SOUTHEAST BASKETBALL ADDS HEIGHT WITH MAC CENTER

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner has added some serious size for next season's team.

Garner announced Monday that Terry Rogers, a 6-foot-10, 265-pound center from Mineral Area Community College in Park Hills, has signed a national letter of intent to attend Southeast in the fall.

Rogers' numbers at Mineral Area last season were not eye-opening as he averaged 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while blocking 34 shots. But Rogers shot 57 percent from the field, which ranked third in the region, and is considered strong around the basket.

"We're happy to sign Terry Rogers because he really gives us a physical presence inside," said Garner. "We lost both Roderick Johnson and Brian Bunche inside and we need to replace that size and strength.

"His stats are really misleading. He played in a system (at Mineral Area) that really relied on guards pressing and running like crazy. He has the potential to be a good scorer around the basket. He won't step out on the floor, but he has a nice little jump hook. And he'll be a good rebounder."

Rogers was a McDonald's All-America nominee as a senior at East High School in Memphis, Tenn., and he originally signed with the University of Memphis but did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements. He enrolled at Northwest Mississippi Junior College for one season before finishing his junior-college career at Mineral Area.

Mineral Area coach Tim Gray, whose squad went 19-13 last season, believes Rogers will fit in well at Southeast.

"Rogers is a hard worker who is as big as the Show Me Center," Gray said. "He has good offensive abilities around the basket. He should prosper in the triple post offense."

Rogers is the second player Southeast has landed during the spring signing period, the other being 6-5 forward Monte Gordon, who averaged 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds last season in helping lead Kankakee (Ill.) Community College to a fourth-place finish at the national junior-college tournament.

Southeast officially has one scholarship remaining, but another one could possibly become available if backup point guard Fred Abraham transfers, which has been rumored.

Guard Joel Shelton, a senior at Vashon High School in St. Louis who was recently named Missouri Player of the Year, is reportedly leaning toward Southeast and could sign in the next few days.

The Indians are also still in the running for Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College forward Jason Wilson, who is still unsigned. The spring signing period ends Monday.