May 23, 2002

2002-03 Otahkian Basketball Roster

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Less than two months onto the job, first-year Southeast Missouri State head coach B.J. Smith has signed a class of nine recruits that should bring both excitement and victories to the Show Me Center for the 2002-03 basketball season.

Smith started by bringing in four players he is very familiar with, all of which played for him at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Three of those four players (Miah Lee Shelford, Brandi Russia and Carina Souza) were members of the 2002 NEO squad that were runners-up at the National Junior College Tournament in March. Two were members of a team that scored nearly 100 points a game in each of the past two seasons and dominated their conference and region, combining for a 35-3 record the past two years. Russia and Souza were named to the NJCAA All-American honorable mention team for their performances last season.

A fourth NEO alumnus, Kenja White, joins the team after two years away from the basketball court. Following an outstanding freshman season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, White was considered the number one junior college guard prospect in the country and recruited by several high profile teams including the University of Connecticut, the elite team in women's basketball.

Several other junior college players share a similar quality, all having played for very successful junior college programs. Two players, Yashika Sidbury and Natasha Starkes, played last year at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, a squad that finished seventh last season at the NJCAA National Tournament. That program, which has won four national junior college championships, has also produced four players currently playing in the WNBA.

Overall, the class brings great athleticism and versatility to the Southeast Missouri program which is expected to push the tempo next season and contend for the Ohio Valley Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Four of the incoming class stand 5'11 or taller, adding to the two returning players that are that height or greater, making the Otahkians a much taller squad than from a season ago. That combined with several lightning quick guards who can handle the basketball and shoot the lights out, will make the Otahkians a tough team next season.

The incoming class, which will reach 10 before the upcoming season, should blend with two returning starters and produce great excitment for the Southeast basketball program. The next several seasons should hold lots of exciting firsts for the Otahkians, including a first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament berth, victory and beyond. The challenge begins in November.