Monday, October 31, 2005
Mathis optimistic about ‘athletic’ Wildcats in 2005-2006 season
Pearl River mentor says squad can make a run to return to the top

    POPLARVILLE — Last year, Richard Mathis’ 14th edition of Pearl River Community College Wildcat basketball posted its first losing season in who knows when.
After winning back-to-back MACJC state championships in 2003 and 2004, the Wildcats fell to 13-14 overall with their 74-61 season-ending loss to Northwest Mississippi in last March’s Region 23 Tournament.
    But Mathis, who has won four state titles since arriving on the PRCC campus in the fall of 1991, says this year’s group is more athletic than a year ago and could make a run at a fifth championship if newcomers step up.
    His 2005-2006 group will get their first taste of action this Thursday against Mississippi Delta in Moorhead.
    “I like this team,” Mathis said. “We’ve got a chance to be very good after our new guys get their feet wet. We may not be a reckoning force in the early going, but if we can improve as the season progresses; who knows what can happen.
    “We’re an improved team in several areas and we’re much more athletic than a year ago,” he continued. “We should be better shooters and rebounders and will be a much more physical team than last year. We’re looking at playing a much more up tempo game this year and play a full-court game instead of a half-court one. because we have more athleticism and more people capable of playing at this level.”
    All-State, All-Region 23 forward Alton Robinson returns to the line up along with forward Jeremy Holder who Mathis touts as the most consistent player on his 2004-2005 squad.
    Robinson averaged a team-high 18 points, while hauling in an average of seven boards a game last season; while Holder averaged 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
    “Alton seems to play with more intensity this year and his lack of intensity and consistency last year was his biggest drawback,” Mathis said, noting the 6-foot-6, 200-pounder has already committed to Colorado State. “Some nights he played up to his capabilities, while others he wasn’t prepared.
    “Jeremy was our most consistent guy all season long as a freshman and you could depend on him to get his numbers night after night,” he continued. “He’s had a good fall and has improved his outside shooting since last year.”
    Marquis Singleton and A.J. Harris are sophomores that will split starting duty at the point position. Mathis lauded Singleton’s intelligence and decision making, while Harris, who started late in the season a year ago, had a slow start in fall practices but has improved. Freshman Tyshawn Brown will also see playing time at point.
    Panola (Tex.) JC transfer Darius Acker was a “sharpshooter” for the St. Stanislaus Rockachaws two years ago and should be a scoring threat, says Mathis.
    “He played on two or three state tournament teams at Stanislaus and will play a reserve role for now, but should put points up when he’s in the game,” Mathis said.
Besides Brown, Mathis lauded his other freshmen recruits.
    “This is one of the better freshmen groups I’ve had in a white,” he continued. “They’re hard workers with great attitudes.”
    Forwards Jamar Flowers, Wesley Jones, and Tim Sterling stand out. All are big guys and have versatile abilities to play several positions. Sterling evacuated his hometown New Orleans for Houston, Tex., and was a late arrival to fall practice due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
    “He (Sterling) is a bit behind the others and is still struggling to get into top playing shape, plus he’s been aggravated with an ankle injury,” Mathis said. “But he had good hands and can score around the basket as well as anyone on the team.
    “Flower and Jones are both great athletes with a good work ethics.”
Guard Patton Stanley has been a pleasant surprise with his toughness and scoring ability, while Chasen Uptain is a walk on who recently moved to Poplarville from Alabama and is a top-flight outside shooter. Foward Jason Williams arrived on campus last January, but broke his foot earlier this fall and is still two or three weeks away from joining the team 100 percent.
    “Jason will be a welcomed addition when he comes on board full time,” Mathis said, also citing freshman forward Braxton Rockwell for his shooting abilities.
    Due to Katrina’s destruction of M.R. White Coliseum, the Wildcats will play the majority of their home games in nearby Poplarville High School’s gymnasium.
    “It’s easy to get aggravated with our practice set up right now. It’s complicated, but we’re just thankful that Poplarville is letting us use their facility,” Mathis said. “There’s the possibility that we won’t have our very own coliseum for two or maybe three years from now, but it’s nice that we can play as close to campus as we will be.”
    Mathis says Hinds is probably the team to beat in the South Division.
    “Plus Meridian had an excellent recruiting year and you can never count out Co-Lin in our division,” Mathis said. “But until somebody unseats (defending state and Region 23 champ) Northwest Mississippi, they’re still the cream of the crop as far as statewide is concerned. And they’ve been that way for the past four or five years.”
    Former Wildcat player and assistant coach Kyle Roane has returned to campus as Mathis first-ever full-time assistant coach. Roane played for Mathis during the 1991-92 season and was a student assistant coach the following year. He moved on to the University of Southern Mississippi as former Golden Eagle head coach James Green’s assistant for eight years before taking over the Forrest County AHS men’s program the past two seasons.
    “It’s good to have Kyle on board,” Mathis said. “He brings excitement and lots of basketball knowledge with him. Kyle’s a true asset. The players like him and he’s on the ball as far as making sure the guys go to class and is always around to help them with any academic problems they may have.
    “He’s just a good coach and we’re fortunate to have him.”