NEW FACES, NEW ATTITUDE SURROUND SSU BASKETBALL

Excitement surrounds the Shawnee State University Men’s Basketball Team as the Bears welcome new head coach Geno Ford and look to post their first winning season since the 1995 – 1996 campaign.  Joining Ford’s coaching staff are former Ohio University Assistant, Jeff Hamilton; former Shawnee State player, Bryan Czapor; and long-time SSU assistant, Eugene Collins.

In addition to the new faces on the sidelines, the Bears will have seven new faces on the court.  The newcomers include four freshmen:  Adam Davenport (Cambridge, OH), Richard Montague (Elyria, OH), Nick Donley (Oak Hill, OH), and Doug Kanney (Celina, OH).  Of the four, Davenport and Montague are likely to have the biggest and most immediate impact.  Davenport, a 6’6” center, earned All-State honors at Cambridge High School.  Montague, a 6’2” forward, may be the best rebounders on the squad. 

Three transfers also join the team.  All will make an immediate contribution to the Bears’ success.  Antwain Lavender (Columbus, OH) joins the team after spending the 1999 – 2000 season at Southeastern Junior College.  The 5’9” point guard led his team to the NJCAA National Championship.   Andre Horton (Lima, OH) spent two seasons at Vincennes University where he averaged 17 points per game.  Curt Grimes (Celina, OH) played one season at Bellarmine University.  He averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game as a freshman.

The Bears return eight players from last years’ 12-19 squad including four seniors.  Forward Jay Hall (Marietta, GA) has averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds per contest over the last two seasons.  He is the 8^th leading scorer in Shawnee State history with 944 points.  C. J. Captain (Hillsboro, OH) led the team in assists with 4.6 per game.  He also scored 9.5 points per game.  Danny Martin (Elyria, OH) has averaged 5.8 points per contest over his two years at Shawnee State.  He is a great leaper and the team’s best shot blocker.  Don Estis (Columbus, OH) averaged 4.0 points in limited playing time.  Look for his minutes and production to increase.

The remaining returners include juniors Jeff Fraley (Ironton, OH) and Mike Frazier (Aberdeen, OH), as well as sophomores Kenny Gilbert (Lorain, OH) and Larry Pridgen (Dayton, OH).  Fraley earned 2^nd Team All-AMC honors last season as he averaged 12.6 points per game.  He is deadly from outside connecting on 43% of his attempts from behind the arc.  Gilbert averaged 7 points and 3 assists per game last season.

Coach Ford is optimistic about his first season as a college head coach.  “We got off to a late start, but I think we had as good a recruiting class as we could have.  We have the talent on this team to make some noise.  We just have to put all the pieces together.  If we can do that, this should be a turn-around year.

Shawnee State opens the season on November 9 versus Southern Polytechnic in the Urbana Classic.  The Bears’ home opener is Tuesday, November 13, as the Bears host Kentucky Christian College.  Game time is 7:00 p.m. in the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center.