Former Tigers thriving at NCAA Division I schools
December 18, 2003
Watch ESPN and you may see a highlight involving a member of last year's Cowley County Community College men's basketball team. Four former Tigers are playing key roles for NCAA Division I programs.
Raymond Anthony, Schuyler Thomas, Amani Daanish, and Francis Koffi, who helped lead Cowley to within a game of making its first trip the national tournament in nearly 50 years, all are making their marks at the NCAA Division I level.
Anthony, a 5-foot-10 junior guard, who led the Jayhawk Conference in three-point baskets a year ago, has helped Billy Tubbs' Lamar University squad get off to a 6-1 start by averaging 21.7 points per game. He has made 29 of his 31 free-throw attempts, and connected on 23 of 71 three-point attempts.
"Raymond has given us a great effort and is off to a good start," Tubbs said. "He's leading the (Southland) conference in scoring and has started every game for us. Despite all this, we expect him to be an even better player for us next year."
Thomas, a 6-9 junior forward, is averaging 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while playing an average of 19.8 minutes for Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. Thomas scored 22 points vs. the University of Minnesota, and had 16 in the Golden Eagles' game against the University of Oklahoma. ORU is 5-4 on the season.
"Schuyler has played some good basketball for us, and has played some of his best games against tough competition," Oral Roberts head coach Scott Sutton said. "He will just continue to get better and better. He's a hard worker, which is a credit to himself and coach (Randy) Smithson at Cowley. He's a wonderful young man. Coach Smithson and coach (Brian) Jackson should be very proud of him."
Daanish, a 6-7 junior forward, is averaging 8.0 points and a team-high 4.8 rebounds for Indiana State University. Daanish, who has a season-high of 17 points, also averages 1.6 steals per game. The Sycamores are 3-3 on the season after defeating Ball State University 66-65 Saturday.
"Amani is really doing a good job for us," Indiana State assistant coach Rick Ray said. "He brings a tremendous energy level to our team, and brings spirit and life to our games. He's a real personable guy who is doing well in the classroom also. He has had a good up bringing, which comes from his parents and coach Smithson."
Koffi, a 6-8 junior forward, is averaging 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds for the Fresno State Bulldogs, who are 2-4 after a 70-62 overtime loss to Creighton University Saturday.
Through the first six games, Koffi is second on the team in field goal percentage at 50 percent (15-30).
Fresno State head coach Ray Lopes believes Koffi will be a key player for the squad as the Bulldogs lost several starters from last year's team that finished 20-8 and won the Western Athletic Conference.
"Francis continues to get better," Lopes said. "He's got a good attitude and is a hard worker. His continued improvement will be a real key for us."
Smithson is not surprised by his former players' success.
"I have been doing this for 14 years and can't recall any of our players going and sitting on somebody's bench," Smithson said. "Our job is to prepare our kids for the next level. Our program is tough, but we know what the kids are going to face at the next level."
Once again, Cowley looks as if it could send four players to NCAA Division I schools at the end of the current season. Sophomores Francis Cuyler, Alex Elam, Mark Mathew, and Brandon Kelley are each putting together solid seasons for the 10-3 Tigers.
"I have got four sophomores here that I know will go into a program and contribute," Smithson said. "They will help a team win, and get a degree."
As for the guys who have moved on from Cowley and are playing well at their new schools, Smithson is happy to have played a part in getting them to an NCAA Division I institution.
"We're proud of them," Smithson said. "We're part of it, but most of the credit has to go to those kids. I'm hearing they're not only doing well on the court, they're doing a great job in the classroom."
Raymond Anthony, Schuyler Thomas, Amani Daanish, and Francis Koffi, who helped lead Cowley to within a game of making its first trip the national tournament in nearly 50 years, all are making their marks at the NCAA Division I level.
Anthony, a 5-foot-10 junior guard, who led the Jayhawk Conference in three-point baskets a year ago, has helped Billy Tubbs' Lamar University squad get off to a 6-1 start by averaging 21.7 points per game. He has made 29 of his 31 free-throw attempts, and connected on 23 of 71 three-point attempts.
"Raymond has given us a great effort and is off to a good start," Tubbs said. "He's leading the (Southland) conference in scoring and has started every game for us. Despite all this, we expect him to be an even better player for us next year."
Thomas, a 6-9 junior forward, is averaging 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while playing an average of 19.8 minutes for Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. Thomas scored 22 points vs. the University of Minnesota, and had 16 in the Golden Eagles' game against the University of Oklahoma. ORU is 5-4 on the season.
"Schuyler has played some good basketball for us, and has played some of his best games against tough competition," Oral Roberts head coach Scott Sutton said. "He will just continue to get better and better. He's a hard worker, which is a credit to himself and coach (Randy) Smithson at Cowley. He's a wonderful young man. Coach Smithson and coach (Brian) Jackson should be very proud of him."
Daanish, a 6-7 junior forward, is averaging 8.0 points and a team-high 4.8 rebounds for Indiana State University. Daanish, who has a season-high of 17 points, also averages 1.6 steals per game. The Sycamores are 3-3 on the season after defeating Ball State University 66-65 Saturday.
"Amani is really doing a good job for us," Indiana State assistant coach Rick Ray said. "He brings a tremendous energy level to our team, and brings spirit and life to our games. He's a real personable guy who is doing well in the classroom also. He has had a good up bringing, which comes from his parents and coach Smithson."
Koffi, a 6-8 junior forward, is averaging 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds for the Fresno State Bulldogs, who are 2-4 after a 70-62 overtime loss to Creighton University Saturday.
Through the first six games, Koffi is second on the team in field goal percentage at 50 percent (15-30).
Fresno State head coach Ray Lopes believes Koffi will be a key player for the squad as the Bulldogs lost several starters from last year's team that finished 20-8 and won the Western Athletic Conference.
"Francis continues to get better," Lopes said. "He's got a good attitude and is a hard worker. His continued improvement will be a real key for us."
Smithson is not surprised by his former players' success.
"I have been doing this for 14 years and can't recall any of our players going and sitting on somebody's bench," Smithson said. "Our job is to prepare our kids for the next level. Our program is tough, but we know what the kids are going to face at the next level."
Once again, Cowley looks as if it could send four players to NCAA Division I schools at the end of the current season. Sophomores Francis Cuyler, Alex Elam, Mark Mathew, and Brandon Kelley are each putting together solid seasons for the 10-3 Tigers.
"I have got four sophomores here that I know will go into a program and contribute," Smithson said. "They will help a team win, and get a degree."
As for the guys who have moved on from Cowley and are playing well at their new schools, Smithson is happy to have played a part in getting them to an NCAA Division I institution.
"We're proud of them," Smithson said. "We're part of it, but most of the credit has to go to those kids. I'm hearing they're not only doing well on the court, they're doing a great job in the classroom."