Wolves have much more experience in 2017

WESSON, Miss. – The Copiah-Lincoln Community College men's basketball team finished last season with a 12-13 overall record, with many of those games going down to the final seconds. The finish was impressive because the Wolves had only one sophomore on the entire roster. The 2017-2018 season squad returns several key players that now have one year of MACJC playing time under their belt.

"These guys got some great experience last season," said fifth year head coach Kenny Bizot. "It's amazing what a difference just one year has made for a lot of these players. It also brought some toughness to them."

The Wolves expect to be more balanced as an offense in 2017-2018 as opposed to the guard heavy style that Co-Lin ran last season.

"If we stay healthy we think we can have five solid players on the floor and be able to control the boards…we lost some games in that aspect last season," said Bizot. "We are also hoping to get some more touches inside."

The Wolves are not sacrificing the three-ball or speed in order to have more presence under the rim. The team is full of quickness and explosiveness in all positions.

"We are going to be balanced," said fourth year assistant coach Jake Reed. "We have several players that can knock down the three, but we are going to have the ability to play down low as well."

The Wolves will look to sophomores Jonathan Floyd and Darrian Wilson to provide vocal leadership this season. Floyd, a Harrison Central High School graduate from Gulfport, was a standout point guard last season and hopes to be the best in the league this year. As a freshman, he started in 22 contests and recorded 14.5 points per game. The 5'10 guard led the Wolves in assists with 4.4 a game and steals with 1.1 per game. Floyd always showed great effort on the court and hopes to have the same intensity this season.

Wilson is a Brookhaven native and Brookhaven High School graduate. Last season, the 6'4 Wilson started in 10 games, and saw action in 23. Wilson averaged 7.3 points per game while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor, but his biggest contribution to the team is his leadership when he is on the floor. The sophomore also has the ability to heat up from three-point range and punish teams that do not respect him on the perimeter.

Anthony Jones is another returning sophomore that looks to make a difference this season. Jones is a Wesson Attendance Center graduate that has the ability to play above the rim. Jones also had playing time in 23 games last season where he averaged 18.6 minutes per game. Jones averaged 9.5 points per game and led Co-Lin's guards with a 49.4 shooting percentage from the field. The 6'5 guard also had 3.2 rebounds per game.

Sharp shooting Ronnie Edwards also has high hopes for his sophomore campaign. The 5'11 Bogue Chitto native is always a threat from beyond the arc, and has a knack for making the tough shots. Edwards saw the floor in 23 games last season and averaged 9.9 minutes and 4.7 points per game.

Another returning sophomore is Gulfport High School graduate Carl Terrell. Terrell is a 6'5 forward that has an excellent spot up jumper. Terrell hopes to improve on last season's number where he averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds through 13 games.

Johnnelius Anderson, a St. Martin High School graduate from Gulfport, returns for his sophomore season after seeing nine starts as a freshman. Anderson played in 22 games for the Wolves last year and shot a team high 64.5 percent from the floor as he plowed through the lane. Anderson is an athletic forward that has the ability score down low, and battle for rebounds on both ends of the floor.

Another dominating force in the paint that is returning for the Wolves in 2017-2018 is Youry White. White, a Tara High School graduate from Baton Rouge, started in 14 contests last season and saw action in 22. As a freshman the 6'7 forward averaged 5.6 points per game and a team high 5.5 rebounds per game. White improved tremendously during the offseason and hopes to lead the Wolves on the defensive end of the floor and in rebounds.

Mike McWilliams also returns to the lineup as a sophomore. McWilliams, a 6'4 guard from Gautier, played in 14 games last year and racked up 19 rebounds. McWilliams has great post work ability and hopes to use his talents around the basket this season.

Lazorian McNulty looks to make his presence known this season after receiving a redshirt last year. In high school McNulty averaged 14.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while playing under Coach Jimmie Butler at Brookhaven High School. The 6'0 guard is a very talented defender and is always striving to improve.

Damarius Brooks also comes to Co-Lin via Brookhaven High School. The 6'1 freshman guard averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game as a senior last season while leading his team to the 5A State Quarterfinals. Brooks is a versatile guard that can get hot and score points in bunches.

New to the Wolves this year is Tray Lawson. Lawson, a 6'6 forward from Brandon, comes to Co-Lin via Northeast Mississippi Community College. Lawson has great size and has the capability to be dangerous from both the inside and out. While in high school, Lawson was named Third Team All-State by The Clarion Ledger.

Miles Daniels is another Gulfport High School product joining the Wolves in 2017. The 6'2 guard played for Coach Owen Miller and averaged 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists his senior season. Daniels is extremely athletic and has the ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc.

Xavier Heidelberg, a Meridian native, was a dominating player as a senior last season. The Russell Christian Academy graduate averaged 29.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game and earned All-State AISA honors. The 5'11 point guard has the leadership qualities needed to run the team effectively.

Jeremy Treaudo comes to Co-Lin from Dodge City Community College. The 6'5 guard from New Orleans has great size paired it with athletic ability. The Helen Cox High School graduate averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists his senior year and was ranked No. 8 in The Times-Picayune Dandy Dozen Class of 2015.

"We expect big things out of this team," said Bizot. "If we play together and defend well we can contend in any game...we've worked to be better conditioned and we have a tighter team when it comes to chemistry this year."

The Wolves are very balanced this season on the offensive front and have athletic players that will make plays defensively on the other end of the floor. Expect Co-Lin's offense to be explosive and quick with the ability to turn any game into the Wolves' favor in a moment's notice.

Three former Wolves are playing at the next level during the 2017-2018 season. Jonathan Dalton, a New Orleans native, is at Southeastern Missouri State, Donte Watson, also from New Orleans, is a senior at North Carolina A&T, and Terik Richardson, from Madison, is playing at Belhaven University.