Coffeyville prospect hopes to battle back

Coffeyville forward Marlon Mahorn started the season as one of the most talked-about junior college prospects in the country. Last year, Mahorn was the Eastern Division freshman of the year in the Jayhawk Conference and he was a member of the all-tournament team in the national tourney. However, Mahorn has spent much of the season battling a slump.

"I think three of the four games since we've been back, in conference play, he's played better," said Coffeyville head coach Jay Herkelman. "He's starting to play a little more aggressively than what he was early."

Herkelman's Red Ravens have still managed to go 13-and-3 despite their star's struggles. But the coach says major college interest has started to wane.

"Lots of schools came in during the shootout and he didn't play real well at that time," Herkelman said. "He was kind of passive and a little bit careless...Whether they come back depends on how he plays."

Mahorn has scored in double digits in each of Coffeyville's last two games, but is playing only about 15 minutes a game right now. In his place, plenty have stepped forward for the Red Ravens.

"Ryan Martin has been our most consistent performer; he's averaging about 18 and seven rebounds," Herkelman siad. "We're pretty deep. It's been different guys each night."

Herkelman pointed out Isaiah Allen and Gordon Brown as likely Division One players in 2006. Both are freshmen, but Allen led Coffeyville with 23 points in a 100-73 win over Labette last weekend. Brown had a team-high 17 in last week's win over Independence.

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