Focus on 2009: Mississippi Gulf Coast

JucoJunction is starting to touch base for next season this week. The summer is approaching and many players throughout the country are playing in junior college events from Tulsa, OK to Atlanta, GA. We had a chance to touch base with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College assistant coach Patrick Wilcher on some players who plan being sophomores this fall at the Mississippi juco.

Justin Ray, (SO) 5-foot-9, led the state of Mississippi in scoring last year at 23.3 ppg and scored 629 points from the point guard spot.

"Justin was the 13th ranked scorer in the country last season. Justin is one of the top players in the country. He has a knack for making clutch shots," said Wilcher.

The Gulport, MS native was the MVP of the Mississippi All Star game and Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game while playing at Gulfport High School.

Curtis Nickson, (SO) 6-foot-9 (270), hails from Green County, AL. Nickson, a center, had signed with UAB coming out of high school but didn't qualify academically. Curtis played just the second semester this past season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

"Curtis is a big bodied kid with good skills. He can knock down the 15 footer. He really just needs to be more aggressive," said Wilcher.

Nickson averaged 6 ppg and 6.1 rebounds this past season.

Isaiah Jackson, a (SO) 6-foot-6 guard/forward, is transfer from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Jackson played in 23 games for the Islanders last season while starting in nine of them. Jackson is a New Braunsfels, TX native.

"Isaiah is a long wing who is very skilled," said Wilcher.

Ray and Nickson will play this summer at Kenn Littlefield's HOOP DREAM in South Atlanta, GA at the Jonesboro Hoops and Fitness. The event is on July 11-12 for more information, check out this link.