THE NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2023 - 2024
ATHLETIC PROGRAM
HOME OF THE TIGERS
northeast mississippi community college
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Vance Witt
Christie Holly
Kathy Shappley
Tenure of Service: 1983 Tishomingo County Banker
Tenure of Service: 2014 Tishomingo County Superintendent of Edu.
Tenure of Service: 2016 Tippah County Retired Educator
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Secretary
Students, Fans, Alumni,
John Anderson
Ken Basil
Larry Greene
Tenure of Service: 2016 Alcorn County Educator
Tenure of Service: 2008 Union County Retired Educator
Tenure of Service: 2022 Tishomingo County Retired Educator
Douglas Jackson Tenure of Service: 1995 Tippah County Retired Educator
Tracie Langston Tenure of Service: 2004 Prentiss County Businesswoman
Sam McCoy Tenure of Service: 1988 Prentiss County Businessman
Larry Mitchell
Katie Moreland
Lonnie Murphy
Tenure of Service: 2015 Alcorn County Retired Educator
Tenure of Service: 2020 Prentiss County Retired Educator
Tenure of Service: 2020 Prentiss County Retired Educator
On behalf of Northeast Mississippi Community College, welcome to the greatest institution in the United States! Here at NEMCC, we have a tradition in all sports of exhibiting not only a championship atmosphere, but one of class, integrity, and professionalism. We are proud of the student/athletes that have chosen to attend Northeast. We are thankful each of you have chosen to attend this athletic event. While our students are here, our goal is to provide opportunities of personal growth through cutting edge instruction in the classroom and athletic programs. Northeast recognizes that its primary commitment is to the education of our student-athlete. Our vision is to develop one of the premier athletic programs in the nation. To that end, the completion of our Baseball/Softball complex was certainly a step in the right direction. In addition, the beginning of our Game, Set, Match capital giving campaign for our state of the art tennis complex shows our continued commitment to excellence. Recently Northeast was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School. Receiving this coveted honor exhibits to the world our commitment to cutting edge technology within our instructional process. I hope you will have time prior to or after this athletic event to walk or drive around our campus and get a small glance at what we have to offer. You are welcome to visit anytime with our students, faculty, and staff. We are happy to have each of you as part of the Northeast family. Please feel free to contact me should the need ever arise. As you leave campus after this event, we wish you the very best and safe travels. Sincerely,
Bubba Pounds Tenure of Service: 2020 Prentiss County Chancery Clerk
Mike Staten
Luzene Triplett
Tenure of Service: 2021 Union County Bank President
Tenure of Service: 2002 Prentiss County Retired Educator
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Dr. Ricky G. Ford, Northeast Mississippi Community College President
2023-2024 tiger BASKETBALL
Women’s Head Coach
Aspriona Gilbert
Women’s Assistant Coach
Deon Hilliard
Women’s Volunteer Coach
Cord Wright
Men’s Head Coach
Kyle Morris
Men’s Assistant Coach
TIGER BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF
Chelsey Rhodes
Denny Wright
Men’s Assistant Coach
ATHLETIC SUPPORT STAFF
Kent Farris Athletic Director
Brenda Mayes
Assistant Athletic Director
Ziggy Marro
Director of Sports Medicine
Anna Bolton Assistant Athletic Trainer
Blake Long
Sports Information Director
Ryan Elijah Chasity Jody Moreland Brooks Moore Presley Sports Information Specialist
NEMCCTV Cheerleading Producer & Coach A/V Associate
“Voice of the Tigers” NEMCCTV.com
Carter Smith
Erica Miller
“Voice of Student-Athlete the Tigers” Success NEMCCTV.com Coach
Leigh Treloar
Student-Athlete Success Coach
ALL-STAR SPONSORS Securities offered through Allen C. Ewing & Co., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory services offered through Langley Wealth Management, LLC an SEC-registered investment advisory firm.
Family & Sports Medicine Erik Dukes, MD Sean Reynolds, MD 662-728-2071 NEMCCTIGERS |
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northeast mississippi community college
NORTHEAST TIGERS
WOMEN’S HEAD COACH Chelsey Rhodes (2nd year – Delta State University)
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER #
NAME
CLASS
POSITION
HEIGHT
HOMETOWN
HIGH SCHOOL
0
Anna Greene
Freshman
Guard
5’5”
Corinth, Miss.
Kossuth
1
Jasmine Malone
Sophomore
Guard
5’3”
Byhalia, Miss.
Byhalia
2
Alexis Rowe
Sophomore
Forward
5’11”
Little Rock, Ark.
Jacksonville
3
Taitiana Beene
Sophomore
Guard
5’4”
Booneville, Miss.
Booneville
4
Jerrilyn Richardson
Sophomore
Guard
5’6”
Memphis, Tenn.
Central
5
T’Airiana Spearman
Freshman
Guard
5’5”
Coffeeville, Miss.
Coffeeville
11
Madison Gardner
Sophomore
Forward
6’1”
Saltillo, Miss.
Saltillo
13
Jakeria Hawkins
Freshman
Guard
5’7”
Walls, Miss.
Lake Cormorant
14
Tyesha James
Freshman
Forward
6’0”
Lonoke, Ark.
Lonoke
15
Asia Stafford
Freshman
Forward
5’11”
Rienzi, Miss.
Biggersville
20
Madison Miller
Sophomore
Forward
5’10”
Nettleton, Miss.
Nettleton
23
Goldee Butler
Freshman
Forward
5’10”
Corinth, Miss.
Biggersville
MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER #
NAME
CLASS
POSITION HEIGHT WEIGHT
0
Ronnie Ellis
Freshman
Guard
6’3”
175
New Haven, Conn.
Hamden
1
Louzavious Thomas
Freshman
Forward
6’6”
190
Lexington, Miss.
Holmes County Central
2
Tyler Byrd
Freshman
Guard
6’3”
190
Memphis, Tenn.
Tipton-Rosemark Acad.
3
CJ Williams
Sophomore
Forward
6’8”
210
Fort Worth, Texas
North Crowley
4
Allen Hughes
Sophomore
Guard
6’3”
180
Clinton, Miss.
Clinton
5
Josh Holman
Freshman
Forward
6’5”
220
Jackson, Miss.
Jackson Academy
10 Kam Carter
Sophomore
Guard
6’1”
165
New Albany, Miss.
New Albany
11 Tyler Shephard
Freshman
Guard
6’2”
175
Pontotoc, Miss.
Pontotoc
12 Chris Crump
Freshman
Guard
5’11”
165
Tupelo, Miss.
Tupelo
14 Cam Collins
Freshman
Guard
6’4”
180
Madison, Ala.
Austin
15 Zane Tipler
Freshman
Guard
6’0”
165
Ripley, Miss.
Pontotoc
21 Chrishun Rhodes
Freshman
Forward
6’6”
190
Jackson, Miss.
Forest Hill
22 James Dukes
Freshman
Forward
6’6”
200
Booneville, Miss.
Booneville
23 Caleb Parr
Sophomore
Guard
6’3”
185
Columbus, Miss.
New Hope
24 Terrence Marco
Freshman
Forward
6’7”
200
Charleston, Miss.
Charleston
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HOMETOWN
HIGH SCHOOL
WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH Aspriona Gilbert (2nd year – Delta State University) WOMEN’S VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH Deon Hilliard MEN’S HEAD COACH Cord Wright (11th year – Limestone College) MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH Kyle Morris (10th year – University of Pikeville) MEN’S VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH Denny Wright PRESIDENT Dr. Ricky Ford (9th year – Mississippi State University) ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Kent Farris (9th year – University of North Alabama) ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Brenda Mayes (2nd year – University of North Alabama) SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR Blake Long (11th year – University of Mississippi) SPORTS INFORMATION SPECIALIST Ryan Moreland (3rd year - Mississippi State University) DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC TRAINING Ziggy Marro (2nd Year- University of West Alabama) ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER Anna Bolton (1st Year- University of Alabama) WOMEN’S MANAGER Kharisma Liddell MEN’S MANAGER Zion Young
2023-2024 tiger BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH William Brown MEN’S HEAD COACH Derrick Fears MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH Anthony McDonald PRESIDENT Dr. Tyrone Jackson ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Jason Conner ATHLETIC TRAINER Felecia Saulter
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER # NAME CLASS POSITION 0 Lauren Lain Forward/Guard Freshman 1 Shakendalah Jones Guard Sophomore 2 China Stewart Guard Sophomore 3 Cha’Myrean Ellis Forward/Guard/Center Sophomore 4 Taylor Ware Guard Freshman 5 Shamiah Sullivan Center/Forward Freshman 10 Fantasia Wilson Guard/Forward Freshman 11 Genae Garner Guard Sophomore 14 Tariyah Washington Guard/Forward Sophomore 15 Samiya Jackson Forward/Guard Freshman 20 Ti’Alone Banks Guard/Forward Sophomore 21 Fredija Clark Center Sophomore 23 Lauren Nelson Center/Forward Freshman 24 Katelyn Coleman Guard Sophomore 30 Jakyrra Sandifer Center Freshman
HEIGHT 5’ 11” 5’ 5” 5’ 5” 5’ 11” 5’ 4” 5’ 11” 5’ 8” 5’ 6” 5’ 10” 5’ 11” 5’ 8” 6’ 0” 6’ 0” 5’ 8” 6’ 4”
HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL Bryant, AR Bryant High Holmes County, MS Holmes County Central Columbus, MS Columbus Carthage, MS Jackson Academy Olive Branch, MS Center Hill Aliceville, AL Aliceville Tuscaloosa, AL Northridge Jackson, MS Forest Hill Greenville, MS Greenville Academy Magnolia, MS South Pike Greenville, MS Greenville Columbus, MS Columbus El Derado, AR El Derado Mound Bayou, MS McEvans Itta Bena, MS Leflore County
MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER #
NAME
CLASS
POSITION HEIGHT WEIGHT
HOMETOWN
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
0
Keondra Hampton
Point Guard
Sophomore
5’ 9”
160
Tupelo, MS
Itawamba
1
Javeon Smith
Guard
Freshman
6’ 1”
170
Greenwood, MS
Greenwood
2
Jherrone Jones
Guard
Sophomore
6’ 3”
180
Memphis, TN
Overton
3
Jamerison Martin
Point Guard
Freshman
5’ 9”
160
Amory, MS
Amory
4
Robert Millender
Forward
Freshman
6’ 6”
180
Pascagoula, MS
Pascagoula
5
Jaimartdrick Lawrence
Guard
Freshman
6’ 0”
160
Greenwood, MS
Greenwood
10 Chanceton Woodall
Guard
Sophomore
6’ 5”
200
Jackson, MS
Jim Hill
11 Elijah Hollins
Guard
Freshman
6’ 4”
190
Nashville, TN
Tennessee Prepatory Acad.
Point Guard
Freshman
5’ 9”
150
Indianola, MS
Indianola Academy
13 Latrell Vance
Guard
Sophomore
6’ 3”
180
Ripley, MS
Ripley
14 Javardrick Jackson
Center
Sophomore
6’ 4”
190
Greenwood, MS
Greenwood
15 Daivion Traylor
Center
Freshman
6’ 9”
200
Ypsilanti, MI
Lincoln
20 Labrodrick Gooch
Point Guard
Freshman
5’ 9”
160
Greenwood, MS
Delta Streets Academy
21 Adam Luphai Dalil
Sophomore
Freshman
6’ 7”
190
Regina, SK, Canada
St John’s College
22 Taylor Flakes
Guard
Freshman
6’ 2”
180
Canton, MS
Germantown
23 JeQuann Roberson
Center
Sophomore
6’ 9”
210
Greenville, MS
Greenville
12 Chevelle Brown Jr.
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MS DELTA TROJANS
WOMEN’S HEAD COACH Tangela Banks
northeast mississippi community college
2023-2024 NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS
MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW
TIGERS LOOKING FORWARD TO “FRESH START” WITH TWELVE NEWCOMERS The Northeast Mississippi Community College men’s basketball program enters its 75th all-time season with another talented, but almost entirely brand-new roster. The Tigers’ significant youth movement during the upcoming 2023-24 campaign features 13 total newcomers and nine true freshmen. Those figures are the most of any Northeast team coached by Cord Wright. “We’ve got a little different look this year with a bunch of new guys, but they’ve been working hard in the preseason during weights and conditioning,” said Wright, who begins his 11th season as headman of the Tigers. “It’s been a good group so far. We’re going to be guard oriented. We do have a bunch of speed and so with that we’re going to look to be a little more up-tempo. They’re getting along outside the floor so it’s been a good, fresh start for us.” The only two returners for Northeast are guards Allen Hughes (Clinton) and Caleb Parr (Columbus). They both became everyday starters by the time their inaugural year concluded. Hughes facilitates the ball well while running the point. His 3.7 assists per game last season were second most on the team only behind current Cleveland State (Ohio) University standout Jalin Rice. Parr was one of four players to average double figures during the previous campaign with a 10.8 clip. He
and Corey Stephenson, who moved on to California State University at Bakersfield, were the only two Tigers to appear in all 27 games one year ago. “I’m expecting a big year from Allen. He has really improved his shooting,” said Wright. “Caleb’s been awesome. His leadership off the floor is tremendous. The team is going to ride a lot on him and Allen and how they respond, especially early with these new guys.” Louzavious Thomas (Lexington) looks to bounce back after taking a redshirt last winter. He is a two-time high school state champion that was selected to compete in the prestigious Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Thomas was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2022 Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A title game with a doubledouble of 24 points and 11 rebounds against New Hope High School. “He’s a high energy player and rebounder,” Wright said. “He should really bring an exciting style of play that we really needed last year. We missed him, but we’re excited to have him back.” Members of the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) are now allowed to sign four out-of-state athletes. Northeast took advantage of that rules change with the additions of Tyler Byrd, Cam Collins, Ronnie Ellis and CJ Williams. Collins (Madison, Ala.) headlines that group after participating in the
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Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game last March. He was named to the AL.com AllTennessee Valley team after averaging 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds as a senior. Ellis (New Haven, Conn.) is a threestar prospect overall and the tenth best player in the state of Connecticut among his graduating class according to the 247Sports composite ratings. He was an all-state recipient from The New Haven Register. Byrd (Memphis, Tenn.) originally committed to Morehouse (Ga.) College out of high school. Williams (Fort Worth, Texas) joins the Tigers after starting in all but one contest as a frosh at Victoria (Texas) College. Kam Carter (New Albany) and James Dukes (Booneville) represent Northeast’s traditional five-county district. Both are former all-state winners from the online publication Capital Sports. Tyler Shephard and Zane Tipler each scored more than 1,000 career points at the prep level. The duo combined to average 44.5 points per game while guiding Pontotoc High School to the MHSAA Class 4A semifinals as seniors. Terrence Marco (Charleston) and Chrishun Rhodes (Jackson) are two of the tallest Tigers at 6-7 and 6-6, respectively. Rounding out Northeast’s lineup is Josh Holman (Jackson). The Tigers are once again projected to be among the top programs in the country after receiving votes in the preseason National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I rankings.
2023-2024 tiger BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW
“HUNGRY” LADY TIGERS FEATURING SEVEN RETURNERS FULL OF OPTIMISM The stage is set for what Northeast Mississippi Community College women’s basketball coach Chelsey Rhodes believes is going to be an exceptional 2023-24 season. Rhodes has a nearly even mix of seven returning student-athletes and five true freshmen to go into battle with during her second year as the leader of the Lady Tigers. The roster includes two of the top three scorers and the five best rebounders among players that participated in double-digit games from Rhodes’ inaugural campaign. “We’ve been trying to get better all the way around,” said Rhodes. “With the people that’s returning, they’re so driven. They’ve been great leaders. They’re working hard and just showing the younger kids what we have to do to be successful.” Forward Alexis Rowe (Little Rock, Ark.) and guard Jasmine Malone (Byhalia) consistently reached double figures in their inaugural season at Northeast with 12.7 and 10.2 points per game, respectively. Rowe also posted 6.8 rebounds, which placed her barely behind Madison Miller’s clip of 6.9 for most on the team. She did have three double-doubles, including a 23-point and 12-board performance versus Pearl River Community College. Malone can fill up a stat sheet nicely. She recorded 30.2 minutes and 3.5 assists, which were both second best for the Lady Tigers, plus a team-high of 2.1 steals to go with her solid scoring average. Madison Gardner (Saltillo),
2023-2024 NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE LADY TIGER BASKETBALL TEAM
Malone and Rowe are three of just four Northeast standouts that appeared in all 24 contests last year along with Ella Mask, who moved on to the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM). A trio of Lady Tigers in Jakeria Hawkins (Walls), Jerrilyn Richardson (Memphis, Tenn.) and Miller (Nettleton) are coming back from injuries that negatively affected their first seasons with the program. Miller was averaging 9.9 points through 10 outings for Northeast. Hawkins flashed her potential with a seasonbest 13 points during the Lady Tigers’ home victory over Itawamba Community College. Richardson started in every game for Northeast prior to the Christmas break. Three-point shooter
Taitiana Beene (Booneville) rounds out the Lady Tigers’ sophomore class. Three of Northeast’s newcomers are from nearby Alcorn County. Anna Greene was recognized as the 2023 Daily Corinthian CoOffensive Player of the Year with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists per contest. Greene was also a firstteam all-division and allcounty selection. She led Kossuth High School in assists, steals, charges, free throw percentage and accounted for more than 1,000 points during her prep career. Goldee Butler and Asia Stafford helped Biggersville High School reach back-toback Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 1A championship games. They
won it all as juniors. Butler had 10 points in the state title victory. Stafford averaged a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds during a great senior year that resulted in first-team all-area honors from the Daily Corinthian. Tyesha James (Lonoke, Ark.) was identified as one of the top posts in Arkansas by Scorebook Live with 16 points, 12 boards and a block per contest. T’Airiana Spearman (Coffeeville) gives the Lady Tigers some extra depth at guard. “I think we’re going to see a lot of growth early,” Rhodes said. “You’re going to see how hungry we really are. They know what I want. They know what I expect. We’re out to prove some people wrong. This team is legitimately a family.”
NEMCCTIGERS |
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WATCH THE TIGERS LIVE AT WWW.NEMCCTV.COM NOW AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING ON THE FOLLOWING APPS:
2023-2024 NORTHEAST BASKETBALL SCHEDULE: Nov. 2 Jackson State ^ W, 99-71 Nov. 3 Baton Rouge Community College #@ W, 90-53 Nov. 4 Tyler Junior College #@ L, 66-49 Nov. 7 Arkansas State Mid-South (W) W, 105-59; (M) W, 86-68 Nov. 10 Gadsden State # W, 77-63 Nov. 10 Baton Rouge Post Grad Academy ^! W, 114-70 Nov. 11 Dyersburg State^! W, 92-55 Nov. 13 Snead State # W, 73-42 Nov. 14 Bevill State ^ W, 90-53 Nov. 16 Wallace State-Hanceville # 5:00 Nov. 17 Imo’s Bob Sechrest Classic ^ 5:00 Nov. 20-21 Northeast Thanksgiving Classic # TBA Nov. 21 Bevill State ^ 6:00 Nov. 27 Mississippi Delta 5:30 Nov. 30 Gadsden State # 6:00 Dec. 4 Snead State # 5:30 Dec. 4 Coahoma ^ 6:00 Dec. 7 Freed-Hardeman University JV# 6:00 Dec. 8-9 Harvey Childers Classic ^ TBA Dec. 12 Arkansas State Mid-South 5:30 Dec. 14 Calhoun 5:00
Jan. 4 Jan. 8 Jan. 8 Jan. 18 Jan. 22 Jan. 25 Jan. 29 Feb. 1 Feb. 5 Feb. 8 Feb. 12 Feb. 15 Feb. 20 Feb. 22 Feb. 26 Feb. 29 Mar. 7
Volunteer State Wallace State-Hanceville # Royal Ambassadors^ Coahoma* East Central* Hinds* Itawamba* Meridian* Mississippi Gulf Coast* Northwest Mississippi* Southwest Mississippi* Copiah-Lincoln* East Mississippi* Holmes* Jones College* Mississippi Delta* Pearl River*
Home Games in BOLD ^ Men Only Game @ Lady Bear Classic
Northeast Mississippi Community College is celebrating its 75th anniversary during the 2023-24 school year. We will pay tribute to our rich history in athletics with throwback promotional materials for each sport. The front cover of this program is adapted from the 1974-1975 Northeast Mississippi Junior College Athletic Program. The image on the right is a scan of the exact cover.
5:30 5:30 7:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 * Conference # Women Only Game ! Bonner Arnold Classic