Fit to be King

To be named one of the top five players in the country in your class is impressive enough. But to do it after just three years of organized basketball is nearly unheard of. But that is just what Carl Albert State College big man Shaun King has accomplished.

"He didn't start playing till he was 17," said Carl Albert coach Mike St. John. "His strengths of course, he is pretty athletic, he blocks shots, he can run the floor, rebound the basketball. For a person that hasn't been playing but three or four yeasr, his offensive skills need some work, but he can really play defense."

King is one of three starters returning to Carl Albert this season. He is one of two sophomores who have been on campus this summer, improving their games. St. John said King is also working for the Upward Bound program in Oklahoma.

College recruiters are certainly keeping a close eye on the 6-foot-10 prospect.

"We've had a real wide range of inquiries from just about every level," St. John said. "We've got different people coming in during the first session, some people coming in on the second session, and some people have already been in to see him."

The coach did not single out any schools in particular that are recruiting King, but he said the athletic big man could play at just about any level.

"I tell them that's why they get paid the big money, that's not for me to decide where he can play," St. John said. "All I know is he can play for me."

King will get some help this season from returning starting point guard Dannie Powell and CASC's leading scorer from a season ago, Anthony Sims.

Over the next few months, JucoJunction.com will be doing team previews from coast to coast to get junior college basketball fans set for an exciting 2005-06 season. To talk about this story with other juco hoops fans, check out the JucoJunction Board or our premium forum.