Team Focus: Western Oklahoma

Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, OK has turned the corner the last few seasons under second year head coach Rolando De La Barrera. The Pioneers are a fairly young team with just a few sophomores in the program. JucoJunction had a chance to touch base with coach De La Barrera today on them.

Derrick Wright: (SO) 6-foot-6 (225) from Brooklyn, NY. Wright is a power forward who is currently averaging 12 ppg and 6 rebounds this season for the (13-5) Pioneers. Murray State, Charleston Southern, Long Island University, Albany, Arkansas-Pine Bluff having been calling on the post player this season. Derrick will need summer school to graduate this year.

Patrick Cornish: (SO) 5-foot-11 (175) from Oklahoma City, OK.

"Patrick is one of the toughest players I have coached. He just understands how to play hard. He is a very strong defender and brings a great deal of energy to the game," said De La Barrera.

The Pioneers have a host of freshmen this season that are playing a lot of minutes.

Akeem Bennett: (FR) 6-foot-2 (175) from West Hempstead, NY is getting 11.7 ppg and 4.9 rebounds a outing. Bennett prepped at Laurinburg Institute (NC) last season.

Will Pratt: (FR) 6-foot-5 (195) from New York, NY enrolled at WOSC back in

January 2007 after attending Laurinburg Institute with Bennett. Pratt is averaging 15.6 ppg and 6.3 rebounds for Pioneers and leading them in scoring this season.

Mitchell Bouie: (FR) 6-foot-3 (200) from Chicago, IL and Kendall Cutler (FR) 6-foot-0 (165) from Brooklyn, NY round out the talented freshman class in Altus. Bouie started off at Laramie Community College in Wyoming last season is currently second on the team at 13.7 ppg, 5.3 rebounds while shooting 68% (78-114) from the floor this season. Cutler runs the show at Western Oklahoma State and is dishing out 6.9 assists to go with 8.4 ppg.

The future looks bright for the Pioneers at Western Oklahoma State College. JucoJunction will keep you up to date on the recruiting news from Altus.