NMCC star says he will walk on at Southeast

Dereke Tipler plans to play basketball close to home next season.

The New Madrid County Central senior point guard said Wednesday that he will play for Southeast Missouri State University next season. Tipler said he has agreed to join the squad as a walk-on for the first semester before going on scholarship beginning with the second semester.

"I'll be all right with that," Tipler said. "I told coach (Gary) Garner over the phone that I'm coming. I'm excited about it."

Since Tipler would technically begin his Southeast career as a walk-on, nothing is official until he actually enrolls this summer. Tipler has been recruited by a variety of colleges from junior college to NCAA Division I and could still sign with one of those schools (the spring signing period begins Wednesday), but insists he won't.

"My mind is made up," he said.

Tipler said he understands that because of NCAA scholarship limitations, the Indians have only three scholarships for the spring signing period and plan to use those to gain junior college players for immediate help after a 6-22 season. Tipler's scholarship in the second semester would count toward the following year's total.

Scholarship or not, the Indians will get an impressive player who could challenge for playing time next season.

At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Tipler averaged 20 points, eight assists and three steals per game this year and earned Class 3A all-state honors for the third straight season.

Tipler helped lead the Eagles to three consecutive appearances in the 3A state championship game. NMCC captured two titles before finishing second this year. Tipler, an all-state running back, was the star of an Eagles' football team that finished second in the state in the fall.

"Dereke is not only a tremendous athlete but also an exceptional young man," said Joby Holland, NMCC's basketball coach during Tipler's senior season.

The opportunity to play right away and a coaching staff that was honest with him attracted Tipler to Southeast.

"I like the coaches. They kept it up front with me. They were straight forward about everything," he said. "I think I can get a lot of playing time my first year. That helped me make my decision. I want to help them turn it around."

Tipler said the memory of Southeast's 1999-2000 season, their Ohio Valley Conference championship and narrow loss to LSU in the NCAA Tournament caught his eye early.

"I watched that game on TV. That's when I first got interested in them," he said. "I feel like I can come in and help them out, help get things back to normal."

Garner is prohibited under NCAA regulations by commenting on Tipler until he enrolls at Southeast.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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