NJCAA Poll Ranks the Southwest Saluqis Mens Basketball Team 6th Nationally

For more information, contact:
Keith Gentry
901-333-4114
mgentry@southwest.tn.edu

Boasting its highest ranking since taking the 4th spot in the 2008-09 final poll, the Southwest Saluqis entered the national arena as 6th in this week's NJCAA Division 1 Poll. Under the direction of Head Coach Jerry Nichols, Southwest has amassed an extraordinary overall record of 11-1.

"I'm very honored and humbled with our standing in the latest NJCAA poll," said Coach Nichols. "The ranking is a vote of confidence in the direction that we are headed and I couldn't be more proud of my student-athletes and staff. This is a testament to all of the hard work that they put in on a daily basis and it's refreshing to see them recognized nationally. I'm blessed to be working with a great group of kids that are not only leaders on the court but also in the classroom and in our local community. They are truly deserving and I'm looking forward to more great things to come from them."

The robust Saluqi squad is extremely balanced this season with 11 players pounding the court for as many as 10 minutes per game. The Saluquis started the season ranked number 11 and have been in the Top 10 for the last four weeks. Their only lost so far this season was to the number two ranked, Northwest Florida State on November 26.

Southwest's premier player sophomore guard Johnathan Burroughs-Cook, a former Ridgeway High standout and College of Charleston transfer, leads the dynamic team with 13.8 points per game. Second on the Saluqi winning roster, with 12.9 points and 3.1 assists per game, is impressive sophomore wing Rasheed Brooks, an Ole Miss signee.