 p.m. at the school’s softball complex.
The cost for the basketball camp is $35 per player and will be lead by ECCC head coach Robert Thompson and assistant coach Gino Myers-Kyle and is conducted a manner to give players an idea of how the college game operates. For more information contact coach Thompson at rthompson@eccc.edu or by phone at 601-635-6372.
The softball event costs $50 per player with registration beginning at 1:15 p.m. Contact assistant coach Ryan McTaggart at rmctaggart@eccc.edu for more information.
— Austin Bishop
MSU FAN DAY SET FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Mississippi State's annual Fan Day featuring the 2019 Bulldog football team is set for Saturday, Aug. 24, inside the Palmeiro Center on the MSU campus in Starkville
Doors open at 2 p.m. with autograph availability running from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Fans are asked to enter through the southeast entrance of the Palmeiro Center.
To help ensure everyone in attendance has a chance to meet all of the student-athletes and head coach Joe Moorhead, student-athletes may only sign the official 2019 season posters while Coach Moorhead will autograph one item of choice per person. Posters and schedule cards will be available for free to fans.
Parking is free and available in the Palmeiro-Griffis, Humphrey Coliseum and MSU Soccer Field lots. The Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex lot will be closed. Restrooms will be open in the Griffis Boardroom. — School Reports
EMCC ONCE AGAIN RANKED NO. 1 IN NJCAA
There was no surprise when the NJCAA revealed its first football rankings of the year on Monday. At the top of the preseason poll was two-time defending champion East Mississippi Community College, a spot the Lions have held for the last 17 consecutive polls. EMCC was ranked No. 1 in every 2018 poll, including two in the regular season and three — including the finale — in the postseason.
No. 2 in the rankings is Iowa Western, followed by Garden City (Kansas), Jones College (Mississippi) and Hutchinson (Kansas).
Other Mississippi schools joining EMCC and Jones in the preseason Top 20 were Northwest Mississippi Community College at No. 9, Mississippi Gulf Coast at No. 12, and Copiah-Lincoln at No. 17. Also receiving votes were Northeast Mississippi, East Central Community College, Holmes Community College, and Hinds.
— Austin Bishop
