Logan sophomores leading the way
John A. Logan College heads into the month of December toting a 6-and-1 record and one of Illinois' most impressive starts. The Volunteers' only loss came to Three Rivers, a 67-59 setback. But a trio of talented sophomores has led Logan.
"Things are going pretty good," said assistant coach Gerad Good. "It's been a group effort. Last yeare, we had a couple of guys--Melvin Hall and Ty Johnson, Melvin ended up being an all-American—this year it's been three or four guys who have picked us up at different points."
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Fitzgerald Batteast, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Arlington High School in Indianapolis, was named the conference's co-freshman of the year last season. So far this year, he has led the way with 15 points and eight rebounds through the first seven games.
"Batteast is about as steady as you can get," Good said. "We play him at the four. He can rebound, hits open jumpers. He's one of those guys that kind of goes unnoticed and then you look at his stats and he's got 15 and eight."
Batteast does not have any Division One offers, but Good says Logan gets calls every week asking about him.
"A lot of guys see him as a three and we play him as a four," Good said. "They wonder, can he play the three? I tell them, 'I don't know, I'm just telling you what he does for us.'"
Batteast has even played center at times for Logan. Another name garnering interest is Indpendence (KS) transfer Jimmy Williams, who is pumping in almost 12 points and five rebounds a game.
"He's a slasher type," Good said. "He can rebound, he'll work real hard. He's a 6-foot-5, three-man, he's real long."
Illinois State, Eastern Illinois and Indiana State have all expressed some level of interest in Williams. Illinois State is also recruiting the Volunteer point guard, Jerry Turner, originally from Elizabethtown, KY.
"That's exactly what he is, he is a point guard," Good said. "He distributes the ball well. With Jimmy and Jerry both transferring in, they're still trying to learn our system a little bit."
Along with forward Rob Broughton, the team's leading rebounder, this trio should generate some interest in the next few months.
"As the year goes on, I think they'll get interested," Good said. "I'd like some people to get in here and see what they can do."
Logan hosts Blackhawk East Community College on Friday night.