2009 Focus: Northwest Shoals

Northwest Shoals Community College made great strides last season under new head coach Tommy Dillon. The Patriots are looking to make more improvements this season in the state of Alabama. JucoJunction takes a look at the Patriots for this coming season.

The Patriots finished in third place last season the highest finish in the last ten years at the Muscle Shoals, AL school. The Patriots also finished 10th in the nation in scoring offense last season and sent eight players on to four year basketball scholarships.

Jonathan Dunn, (SO) 6-foot-4 (185) from Columbus, GA, is a combo guard who transferred in from Oral Roberts University. Dunn redshirted last year at Oral Roberts and will have three years to play after this season.

Ivan Johnson, (SO) 6-foot-5, comes to Northwest Shoals Community College via Western Nebraska College. Johnson redshirted last season at the Scottsbluff, NE school. Ivan and Dunn prepped together at Cornerstone Christian in San Antonio, TX under then head coach Walt Webb. Johnson is a two guard.

The Patriots will have many promising newcomers this season. Rod Lanon,

5-foot-9 (165) from Louisville, KY, is a pure point guard. Lanon played really well this summer at Kenn Littlefield's Hoop Showcase in Atlanta according to Dillon. Lanon is an academic qualifier and can leave after one season with the Patriots.

Harry Smith, Jimorris Johnson, Warrick Mastin and Ryan Lyle will all see minutes this season for the Patriots. Smith is a 6-foot-6 inside-out player according to Dillon. Johnson, 6-foot-6 (SO), is a transfer from the University of Kentucky where he played football for the Wildcats. Mastin, a (FR) 6-foot-3 two guard, is a local product from nearby Muscle Shoals High School. Mastin averaged 28 ppg in high school last season. Lyle stands 6-foot-8 and was an academic qualifier coming out of high school.

JucoJunction will see the Patriots in the month of October on the junior college jamboree circuit.