Although there is work ahead for South Arkansas College, the impact of their run to the Region 2 title on the recruiting front will be a focal point in the coming months.
With a roster loaded with sophomores, SouthArk coach Cam Robinson will have plenty of work to do in shaping the roster for the 2024-25 season.
“It’s definitely going to come,” Robinson said. “Once we won Friday to advance to the championship game, I had people hitting me up about looking at certain kids. I was getting congratulations messages and there was one from a guy that I know that was telling me about a player that I needed to be looking at, and I was like, ‘Man, I’m not thinking about that right now.’
“It’s definitely going to grow. I’ll say it’s more on the transfer standpoint that players are going to want to come because they’re saying, ‘OK, they’re winning.’ Most importantly, you’re coming to a JUCO to get looked at. I’ve got guys that their recruitment has started to blow up a little bit since the tournament run. It’s only going to get better. If we take care of business Saturday and get to the national tournament, it’s definitely going to come.”
After winning the Region 2 crown on Sunday, the Stars have to wait until Saturday before they take the floor against St. Louis (Mo.) Community College in the Central Plains District Championship game.
Although Robinson is happy the team will get a break after playing three games in five days, he had hoped the game would be played earlier with his team playing well.
“I gave them Monday off where we could think about it, talk about it, after that, it’s time to get back to it,” Robinson said. “Talking to the players after we got done celebrating in the locker room, most of them have to understand that we’re not done yet.
“We’re still going to have to do some work on leveling their mind and remembering what the main goal is. This was a big accomplishment. One, the championship, two, we’ve been wanting National Park the whole time. We were close to getting them this season, and then with the ranking that they had, that’s a big deal. It’s a big piece of it, but it’s not the whole thing. I would’ve preferred the game to be on a Wednesday or a Thursday instead of having to wait until Saturday because we’re in a good flow of playing. It is what it is. It gives us time to prepare mentally and physically.”
For Robinson, the run to the Region 2 crown was a team effort.
Troy’reon Ramos, who was named to the NJCAA Division II All-Region 2 Team this week, scored 23 points against Shorter College along with 22 points in each of the wins over North Arkansas College and National Park College. The Stars got a double-double from Raheem Briggs against North Arkansas College, and Braedon Edison chipped in with 17 points and six rebounds in Friday’s win.
Jamarian Cato added 13 points and seven rebounds in Sunday’s championship game, but although it won't be seen in the stats, there were many contributions made that aided SouthArk in their three wins.
“I think it was everybody,” Robinson said. “Honestly, nine, 10 people. Jamarian Cato had a slow start in the first two rounds and in the first half against National Park, but he made two or three big 3’s that allowed us to keep it close. Then he had some drives toward the end of the game against (Nakavieon) White, who was in foul trouble. That put us over the top. Raheem Briggs had a couple of big games. He had some big 3’s. He had 22 against Northark.
“KeShun Brown played good for us. Braedon Edison dealt with some foul trouble, but when he was on, he was on. Everybody gave something. Damian Garcia played good defense, hustling, getting us second opportunities on the offensive end, just battling. We’re not a National Park where they did it as a team, but they’re built around Nakavieon White.
“Our team is a team. Their the No. 1 team in the country for a reason because they’re a good team as a whole, but our team is a whole team. When Troy is struggling, there’s other people that can step up and get the job done. That’s why we’ve been able to have the success that we’ve had this year so far, and we’ve still got more work to do.”