Cincy State trio drawing major looks

Earlier this month, JucoJunction named Cincinnati State's John Williamson to our second-team of pre-season all-Americans. As one of eight returning players from last year's team, Williamson has drawn all kinds of attnention from Division One recruiters.

"John is going to what he did last year, put up some big time numbers," said head coach Andre Tate. "He had a great summer camp, a great summer league in Cincinnati and he's been working hard all summer. The big fella's been doing the same thing."

The big fella would be seven-foot center Demario Williams.

"Right now, they're just taking calls, and they're both probably getting the same calls," Tate said. "Oklahoma is probably the only one just recruiting John. Everyone else recruiting John is looking at the big fella too."

That list includes Marshall, Purdue and Iowa as far as high-major programs go. Bad news for Cincinnati State's opponents this year, though.

"Those two may not be my best player. My best player is probably Jarelle Redden," Tate said. "He's real strong, a great defender, great shooter, plays hard all the time. I call him our pit bull. He's always the guy on the other team's best defender. Right now they seen him last year, seen him in Indy at the jamboree, and he's starting to get some calls."

One school, though, has the jump for Redden, who averaged 20 points and six rebounds as a freshman.

"He's probably going to sign with Murray State," Tate reported. "Murray State has pulled the trigger and he already took an unofficial visit down there. Everybody is starting to call now, though."

Williamson accompanied Redden on that visit to Murray State, but the Racers will have some stiff competition to land the highly-recruited duo. As for now, Tate's players have just one thing on their minds.

"National chapmionship that's all we've been talking since end of last season," the coach said. We've got eight players returning from last year's team and we've got high expectations. We played well in Indy, played some of the best teams up that way. National championship, that's what we're talking about here."

JucoJunction will continue to follow junior college recruiting across the land. To talk about this story with other juco hoops fans, check out the JucoJunction Board or our premium forum.