Clarksville, Ark.-In its second season of existence, the U of O men's basketball junior varsity program is making strides under assistant men's varsity and head JV coach Luke Hammond.
Hammond’s JV squad has posted a 5-2 record, including winning its last three games by an average of 19 points per game. Ozarks competes with other JV programs and even some varsity programs in the region, including power Eastern Oklahoma State, coached by former University of Arkansas assistant coach Scott Edgar. Last year, the Eagles played only in the fall semester, but Hammond has increased their schedule to both semesters this season. Hammond has used a core group of seven players - Andrew Cummings, De’Andre Knight, Nate Miller, Jason Morgan, Tyler Martin, Colton Kirk and Clay Bray - to jumpstart the program’s first full-fledged season of JV basketball. Hammond’s guard-oriented team emphasizes making plays in transition and shooting from long range. Cummings, a 6-foot freshman from Mansfield, Texas, is the team’s leading scorer, and pumped in 31 points on one occasion.
“Our spacing on the floor is good, and that helps us shoot the three well,” said Hammond. “Colton can get by his man at the point guard position. Andrew is our best finisher in transition. Jason and Tyler have hit a lot of three-pointers for us. Both Nate and De’Andre give us the size we need to compete. I am confident that this team can get it done in a close game down the stretch.”
Ozarks will play ten more games this season, including a highly-anticipated re-match with Edgar’s talented Eastern Oklahoma State team December 11 in Clarksville.
Topics: Athletics