Southwest Basketball Teams Open Season

The Southwest basketball teams will open the 2014-15 season this week with the men hosting Bethel University's JV team on October 31 at 6 p.m. at the Verties Sails Gymnasium and the women travelling to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for two games in the Baton Rouge Classic. The Lady Saluqis will take on Bossier City Community College in the opener on October 31, and will play Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on November 1.

Five players return from last season's 23-4 men's team including Rasheed Brooks, a 6'6" guard and University of Mississippi commitment who is the Saluqis' top returning scorer. Two part-time starters are also back in 6'10" center Dominic Nelson and 6'6" forward Lavontae Waldon. In addition, 6'4" guard DeAndre McKinnie, one of the team's top three-point shooters, and 6'6" forward Jovontae Waldon return for their sophomore seasons. Joining them as sophomores on this year's team are four transfers – 6'2" guard Johnathan Burroughs-Cook (College of Charleston), 6'2" guard Lorenzen Wright, Jr. (Cincinnati State Technical and Community College), 6'4" guard Earl Bryant (Cowley County Community College), and 6'9" forward Keion Alexander (Cowley County Community College). Top freshmen are 6'11" forward Jalen McGaughy (Ann Arbor, MI) and 6'8" forward Jimario Rivers (Clarksville, TN).

The Lady Saluqis return three players off last year's 9-17 team. They are 5'5" guard Iesha Humphrey, 5'11" forward Keoshia McGhee, and 5'11" forward Brandi Whitaker. The Southwest women have one sophomore transfer in 6'0" guard/forward Shaqunda Durden (Florida State College). Joining them are four freshmen who have been named to The Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps All-Metro Team: 5'5" guard Briauna Mitchell (Hamilton High School), 5'4" guard Kenyata Echols (Hillcrest High School), 5'7" forward Lyric Stallings (Carver High School) and 5'8" guard Casey McClure (Rossville Christian Academy), who returns to basketball after serving in the United States Navy.

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