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Students, Fans, Alumni, 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,
Dr. Ricky G. Ford, President Northeast Mississippi Community College
NEMCC BOARD OF TRUSTEES
T. Jack Ramsey Chairman Tenure of Service: 1983 Tishomingo County Banker
Tracie Langston Tenure of Service: 2004 Prentiss County Businesswoman
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Vance Witt Vice Chairman Tenure of Service: 2007 Union County Retired Businessman
Sam McCoy Tenure of Service: 1988 Prentiss County Businessman
Kathy Shappley Secretary Tenure of Service: 2016 Tippah County Retired Educator
Larry Mitchell Tenure of Service: 2015 Alcorn County Retired Educator
John Anderson Tenure of Service: 2016 Alcorn County Educator
Katie Moreland Tenure of Service: 2020 Prentiss County Retired Educator
Ken Basil Tenure of Service: 2008 Union County Retired Educator
Lonnie Murphy Tenure of Service: 2020 Prentiss County Retired Educator
Christie Holly Tenure of Service: 2014 Tishomingo County Superintendent of Education
Bubba Pounds Tenure of Service: 2020 Prentiss County Chancery Clerk
Douglas Jackson Tenure of Service: 1995 Tippah County Retired Educator
Mike Stanten Tenure of Service: 2021 Union County Bank President
Luzene Triplett Tenure of Service: 2002 Prentiss County Retired Educator
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NEMCC BASKETBALL COACHES
Cord Wright Men’s Basketball Head Coach
Kyle Morris Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach
Jeff Hodge Men’s Basketball Volunteer Assistant
Brenda Mayes Women’s Basketball Head Coach
Kunshinge Sorrell-Howard Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach
NEMCC ATHLETIC SUPPORT STAFF
Kent Farris Athletic Director
T.J. Robbins Director of Sports Medicine
Ziggy Marro Assistant Athletic Trainer
Blake Long Ryan Moreland Sports Information Sports Information Director Specialist
Don Knowles Operations Manager Sodexo USA
Chasity Moore Cheerleading Coach
Jody Presley “Voice of the Tigers” NEMCCTV.com
Carter Smith “Voice of the Tigers” NEMCCTV.com
LADY TIGERS RELYING ON ELEVEN NEWCOMERS IN EFFORTS TO BOUNCE BACK
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or the second consecutive campaign, the Northeast Mississippi Community College women’s basketball program boasts a roster full of rookies. It will not be as bad as it was last spring when the Lady Tigers featured only two sophomores, including none with every day starting experience, during their abbreviated season. Northeast’s 2021-22 edition does benefit from three returning starters. However, 11 total newcomers will receive a quick introduction to the rugged Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC). “I think that we’ll bounce back,” said Lady Tigers head coach Brenda Mayes. “We’ve been talking about being ready to make a difference and getting Northeast back on the map.” Calysia Phillips was the leading scorer for the Lady Tigers last season with 10.3 points per game. The Coahoma County High School graduate was also one of only two players to earn a starting nod from Mayes in all 15 contests. Left-hander Brittney Oswalt of Wheeler got better as the year went on with three double-digit efforts in her final six appearances. That included a career-best 15 points against Holmes Community College. Sanaa Finley gives Northeast some needed experience in the paint. The Ingomar High School
alumnus topped the Lady Tigers with a 40.5 field goal percentage and was second on the team with a free throw percentage of 68. A pair of Tate County natives in Nariah Alexander and Shandrea Watson round out the list of secondyear freshmen for Northeast. Alexander is a transfer from Northwest Mississippi Community College while Watson averaged 4.9 points for the blackand-gold. Joining Watson from Independence High School
are her sister Andrea Watson and Kaitlyn Lindsey. Andrea was an All-State Honorable Mention selection by Mississippi Gridiron as a junior while Lindsey bolsters the Lady Tigers’ post presence with her 6-2 frame. A majority of Northeast’s new additions participated in the 2021 Northeast Mississippi Basketball Coaches Association (NEMBCA) All-Star Game, including Quay Bailey and Nashira Jennings. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
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Arkansas state mid-south WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER 2021-2022 #
Name
Position
Class
Height
Hometown
High School
1........ Jaylia Reed................... Guard........... Freshman.......... 5-7............Hot Springs, Ark.................... Hot Springs 2........ Alindavia Lockett.......... Guard..........Sophomore......... 5-7.............Blytheville, Ark...................... Blytheville
MEN’S HEAD COACH/ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Chris Parker
3........ Tashlee Milow.............. Guard........... Freshman.......... 5-6............... Marion, Ark........................... Marion
MEN/WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH Cody Hastings
4........ Arrianna Faulks...........Forward.......... Freshman.......... 5-9................Killeen, Tex.............................Ellison
CHANCELLOR Dr. Debra West
10...... Hannah Boling............Forward.......... Freshman.......... 5-9.............Brookland, Ark.......................Brookland 22...... Jai’Renee McCoy.........Forward.......... Freshman.......... 6-0.............Little Rock, Ark................Independence (TX) 23...... Keiana Delaney............ Guard........... Freshman.......... 5-4............... Marion, Ark........................... Marion 24...... Meleanna Williams...... Guard..........Sophomore......... 5-6................Killeen, Tex............................ Killeen 32...... Aaliyah Lee...................Center..........Sophomore......... 6-1............... Atoka, Tenn..........................Munford 33...... Miranda Pham............. Guard........... Freshman.......... 5-4........... Collierville, Tenn.................... Collierville 34...... Haven Cooper.............Forward.......... Freshman.......... 5-8........... Arkadelphia, Ark.................... Arkadelphia 40...... Terika Inmon................Center........... Freshman.......... 6-0.........West Memphis, Ark...............West Memphis
MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER 2021-2022 #
Name
Position
Class
Height Weight
Hometown
High School
0........ Braxtyn McCuien...........Forward.........Freshman........ 6-7...........235........... Mayflower, Ark...............Mayflower 1........ J.T. Smith........................ Guard......... Sophomore....... 6-3...........180..............Kensett, Ark.................. Riverview 2........ Sam Smith....................Forward.........Freshman........ 6-7...........235..............Gurdon, Ark............... Arkadelphia 3........ Jailen Anderson............. Guard...........Freshman........ 6-2...........185............ Jackson, Tenn............... South Side 4........ O.J. Marrs....................... Guard...........Freshman........ 6-4...........195.............. Wynne, Ark.....................Wynne 5........ Jeremiah Jones............. Guard...........Freshman........ 6-0...........160............Little Rock, Ark.........Little Rock Central 10...... Caleb Allen..................... Guard...........Freshman........ 6-1...........165............Little Rock, Ark................... Mills 14...... Tim Johnson.................. Guard...........Freshman........ 6-1...........180.............Stuttgart, Ark.................. Stuttgart 21...... T.J. Stewart....................Forward.........Freshman........ 6-6...........195.......... Jacksonville, Ark............ Jacksonville 24...... Mekhai Washington...... Guard...........Freshman........ 6-6...........225.......North Little Rock, Ark......Centreville (VA) 4 4
WOMEN’S HEAD COACH Mercedes Corona
30...... Christian Thompson......Forward.........Freshman........ 6-9...........235..............Lonoke, Ark.................... Lonoke
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Northeast Mississippi Community College WOMEN’S HEAD COACH Brenda Mayes (7th year – University of North Alabama) WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH Kunshinge Sorrell-Howard (7th year –Mississippi State University) MEN’S HEAD COACH Cord Wright (9th year – Limestone College) MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH Kyle Morris (8th year – University of Pikeville) MEN’S VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH Jeff Hodge (1st year – University of North Alabama)
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER 2021-2022 #
Name
Class
Position
Height
Hometown
High School
10...... Keyunna Tellis..................... Freshman.............Guard............... 5’3”........... Charleston, Miss................Oxford 11...... Nariah Alexander................ Freshman.............Guard............... 5’7”............Senatobia, Miss............. Senatobia 12...... Nashira Jennings................ Freshman.............Guard............... 5’5”..........Calhoun City, Miss......... Calhoun City 14...... Shandrea Watson................ Freshman........... Forward............. 5’9”........ Independence, Miss.......Independence 15...... Brittney Oswalt.................... Freshman.............Guard............... 5’7”........... Booneville, Miss...............Wheeler 20...... Amaya Trimble.................... Freshman.............Guard............... 5’4”...............Amory, Miss................... Amory 21...... Jatavia Smith...................... Freshman.............Guard............... 5’5”...............Amory, Miss................... Amory 22...... Sydney Flake....................... Freshman.............Guard............... 5’4”...............Ripley, Miss................... Ripley 23...... Ella Mask............................. Freshman.............Guard............... 5’5”..............Corinth, Miss............ Alcorn Central 25...... JaQuasia Dorrough............. Freshman........... Forward............. 6’0”..........Calhoun City, Miss......... Calhoun City 30...... Calysia Phillips.................... Freshman.............Guard............... 5’6”................Lyon, Miss.............Coahoma County 31...... Andrea Watson.................... Freshman.............Guard............... 5’4”........ Independence, Miss.......Independence 32...... Kaitlyn Lindsey.................... Freshman............ Center.............. 6’2”............Coldwater, Miss..........Independence 35...... Sequoia White.................... Freshman........... Forward............. 5’8”............ Shannon, Miss............... Shannon
PRESIDENT Dr. Ricky Ford (7th year – Mississippi State University)
40...... Sanaa Finley........................ Freshman............ Center............. 5’10”......... New Albany, Miss............. Ingomar
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Kent Farris (7th year – University of North Alabama)
MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER 2021-2022
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR Blake Long (9th year – University of Mississippi) SPORTS INFORMATION SPECIALIST Ryan Moreland (1st year - Mississippi State University) DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC TRAINING T.J. Robbins (4th year – University of West Alabama) ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER Ziggy Marro (3rd year – University of West Alabama)
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Name
Class
Position Height Weight
Hometown
High School
1........ Kylan Blackmon.......... Freshman...........Guard.......... 6’3”..........195............. Oxford, Miss....................Oxford 2........ Ken Lewis...................Sophomore.........Guard.......... 6’0”..........175........ Olive Branch, Miss............Center Hill 3........ Steven Gentry............. Freshman...........Guard......... 5’10”.........160...........Cincinnati, Ohio............. Deer Park 4........ Jalin Rice..................... Freshman...........Guard.......... 6’2”..........185............Madison, Miss..........Madison Central 5........ Hobert Grayson........... Freshman......... Forward......... 6’4”..........200............. Gonzales, La............. East Ascension 10...... Zeke Cook.................... Freshman......... Forward......... 6’6”..........215........... Starkville, Miss................Starkville 11...... Keithean Brooks.......... Freshman...........Guard.......... 6’4”..........190..............Tunica, Miss.............Lake Cormorant 12...... RL Mattix..................... Freshman...........Guard......... 5’10”.........170.......... Columbus, Miss..............New Hope 14...... Trey Tate...................... Freshman...........Guard.......... 6’5”..........175........ Germantown, Miss..........Germantown 15...... Josh Mitchell.............. Freshman......... Forward......... 6’7”..........220............. Tupelo, Miss....................Tupelo 22...... Cam Smith.................. Freshman......... Forward......... 6’6”..........205.............Falkner, Miss................Biggersville 33...... Jayvian Shaw.............. Freshman...........Guard.......... 6’4”..........180........ Calhoun City, Miss..........Calhoun City 35...... Kameron Jones..........Sophomore....... Forward......... 6’8”..........225...........Memphis, Tenn.............. Southwind
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2021-2022 LADY TIGER BASKETBALL TEAM
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Keyunna Tellis Freshman Guard Charleston
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Ella Mask Freshman Guard Corinth
Sydney Flake Freshman Guard Ripley
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Nariah Alexander Freshman Guard Senatobia
#14
Nashira Jennings Freshman Guard Calhoun City
#25
Shandrea Watson Freshman Forward Independence
#30
JaQuasia Dorrough Freshman Forward Calhoun City
#15
#31
Calysia Phillips Freshman Guard Lyon
#20
Brittney Oswalt Freshman Guard Booneville
Jatavia Smith Freshman Guard Amory
#35
#32
Andrea Watson Freshman Guard Independence
#21
Amaya Trimble Freshman Guard Amory
#40
Sequoia White Freshman Forward Shannon
Kaitlyn Lindsey Freshman Center Coldwater
Sanaa Finley Freshman Center New Albany
2021-2022 TIGER BASKETBALL TEAM
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Kylan Blackmon Freshman Guard Oxford
#12
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#3
Ken Lewis Sophomore Guard Olive Branch
RL Mattix Freshman Guard Columbus
#4
Steven Gentry Freshman Guard Cincinnati, Ohio
#14
Trey Tate Freshman Guard Germantown
#15
Josh Mitchell Freshman Forward Tupelo
#10
#5
Jalin Rice Freshman Guard Madison
Zeke Cook Freshman Forward Starkville
Hobert Grayson Freshman Forward Gonzales, La.
#22
Cam Smith Freshman Forward Falkner
#33
Jayvian Shaw Freshman Guard Calhoun City
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Keithean Brooks Freshman Guard Tunica
#35
Kameron Jones Sophomore Forward Memphis, Tenn.
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LADY TIGERS: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 The duo combined for 40 points in the Class 1A/2A contest. Bailey, who was a two-time All-State recipient, and Jennings also led Calhoun City High School to state championship and runner-up finishes during their junior and senior campaigns. Keyunna Tellis ended her prep career at Oxford High School after moving from the delta. She was named to the Oxford Eagle All-Area team after
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posting 10.2 points per outing in her lone season with the Lady Chargers. Sydney Flake and Ella Mask were both decorated athletes at Ripley and Alcorn Central high schools. Flake was an All-Tippah County pick while Mask was the co-Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the AllAlcorn County team as a senior. Rounding out the list of true freshmen for the
Lady Tigers are the Amory tandem of Jatavia Smith and Amaya Trimble plus Sequoia White from Shannon. All three led their respective programs to the state playoffs one year ago. “We’re ready to see how well we’ll do,” Mayes said. “As long as we can stay healthy, we’ve got enough players on the inside to let the outside guards do what they need to do.”
FOUR RETURNING STARTERS TO HELP TIGERS IN STATE TITLE DEFENSE
he Northeast Mississippi Community College men’s basketball program will not receive the opportunity to defend one of the two titles that it earned last year. The Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) eliminated divisional play for the 2021-22 campaign. The Tigers won what appears to be the final two north half championships in league history. However, Northeast is still squarely in the sights of its sister institutions across the Magnolia State after sharing the MACCC crown with Pearl River Community College during the abbreviated spring season. The Tigers are also the only team in the MACCC to obtain a preseason ranking from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Northeast, which has a combined 39-7 record over the previous two years, is No. 22 in the inaugural top 25. “We do have some guys back that played a bunch of minutes last year,” said Tigers head coach Cord Wright. “We have some leadership. I think they’ve been able to adjust and kinda get us ahead of where we’ve been in the past because the guys knew what to expect.” One of the primary reasons for the early recognition is that the Tigers bring back four of their top five scorers from one season ago. That includes three All-MACCC selections in Kylan Blackmon, Ken Lewis and Jalin Rice. Oxford’s Blackmon was sensational during Northeast’s run to the 2021 NJCAA Region 23 Tournament championship game. He averaged 19.8 points, including a career-high 34 points against Delgado (La.) Community College, over four postseason contests. Lewis led the Tigers’ every day players with a team-best three-point percentage of 39.6. The Jackson State University transfer drained a season-high five treys twice in victories over
Coahoma Community College and Faith (Ark.) Preparatory Academy. Rice can fill up a stat sheet nicely. The Madison Central High School alumnus set career-highs during his first campaign in a black-and-gold uniform of 22 points and eight assists against Coahoma plus eight rebounds versus Itawamba Community College. Zeke Cook is also a key piece to the equation for Northeast as the leading returning rebounder in the MACCC. The Starkville product finished in a five-way tie for 15th in the entire country with 9.9 boards per game. Kameron Jones of Memphis, Tenn., and Josh Mitchell from Tupelo give the Tigers some necessary height in the post. Jones, who missed last season due to an injury, is the tallest player on Northeast’s roster at 6-8 while Mitchell stands at 6-7. RL Mattix of Columbus and Jayvian Shaw from
Calhoun City round out the list of returners for Northeast. The Tigers boast five newcomers as well, including a pair of out-of-state prospects in Steven Gentry of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louisianan Hobert Grayson. Cam Smith secured All-State Honorable Mention accolades from Mississippi Gridiron after helping Biggersville High School win the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 1A title as a senior. Keithean Brooks garnered All-Metro third-team honors from The Commercial Appeal after scoring well north of 1,000 points during his tenure at Lake Cormorant High School. Germantown’s Trey Tate adds to Northeast’s depth at the guard position. “These kids have worked really, really hard over the summer,” Wright said. “I know a lot of coaches sometimes say that, but I’ve seen the proof. I’m excited about what they’ve done.”
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