he Panola College men’s basketball team begins their
2016-17 campaign when they tip off the season against Louisiana Christian
this upcoming Saturday. Tip-off is set for 5:00 PM in Arthur Johnson
Gymnasium at Panola College. Second year Head Coach Grant McMillan is ready
to build off their record breaking season last year. McMillan led the
Ponies to the most wins in school history posting 24 victories and guided
them to their third ever conference championship game appearance. Last
year’s squad featured four division one signees.
This year’s team will feature five freshman, four returners, four division
one transfers, and one junior college transfer. “As a staff, we spent
tireless hours trying to identify the right student-athletes that wanted to
buy-in to our culture. Region 14 is traditionally the toughest league in
the country and we have to trust our evaluation with the 10 new faces we
brought in.” mentioned McMillan.
Panola’s four returners made a combined 82 starts last season giving the
Ponies valuable game experience which Coach McMillan did not have last
season. “We had 12 new players last year. It was a new landscape for me and
our program. Chan Williams-Bey made all-conference last year as a freshman.
Chan and the three other returners have been in some tough environments.
Having returners and their leadership is invaluable.” McMillan added. Devyn
Wilson, Tyonte Robertson, and Tope Arikawe are the other three returners.
Adding more experience to the roster, the Ponies signed four other
sophomores and one redshirt freshman. Eric McGill, Keith Hayes, and Pernell
Adgei all made starts at their respective division one schools as freshman,
while KJ Byers started multiple games as a freshman at his previous junior
college. Bryson Lockley sat out last season at his division one school.
“We made sure we recruited older guys. Experience is something that we
wanted to emphasis. Their maturity and leadership provide us with added
depth.” McMillan stated. The Ponies signed two dynamic freshman in TJ
Killings and Marlon Taylor. Both newcomers were highly decorated prep
school players. Rounding out Panola’s recruiting class are local products
Christian Hammett and Larry Robinson III. Big man, Matthew Bellamy was the
final piece to the Ponies recruiting class.
Panola will have 10 non-conference games before they begin Region 14 play
on November the 30th against Blinn College. The Ponies will have five home
games in the month of November, a luxury they did not have last season as
the renovations to Arthur Johnson Gymnasium were in the finishing stages
last November. Teaming up with Coach McMillan is second year assistant,
Adam Blaylock.
2016-17 Panola College Men's Basketball Roster
*Year*
*No.*
*Name*
*Height*
*Hometown (Previous School)*
SO
1
Keondre ‘KJ’ Byers
6-7
Charolette, NC (Iowa Western)
SO
2
Keith ‘KJ’ Hayes
5-11
Little Rock, AR (UMASS-Lowell)
FR
3
Marlon Taylor III
6-6
Mt. Vernon, NY (Forest Trail)
SO
4
Eric McGill
6-3
Memphis, TN (SE Missouri St)
SO
5
Tyonte Robertson
5-11
Cincinnati, OH (Withrow)
SO
10
Devyn Wilson
6-4
Brooklyn, NY (Florida Christian Institute)
SO
11
Chan Williams-Bey Jr
6-6
Hartford, CT (Shooting 4 Greatness)
FR
12
Tyrone ‘TJ’ Killings
5-11
Bridgeport, CT (Believe Prep)
FR
15
Larry Robinson III
5-11
Bossier City, LA (Bossier)
SO
20
Tope Arikawe
6-8
Conyers, Nigeria (Covenant Christian)
SO
22
Pernell Adgei
6-7
Dumfries, VA (Loyala-Chicago)
RFR
24
Bryson Lockley
6-8
Houston, TX (Santa Clara)
FR
32
Christian Hammet
6-0
Mt. Enterprise, TX (Mt. Enterprise)
FR
34
Matthew Bellamy
6-8
Miami, FL (Forest Trail)
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