Southeastern Illinois loaded once again

Last season, Southeastern Illinois has one of the best frontcourts in junior college basketball. Demar Dotson moved on to Southern Miss and Takais Brown, a top ten player nationally, signed with Georgia. So this was quite a statement from head coach Todd Franklin:

"Jason Francis is going to be the best inside player we have had," Franklin said. "He' si 6-foot-9, 275 pounds and he is a beast."

Francis redshirted last season, his second in the states after coming from Jamaica.

"People know of him, but no one has really seen him play as a finished product. Believe me, that will change," Franklin said. Some Big East and SEC teams are planning on coming to campus this summer to watch him, but that is all from what they have heard second hand."

Francis will certainly be one to watch, but he is not along.

"We also received two Division One level transfers in Mason Stewart, who transferred from Northern Iowa, and Desmond Stephens, who transferred from Olney Central and was the best freshman point guard in our league."

Along with returners Olajide Hay, who the coach calls one of the most improved players in the country, and Josh Rivers, Franklin is fired up about his freshman class.

"We added some impact freshmen with Travis Marion who was a First-team All-state selection this season in Illinois as well as Andree Wilson a 6-4 long-armed lefty from Jamaica who played on the main National team that won the Carribean Championships," Franklin said. "Chaun Tinney and Johntavious Rucker both started on the Decatur Columbia team out of Georgia that won the 5A state Chamionship and we also added Jamaican strongman Damion Gardner, a 6-5 240 pound bull ."

Looks like Southeastern Illinois should once again be among the nation's elite.