Nutt taps MAC for his sixth signee

Chalk up another new player for the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program.

First-year coach Dickey Nutt announced his sixth signee Friday, junior college power forward Eric McCrary.

The 6-foot-7 McCrary earned all-conference honors this year at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo., where he averaged seven points, five rebounds and two assists per game. He hit 45 3-point field goals.

"Eric is a big, strong player who will be a key piece of the puzzle as we put together next year's team," Nutt said. "He is a hard worker who absolutely wants to be the best student-athlete he can be.

"Eric is a coach's son who can shoot the three and bang inside. We are proud to have him."

McCrary is from Belleville, Ill., in the St. Louis area. Playing for his father Doug McCrary at Belleville East High School, he averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists in leading the Lancers to a 21-9 record his senior season.

McCrary, all-state honorable-mention in high school, played one season at Southwestern Illinois Community College before transferring to Mineral Area.

"I am looking forward to playing for Coach Nutt at Southeast," McCrary said. "Playing Division I basketball has been a goal and dream of mine for many years. I look forward to helping turn the program around at Southeast."

Former Missouri player Corey Tate, who coached McCrary at Mineral Area, believes McCrary will be a good fit for the Redhawks.

"Eric is a tough, hard nosed kid who was the heart and soul of our team at Mineral Area. He will do whatever it takes to win," Tate said. "He is a hard worker who gives everything he has. I think Southeast will be a great fit for Eric.

"I understand Coach Nutt and understand the type of players he is interested in because he recruited me [at Arkansas State] when I was a player."

McCrary is the fourth junior college player to sign with Southeast, joining 6-7 forward Leon Powell from Indian Hills (Iowa), 5-11 point guard Anthony Allison from Missouri State-West Plains and 6-2 combo guard Sam Pearson from Moberly (Mo.).

Southeast's other two signees are high school seniors, 6-5 wing LaQuentin Miles from Jacksonville, Ark., and 6-2 combo guard Marland Smith from Little Rock, Ark.

Also announced as joining the Redhawks next season will be Nutt's son Lucas, a 5-11 point guard who is a senior at Jonesboro (Ark.) High School. Lucas Nutt will be a walk-on at Southeast.

year's team," Nutt said. "He is a hard worker who absolutely wants to be the best student-athlete he can be.

"Eric is a coach's son who can shoot the three and bang inside. We are proud to have him."

McCrary is from Belleville, Ill., in the St. Louis area. Playing for his father Doug McCrary at Belleville East High School, he averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists in leading the Lancers to a 21-9 record his senior season.

McCrary, all-state honorable-mention in high school, played one season at Southwestern Illinois Community College before transferring to Mineral Area.

"I am looking forward to playing for Coach Nutt at Southeast," McCrary said. "Playing Division I basketball has been a goal and dream of mine for many years. I look forward to helping turn the program around at Southeast."

Former Missouri player Corey Tate, who coached McCrary at Mineral Area, believes McCrary will be a good fit for the Redhawks.

"Eric is a tough, hard nosed kid who was the heart and soul of our team at Mineral Area. He will do whatever it takes to win," Tate said. "He is a hard worker who gives everything he has. I think Southeast will be a great fit for Eric.

"I understand Coach Nutt and understand the type of players he is interested in because he recruited me [at Arkansas State] when I was a player."

McCrary is the fourth junior college player to sign with Southeast, joining 6-7 forward Leon Powell from Indian Hills (Iowa), 5-11 point guard Anthony Allison from Missouri State-West Plains and 6-2 combo guard Sam Pearson from Moberly (Mo.).

Southeast's other two signees are high school seniors, 6-5 wing LaQuentin Miles from Jacksonville, Ark., and 6-2 combo guard Marland Smith from Little Rock, Ark.

Also announced as joining the Redhawks next season will be Nutt's son Lucas, a 5-11 point guard who is a senior at Jonesboro (Ark.) High School. Lucas Nutt will be a walk-on at Southeast.

year's team," Nutt said. "He is a hard worker who absolutely wants to be the best student-athlete he can be.

"Eric is a coach's son who can shoot the three and bang inside. We are proud to have him."

McCrary is from Belleville, Ill., in the St. Louis area. Playing for his father Doug McCrary at Belleville East High School, he averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists in leading the Lancers to a 21-9 record his senior season.

McCrary, all-state honorable-mention in high school, played one season at Southwestern Illinois Community College before transferring to Mineral Area.

"I am looking forward to playing for Coach Nutt at Southeast," McCrary said. "Playing Division I basketball has been a goal and dream of mine for many years. I look forward to helping turn the program around at Southeast."

Former Missouri player Corey Tate, who coached McCrary at Mineral Area, believes McCrary will be a good fit for the Redhawks.

"Eric is a tough, hard nosed kid who was the heart and soul of our team at Mineral Area. He will do whatever it takes to win," Tate said. "He is a hard worker who gives everything he has. I think Southeast will be a great fit for Eric."

McCrary is the fourth junior college player to sign with Southeast, joining 6-7 forward Leon Powell from Indian Hills (Iowa), 5-11 point guard Anthony Allison from Missouri State-West Plains and 6-2 combo guard Sam Pearson from Moberly (Mo.).

Southeast's other two signees are high school seniors, 6-5 wing LaQuentin Miles from Jacksonville, Ark., and 6-2 combo guard Marland Smith from Little Rock, Ark.

Also announced as joining the Redhawks next season will be Nutt's son Lucas, a 5-11 point guard who is a senior at Jonesboro (Ark.) High School. Lucas Nutt will be a walk-on at Southeast.

year's team," Nutt said. "He is a hard worker who absolutely wants to be the best student-athlete he can be.

"Eric is a coach's son who can shoot the 3 and bang inside. We are proud to have him."

McCrary is from Belleville, Ill., in the St. Louis area. Playing for his father Doug McCrary at Belleville East High School, he averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists in leading the Lancers to a 21-9 record during his senior season.

McCrary, all-state honorable mention in high school, played one season at Southwestern Illinois Community College before transferring to Mineral Area.

"I am looking forward to playing for coach Nutt at Southeast," McCrary said. "Playing Division I basketball has been a goal and dream of mine for many years. I look forward to helping turn the program around at Southeast."

Former Missouri player Corey Tate, who coached McCrary at Mineral Area, believes McCrary will be a good fit for the Redhawks.

"Eric is a tough, hard-nosed kid who was the heart and soul of our team at Mineral Area. He will do whatever it takes to win," Tate said. "He is a hard worker who gives everything he has. I think Southeast will be a great fit for Eric."

McCrary is the fourth junior college player to sign with Southeast, joining 6-7 forward Leon Powell from Indian Hills (Iowa), 5-11 point guard Anthony Allison from Missouri State-West Plains and 6-2 combo guard Sam Pearson from Moberly (Mo.).

Southeast's other two signees are high school seniors, 6-5 wing LaQuentin Miles from Jacksonville, Ark., and 6-2 combo guard Marland Smith from Little Rock, Ark.

Also announced as joining the Redhawks next season will be Nutt's son Lucas, a 5-11 point guard who is a senior at Jonesboro (Ark.) High School. Lucas Nutt will be a walk-on at Southeast.