Aug. 15, 2007

By Ron Hines, Sports Information Director

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - A national publication, Basketball Times, has selected Southeast Missouri State University assistant basketball coach Ronnie Dean as the fourth best junior college recruiter in the nation.

Tony Jiminez, junior college columnist for Basketball Times, rated collegiate coaches who recruit junior colleges the best. He selected Bob Huggins, head coach at West Virginia, as the top recruiter followed by Greg Grensing, Nevada-Las Vegas; Kelvin Sampson, Indiana; Ronnie Dean, Southeast Missouri; Steve Forbes, Tennessee; Chris Beard, Texas Tech; Glynn Cyprien, Kentucky; Mick Cronin, Cincinnati; Doc Sadler, Nebraska; and Rob Moxley, North Carolina-Charlotte.

Jiminez described Dean as "a walking JC encyclopedia who has the JC's down extremely well. He is personable and is great at staying in touch with coaches whether he recruits their players or not."

Dean, in his fourth season as an assistant at Southeast, said it is an honor to be cited by a national publication. "It just shows I've been around the block a few times," he said. "I attend all the junior college camps and I recruit JC players just like high school players. I've coached on the west coast at Long Beach State and on the east coast at Jacksonville University, and so I know most of the junior college coaches nationwide. I also coached at junior colleges in Texas and Kansas. There are very few JC gyms that I haven't visited."

Southeast head coach Scott Edgar said Dean's recognition brings national exposure to the Southeast basketball program. "Coach Dean's experience and knowledge of junior college basketball has been a great asset to all the programs he has worked with. Hopefully his success will continue here."

Dean feels the three junior college players who have signed for next season will be excellent additions for the Redhawks team. "I think the three junior college kids will really improve our skill level and our outside shooting," he said. "Kenard Moore (Marshalltown, Iowa, CC) and Jaycen Herring (Palm Beach, Fla., CC) are both outstanding 3-point shooters and Hank Harris (Seward County, Kan., CC) will provide us excellent depth at the point guard position. All three should contribute immediately."