Basketball 2022-2023

WALLACE STATE LIONS

2022–2023 MEDIA GUIDE

Message from the President

Welcome to Wallace State Community College, and thank you for supporting Wallace State athletics!

We have a long and storied history of excelling at athletics and we are exceedingly proud of all our teams - with nine national championships, numerous conference championships, and national team and individual honors among them. Our scholar-athletes go on to successful careers, whether they plan to enter the workforce, transfer to a university, or go professional.

Your support is so important to our college and to our teams. We look forward to having you on campus this semester to watch these talented athletes compete, and we hope you will return again and again to take advantage of the many opportunities Wallace State offers.

Sincerely,

Vicki P. Karolewics, Ed.D. President

Kristen Holmes Vice President for Students/ Chief Marketing Officer

Paul Bailey Athletic Director

WALLACE STATE LIONS - WOMEN

Head Coach: Jessica McBrayer

Assistant Coach: Morgan Smith

Managers:

Kinsey McBrayer

Stella Smith

HEAD COACH

JESSICA MCBRAYER c ASST. COACH MORGAN SMITH c

WALLACE STATE LIONS - WOMEN

kaylen moultrie tamia yancey hallie holmes

emariah grant

#4 #10 #11 #12

camille jenkins

cierra lindquist

myriah tate jazmyn jackson #0 #1 #2 #3

ceci burke

redrea smith

#15 #20

jaden winfrey jordan austin #21 #22

kyra long

janeil allen #23 #32 manager kinsey mcbrayer manager stella smith M M

MEET THE COACHING STAFF - WOMENS BASKETBALL

Head Coach Jessica McBrayer

256.352.8481, jessica.mcbrayer@wallacestate.edu

Jessica McBrayer is entering her sixth season as Wallace State’s women’s basketball coach. McBrayer, 34, a two-time Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Co-North Division Coach of the Year, has guided Wallace State women’s basketball to the postseason in her five previous years, including leading the Lady Lions to a 12-7 record during the COVID-shortened 2020-2021 season.

Under McBrayer’s watch, the program also earned a sixth NJCAA Division I National Championship berth during the 2019-2020 season. The Lady Lions didn’t get to compete at nationals, as the tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

McBrayer enters the season with an 101-40 career mark, leading the Lady Lions to 20+ wins in three of those seasons. The program has surpassed the 20-win plateau in eight of the past 10 seasons overall.

Before inheriting the program, McBrayer served as Wallace State’s top assistant coach for three seasons, including helping the Lady Lions make a NJCAA Division I national tournament appearance in 2014-2015. McBrayer played at Wallace State under Hall of Fame coach Larry Slater during the 2007-2009 seasons after leading Hartselle High to a final four appearance in 2007 during her senior year.

McBrayer and her husband, Michael, live in Cullman with their daughters, Kinsey, 19, and Brantley, 12.

Assistant Coach Morgan Smith

Morgan Smith, one of the most dynamic players in Wallace State’s women’s basketball history, is in her third year as an assistant coach, having coached during 17-18 season and returning last year.

Smith, 27, a Cullman native, played for the Lady Lions from 2013-15. She was named a NJCAA 2nd-team All-American and the 2015 ACCC Player of the Year during her sophomore season after leading Wallace State to a NJCAA Division I National Championship appearance – the program’s fifth trip at the time. As a freshman, Smith was an All-Region 22 second-team member and a first-team AllNorth Division member.

After her Wallace State career, Smith transferred to play at the University of Montevallo.

MEET THE COACHING STAFF - CHEERLEADING

Kevin Yates, Head Coach

256.352.8218, kevin.yates@wallacestate.edu

Kevin Yates is the new Wallace State cheerleading coach for the 2022-2023 season. Yates, a Wallace State grad and Oneonta native, is well-known in the area, owning Showtime All-Star Tumble and Cheer in Cleveland. Yates cheered for Wallace State from 2000-2002 before transferring to Morehead State University, where he was a part of two national championships at the UCA College Nationals. Yates earned a degree at Wallace State in business administration and a bachelor’s from Morehead State in University Studies with an emphasis on Business Communications.

Raven Adams Freshman Cullman, AL

Carlos Arriaga Freshman Oneonta, AL

Kaley Cates Freshman Cleveland, AL

Emma Chapman Freshman Hartselle, AL

Madison Crain Freshman Birmingham, AL

Joe Corbin Sophomore Helena, AL

Chloe Echols Freshman Cullman, AL

Shelby Isom Sophomore Arab, AL

WALLACE STATE CHEERLEADERS

GO LIONS!

Haleigh Jones Sophomore Rogersville, AL

Alyssa Jones Freshman Huntsville, AL

Jaiden Landman Freshman Huntsville, AL

Nevaeh Martin Sophomore Arab, AL

Tori Ozio Freshman Huntsville, AL

Audri Patrick Freshman Cullman, AL

Kayla Quick Freshman Cullman, AL

Emily Roper Freshman Morris, AL

Kiley Scholl Sophomore Morris, AL

Krislyn Scroggins Freshman Cullman, AL

Tatum West Freshman Helena, AL

Lilly Jo Williams Freshman Hartselle, AL

WALLACE STATE LIONS - MEN

Head Coach: Allen Sharpe

Assistant Coach: Cameron Prather

Assistant Coach: Cory Cooperwood

Managers: Skylar Smith, Hannah Hoffman, & Jonathan Ryan

HEAD COACH ALLEN SHARPE c ASST. COACH CAMERON PRATHER ASST. COACH CORY COOPERWOOD c c

WALLACE STATE LIONS - MEN

bryson hall

nathaniel jones

christopher blount te'derrius williams

michael mcintosh

jabiri smith

jalil robinson justin moore

phillip hughes

jaylen curry

solomon ray james flippin

#0

#1 #3 #4

#5 #10 #11 #12

#15 #21 #23

randiez eason manager skylar smith manager jonathan ryan #35 M M

#30

MEET THE COACHING STAFF - MENS BASKETBALL

Head Coach Allen Sharpe

256.352.8365, allen.sharpe@wallacestate.edu

Allen Sharpe enters the second season of his second stint as Wallace State’s men’s basketball’s head coach. Sharpe returned to Wallace State during the COVID19-shortened 2020-2021 season, guiding the men to the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) quarterfinals. It marked the 9th postseason appearance in 11 years for the Wallace State men.

Sharpe enters the 2021-2022 season only five career wins shy of 400. He’s recorded a 395-180 career record in 19 seasons, spanning four stops.

Sharpe previously coached at Wallace State from 2005-2010, compiling a 136-30 record with the Lions and leading the program to its first ever ACCC/Region 22 Tournament championship in 2010. Sharpe also led Wallace State to its only No. 1 national ranking in 2008, a campaign that began 30-0. In seven seasons overall at Wallace State, Sharpe’s record is 147-42.

Sharpe inherited the head spot at the University of Arkansas-Monticello after his first stint in Hanceville. He coached the Boll Weevils for four seasons, becoming the only coach in program history to have four consecutive winning seasons, compiling a 70-42 record. Sharpe returned to the state in 2014 as the University of West Alabama’s head coach. He spent six seasons with the Tigers, finishing his tenure there with a 108-71 record. He was named the 2019 Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year when the Tigers registered the program’s first NJCAA Division II tournament win since 1982.

Sharpe’s head coaching career began at Truett-McConnell College in Georgia. Sharpe played collegiately at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn, scoring 1,431 points under legendary coach Don Meyer. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb and a master’s degree from Piedmont College. He and his wife, Susan, have three kids, Garrison, Ally and Anderson.

Assistant Coach Cameron Prather

cameron.prather@wallacestate.edu

Cameron Prather enters his second season as a Wallace State assistant coach. Prather previously coached at Athens Prep Academy in Tennessee, where he served as an assistant.

Prather, who graduated from Whites Creek High (Tenn.), played collegiately at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., from 2011-2015. As a point guard, Prather was a three-time Mid-South Conference Scholar-Athlete with the Phoenix. At Cumberland, Prather earned his bachelor’s in Health and Human Performance with an emphasis in sports management and his MBA. He served as a graduate assistant there for three seasons before moving on to Athens Prep.

Assistant Coach Cory Cooperwood

256.352.8451, cory.cooperwood@wallacestate.edu

Cory Cooperwood, the first two-time NJCAA Division I 1st-team All-American in Wallace State men’s basketball history, enters his second season as an assistant coach with the Lions.

After carving out a stellar career at Wallace State, Cooperwood transferred to Wright State in Dayton, Ohio, where he was a significant contributor for two seasons. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Wright State. Cooperwood, also the first WSCC athlete to earn the ASWA Community College Athlete of the Year (2007), played professional basketball in Australia, Germany and Finland.

Before returning to Hanceville, Cooperwood spent one season as a volunteer coach at Harding University in Arkansas.

Women’s Basketball Program Highlights

• 6 Alabama Community College Conference Championships

• 6 appearances at NJCAA Division I National Tournament, including earning a berth in 2020

• Receives annual individual and team NJCAA

All-Academic recognition

• 2019-2020 sophomore Imari Martin became 1st player in program history to be named a NJCAA 1st-team All-American

• 100+ alums who have transferred to Division I programs

• Multiple ACCC Coach of the Year recognitions

• Team earned the Alberta Lee Cox Sportsmanship Award at the 2015 NJCAA Tournament

State Cheerleading Highlights

• 2 UCA National Championships (2004, 2006)

• Multiple Top 5 National Competition finishes

• Scores of cheerleaders have gone on to cheer for Division I programs across the country

Men’s Basketball Program Highlights

• 3 Alabama Community College Conference Championships (all since 2010)

• 3 NJCAA Division I National Tournament appearances (all since 2010)

• Earned No. 1 NJCAA ranking in 2008

• Consistently among the top academic basketball teams across the NJCAA ranks, including being named national Academic Team of the Year in 2018-2019

• 15 consecutive years a Lions basketball player has signed with a Division I program

• 3 NJCAA 1st-team All-Americans (Cory Cooperwood and L.A. Farmer, both named twice, and Demarkus Lampley)

• 2 Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) Community College Athletes of the Year (Cooperwood and Lampley)

#GoLions

Like @wsccathletics on Facebook and follow on Twitter

Women’s Basketball: Twitter Facebook Instagram

Men’s Basketball: Twitter Stats

WSCC Social Media:

Good Luck This Season!

Alabama Community College Conference (NJCAA Region 22) Basketball Programs:

Wallace State-Hanceville Bevill State (Men Only)

Bishop State

Coastal Alabama-North

Chattahoochee Valley

Coastal Alabama-South

Enterprise State Gadsden State

Lawson State

Lurleen B. Wallace

Marion Military Institute (Men Only)

Shelton State

Southern Union

Snead State

Wallace-Selma

1845 Patriot Way SW Cullman, AL 35055

Good Luck Tamia, Camille, Jaden, Hallie and the rest of the WSCC

Women’s Basketball Team!

Proud supporter of Wallace Basketball Proud supporter of Wallace Basketball

2022–2023 BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Oct. 2

Oct. 8

Oct. 21

Oct. 22

Oct. 26

Oct. 28

Nov. 1

Nov. 5

Nov. 5

Nov. 8

Nov. 10

Nov. 12

Nov. 14

Nov. 17

Nov. 21

Nov. 25

Nov. 26

Nov. 29

Nov. 29

Dec. 2

Dec. 6

Dec. 8

Dec. 12

Dec. 13

Dec. 17

Dec. 28-29

Jan. 7

Jan. 9

Jan. 12

Jan. 12

Jan. 16

Jan. 18

Jan. 20

Jan. 23

Jan. 26

Jan. 30

Feb. 1

Feb. 3

Feb. 6

Feb. 9

Feb. 13

Feb. 15

Feb. 17

Feb. 23

Feb. 25

Feb. 28

Black/Porter Jamboree

JUCO Jam Jamboree

Faulkner University

Faulkner University

Montevallo

West Alabama

Northeast Mississippi

Cleveland State

Roane State

Itawamba

Southern Crescent

Northeast Mississippi

Roane State

Coastal North Wallace Selma

TN Valley Prep

State