BRONCOS EAGER TO BEGIN YEAR 2 OF REBUILDING PROGRAM
Alex Podlogar 10/07/10

FSU begins second season under Kee on Nov. 12

CHARLOTTE, NC – Entering Year 2 of Coach Alphonza Kee’s rebuilding efforts at Fayetteville State, the Broncos welcome back Ariel Robinson (10.2 ppg) and Jarmel Baxter (8.2 ppg) while infusing the program with fresh faces that include three incoming players. After finishing 2009 with an 8-19 record and a sixth-place result in the Western Division standings of the CIAA, Fayetteville State expects more consistency throughout the roster as the program works to begin its ascent through the league. On Thursday, the Broncos were voted to finish sixth on the Southern Division in the 2010-11 Preseason CIAA Coaches Poll.

FSU opens the new season on Nov. 12 at home against Barber Scotia. Kee and Broncos aren’t concerned about polls, however. They are instead focused on making the necessary improvements that will enable to program to being to take steps forward – steps that weren’t necessarily possible a year ago. “We have a myriad of new players this year, and last year we didn’t have a lot of consistency,” says Kee. “But for any coach in the midst of rebuilding a program, Year 2 is so exciting because you can begin to put your imprint on the program.” Kee expects the newcomers to contribute almost immediately on the floor.

Three of those players -- Sidney Evans, Tim Plummer and John Herrington -- will enter FSU from powerful and successful junior college teams. Herrington, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 7.4 points, six rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game at Florida State Community College. A native of Jacksonville, FL, Herrington was an All-Conference selection at FSCC, and, while at Orlando Oakridge High School, was named high school athlete of the year. Evans, originally from Durham, NC, amassed 12 points and seven rebounds per game while at Cecil Community College in North East, MD. At 6-foot-7, Evans is expected to help FSU both on the wing and in the paint. Plummer, who will play point guard for the Broncos, was an All-Conference selection and averaged 15 points, five rebounds and five assists per game at State College of Florida at Bradenton.

Alphonza Kee enters his second season as the head coach after serving as an assistant men's basketball coach and recruiting coordinator with Grambling State University in Grambling, LA. Prior to the Tigers, Kee was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for North Carolina A&T State University from 2003 to 2008 under head coach Jerry Eaves. He also has had coaching experiences at Western Carolina, Winston-Salem, Chowan and Fayetteville State. Kee began his playing career at Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colorado. While at Lamar, Kee excelled as a three-point shooter, and once hit a school record of 10 three-pointers in one contest.

Following his JUCO career, he signed at Fayetteville State, where he lettered two seasons under former head coach Rick Duckett. Kee made the first field goal and 3-point basket in Capel Arena in 1995 against Francis Marion University. The Coaches Poll picked Elizabeth City State to win the Northern Division, with Bowie State to finish second. In the Southern Division, Winston-Salem State was picked to finish first while Johnson C. Smith was slated to place second.

2010-11 CIAA Coaches Poll

Northern Division

1. Elizabeth City State
2. Bowie State
3. Virginia Union
4. Virginia State
5. Chowan
6. St. Paul’s
7. Lincoln

Southern Division

1. Winston-Salem State
2. Johnson C. Smith
3. Shaw
4. St. Augustine’s
5. Livingstone
6. Fayetteville State

2010-11 CIAA Preseason Team

Travis Hyman BSU JR C 6’11

Mark Brown CU JR G 6’4

Marquie Cooke ECSU JR G 6’3

Paul Goldsmith ECSU JR F 6’6

Ronald Thornhill JCSU SR G 5’10

Greg Henry LC JR F 6’4

Donte Durant LC SR F 6’3

Maurice Reevy SPC SR F 6’6

Raheem Smith SU SR G 6’2

Brandon Plummer VSU SR G 6’1

Paul Davis WSSU SR F 6’9

Braxton Byerson VUU SR G 6’3