SE HOPES JUCO TRANSFER 'STOKES' INDIANS' OFFENSE

It's probably music to Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner's ears when Michael Stokes says he could care less about individual statistics or accolades.

Stokes, Southeast's first-year point guard, is being entrusted with running the Indians' offense this season."I just like to get everybody involved in the offense and find the open man," said Stokes. "I like to try to make the people around me better."It hasn't taken Garner long to see those attributes in Stokes."Mike is really an unselfish player. He'll get the ball to the open man," said Garner. "He really listens in practice and he works hard."Stokes, a 6-foot-,165-pound junior, came to Southeast with impressive junior-college credentials, helping to make the Indians' recruiting class among the nation's top 40 according to Hoopscoop.online.

Last season at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, Stokes averaged 17.6 points, six assists and three rebounds per game, earning most valuable player honors of the rugged Region 14 in Texas and being named to the all-tourney team at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament.

Stokes, a native of Emporia, Va., was recruited by several major programs, including Texas and Florida State. He said one of the reasons he chose Southeast was watching how close the Indians came to making last season's NCAA Tournament.

The Indians very nearly qualified for their first-ever Division I tourney berth a year ago, only to see Murray State hit a shot at the buzzer to beat Southeast in the finals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament."I wanted to come here and help them win a championship," Stokes said. "They were so close last year."During the Indians' two exhibition games, Stokes has shown Southeast fans the exceptional quickness and ballhandling skills that made him a coveted recruit. Last Sunday during a 92-70 win over Vasda, Stokes scored 16 points, dished out nine assists and grabbed six rebounds as he played 34 minutes.

Southeast fans will be looking for more of the same Friday night when the Indians open the regular season, hosting Western Carolina in a 7:30 tipoff at the Show Me Center.

Garner realizes how important Stokes and his fellow junior-college transfers Southeast has five in all will be as the Indians attempt to have another successful season."All five of our junior-college guys are going to play big roles for us," Garner said.n Garner said that four-fifths of the Indians' starting lineup for Friday night's opener is set, with the only question being at the shooting guard position.

Starting Friday will be Stokes and three of Southeast's four returning players from last season: Roderick Johnson and Mike Branson at the forwards and Brian Bunche at center.

At shooting guard, juco transfers Antonio Short, Amory Sanders and Emmanuel McCuthison are all possibilities to start. Short would have likely had the edge but he has been slowed some in practice by a sprained ankle, although he appears to be getting close to fully healthy.

Regardless of who starts among that trio, all figure to see a lot of action, as does juco transfer Nyah Jones at center."Right now, I'd say those eight players (the three returnees and five juco transfers) will get most of the playing time, with Drew DeMond (a forward who sat out last season with an injury) right behind them," Garner said.n Western Carolina went just 8-21 last season, including a 2-14 record in the Southern Conference, but the Catamounts figure to be improved this season with three returning starters.

The Catamounts' top player should be 6-7 forward Dondrall Whitmore, who averaged 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season.

Western Carolina, which made the NCAA Tournament four years ago, will remain in the state following Friday's game as the Catamounts head to Columbia for a Sunday contest with Missouri's Tigers.