Frank Phillips College Men

Date Opponent Time

Nov. 2 @ Southwestern College Nov. 5 Glendale Community College

5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. Nov. 6 Trinidad State Junior College 2 p.m. Nov. 8 @ Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa 5:30 p.m. Nov. 9 @ Western Oklahoma State 5 p.m. Nov. 16 @ Otero Junior College, Colorado 6 p.m. Nov. 18 @ Fort Scott Community College, Kansas 6 p.m. Nov. 19 @ Ottawa University, Kansas 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa 6 p.m. Nov. 26 @ Trinidad State Junior College, Colorado 6 p.m. Nov. 27 @ Otero Junior College, Colorado 6 p.m. Dec. 1 @ Western Texas College 5:45 p.m. Dec. 4 Odessa College 2 p.m. Dec. 6 Redland Community College

6 p.m. Dec. 7 Western Oklahoma State 5 p.m. Dec. 10 @ Glendale Community College, Arizona 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11 @ Chandler-Gilbert Community College, AZ 1 p.m. Jan. 2 Otero Junior College 2 p.m. Jan. 8 Midland College 5:45 p.m. Jan. 10 @ Frank Phillips College 5:45 p.m. Jan. 13 South Plains College 5:45 p.m. Jan. 20 Howard College 5:45 p.m. Jan. 24 @ New Mexico Junior College 5:45 p.m. Jan. 27 Western Texas College 5:45 p.m. Jan. 31 @ Odessa College 5:45 p.m. Feb. 7 @ Midland College 5:45 p.m. Feb. 10 Frank Phillips College 5:45 p.m. Feb. 14 @ South Plains College 5:45 p.m. Feb. 21 @ Howard College 5:45 p.m. Feb. 24 New Mexico Junior College 5:45 p.m.

Frank Phillips Men Plainsmen expect faster start

By LEE PASSMORE

After a decade leading the Frank Phillips College men’s team, Chris Hackett had his most eventful year in 2021.

He’s thinking that could pay off through 2022, considering who’s returning for the Plainsmen this season.

After a 14-10 record and reaching the Region V Tournament quarterfinals, there’s every reason to believe they can at least duplicate that this winter. Phillips returns eight players from last season, including two who scored in double figures.

Hackett will take on double duty this season as he was named the school’s athletic director during the summer. But he thinks the coaching end of things could be especially rewarding this season. “The one thing that was good last year was that we basically had the whole first semester to get guys up to speed,” Hackett said. “Normally we get into it pretty quick, and last year we had 10 freshmen. It was good to have that extra time, because we didn’t have to play a real game until January.” Coach Chris Hackett This November, FPC will play 12 games as a tune-up for Western Junior College Athletic Conference play, which starts Dec. 1 when the Plainsmen visit New Mexico Military Institute. They’ll open their home conference schedule against Midland College on Dec. 4.

That’s in stark contrast to last season, which started in January due to COVID-19 and immediately began with conference play. Phillips won’t enter WJCAC play nearly as “cold” as last season.

“It gives you a chance to see a little bit different styles and a few more opportunities to play and get the new guys up to speed in what you’re doing against real competition,” Hackett said. “Practice is great, but it’s not a real good judge of where you really are until you actually go play somebody.”

The Plainsmen finished fifth in the conference last season, beating NMMI in the first round of regionals before losing to eventual region champion Western Texas College. Among WJCAC teams, few can boast the type of returning experience FPC will have.

That, and last year’s late surge, only heightens expectations

D.J. Richardson

Malik Whitaker C.J. Ray

Jaheim Tanksley Jovan Savic

Adeola Seun

for this season.

“I think we’re probably going to have a really good start to the season because we’re going to get to where we’re going to be a lot quicker than some of the teams with a lot of new faces,” Hackett said. “I don’t know that our ceiling is going to be much higher in December. We’re not going to see the improvement other teams are going to see, because we’ve kind of already done that.

“I think we’ll be good early. How much better we get depends on how we work and how guys buy in. The guys who are coming back have already had that big jump.”

The Plainsmen do lose their leading scorer from last season, Lance Amir Paul, who averaged 16.2 points a game. But Hackett thinks his team will be very balanced up front and in the backcourt.

Furthermore, he doesn’t believe the team has a glaring weakness that opponents can exploit, other than perhaps a lack of offensive rebounding.

“We’ve got some good pieces and some guys who have played

together for a while, and they all know what to expect,” Hackett said. “We have two transfers who are really, really talented, and I think how quickly they get up to speed and learn our system will be a big factor in how well we do.”

A lot of that will have to do with how quickly the Plainsmen find supporting players for the D.J. and C.J. Show. Sophomore D.J. Richardson and freshman C.J. Ray, both of whom will enjoy an extra season of eligibility due to the COVID year, will be the cornerstones for Phillips to start the season.

Richardson, a 6-foot guard, is 2021-22 Frank Phillips College Plainsmen FPC’s leading returning scorer from last season with 11.8 points a game. He’s also the leading returnee in terms of assists, steals and 3-pointers per game.

“He’s just a really solid basketball player,” Hackett said of Richardson. “Consistency is probably the biggest thing he brings. He’s not going to be a guy who gives you 25 one night then five the next night. You can basically count on him for 10 to 15 every night. He defends really, really well. He’s a two-year team captain and a veteran player who really understands basketball.”

Ray, a 6-5 wing, averaged 11.5 points a game last season and led the Plainsmen with 6.6 rebounds. Hackett likes Ray’s versatility.

“He’s a big, strong kid,” Hackett said. “He’s a little undersized for the four (power forward) but has guard skills. I don’t expect his numbers to jump up a lot, because he’s got some better players around him, but I expect him to become more efficient in what he’s doing.”

Freshman Jovan Savic from Serbia brings some size in the post at 6-10. He started 23 games last season and averaged 7.2 points a game.

The two transfers Hackett spoke of are sophomore Malik Whitaker from Garrett College in Maryland and Tyrese England from Trinidad (Colorado) College, and he expects them to contribute immediately. They’ll be needed with the grind of the WJCAC.

“Our league is so good,” Hackett said. “We could be pretty good and finish bottom. Last year we lost a lot of close games. We were maybe only seven or eight points in places from being a top three team.”

FRANK PHILLIPS PLAINSMEN SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

Oct. 9 Mullen/Mitchell Jamboree @ Dallas TBA Oct. 13 Oklahoma Panhandle State 6 p.m. Oct. 16 Western Oklahoma State Oct. 23 Seward @ Liberal, KS 4 p.m. 5 p.m.

Nov. 1 University of the Southwest Nov. 2 Trinidad Nov. 5 Dodge City @ Roswell, NM Nov. 6 Trinidad @ Roswell, NM Nov. 9 Garden City Nov. 12 Otero @ Trinidad, CO 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 5 p.m. 2 p.m. 6 p.m. 4 p.m.

Nov. 13 Trinidad @ Trinidad, CO Nov. 16 Lamar @ Lamar, CO 4 p.m. 6 p.m.

Nov. 19 Western Oklahoma @ Altus, OK 3 p.m.

Nov. 20 On Point Prep Nov. 22 RPA College

4 p.m. 6 p.m. Nov. 27 Redlands 4 p.m. Dec. 1 New Mexico Military Institute @ Roswell, NM 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 Midland 3:45 p.m. Dec. 7 Lamar 6 p.m. Jan. 3 Redlands @ El Reno, OK 4 p.m. Jan. 8 South Plains 3:45 p.m. Jan. 10 Clarendon 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 Howard @ Big Spring 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 Odessa 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 New Mexico Junior College @ Hobbs, NM 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 Western Texas @ Snyder 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 New Mexico Military Institute 6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 @ Midland 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 South Plains @ Levelland 7:30 p.m. 92 College

Feb. 10 @ Clarendon Feb. 14 Howard Feb. 17 @ Odessa 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 New Mexico Junior College

7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 Western Texas 7:30 p.m. Mar. 2-5 NJCAA Region Five Tournament @ Hutchinson, KS TBA

Frank Phillips Plainsmen Roster Name, Ht., Pos., Class, Hometown

Malik Whitaker, 6-6, G/F, Soph., Humble, Texas Aiden Gair, 6-2, G, Fr., Williamsport, Pennsylvania Jovan Savic, 6-10, P, Fr., Belgrade, Serbia Jaheim Tanksley, 5-10, G, Fr., Edison, New Jersey D.J. Richardson, 6-0, G, Soph., Rockledge, Florida Tyrese England, 6-1, G, Fr., Milwaukee, Wisconsin Jude Tapia, 5-11, G, Fr., Albuquerque, New Mexico Aljosa Kovacevic, 6-6, G/F, Fr., Novi Sad, Serbia Adeola Seun, 6-9, P, Fr., Lagos, Nigeria Anthony Filippou, 6-5, G/F, Fr., Athens, Greece Woody Therenciel, 6-9, P, Fr., Petit Goave, Haiti C.J. Ray, 6-5, G/F, Fr., Four Oaks, North Carolina

Coach: Chris Hackett Asst. Coach: Brandon Rielly 2020-2021 record: 14-10, 5-9