Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team returns new faces on frontcourt

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team returns zero minutes on the front line.

Trey Kellum, a 6-foot-7 forward, sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rules, and is the only Redhawks post player with Division I experience.

Kellum spent two seasons at Florida A&M and averaged 8.8 points in 31 games as a sophomore. He started 27 games that season, shot 49.6 percent from the field and had 22 blocks.

He scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the Redhawks' exhibition and had nine rebounds but will miss Southeast's first two games, along with teammate Ladarius Coleman, after violating departmental policies and procedures during the 2014-15 academic year.

Joel Angus III is the only other player with collegiate experience. The 6-7 Angus transferred from Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York, where he helped the Mustangs reach the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XV Championship.

He started 15 games and led the team with 15.4 points, on 55 percent shooting, and 8.5 rebounds.

Angus was sidelined for last weekend's exhibition due to a concussion but has since been cleared to play.

"I would say the guys that are coming back that have some maturity to them, like a Trey Kellum and a Joel Angus, who are physically strong kids, are probably going to be guys that will be able to help us more right away because of the fact that they have some experience behind them," Ray said. "Now finding some guys that can plug in behind them, because of the fact that they're physically strong, that's what we've got to figure out -- where guys like Jaylin Stewart and where guys like Tony Anderson come into the fold."

Jaylin Stewart, a 6-7 freshman, and Tony Anderson, a 6-9 freshman, played 12 and nine minutes, respectively, off the bench in Southeast's exhibition.

Stewart was 2 of 3 from 3-point range and finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Anderson scored six points and did not miss a shot on Saturday. He had one rebound, one assist and a block.

"I mean, you're talking about guys like Tony Anderson and Jaylin Stewart who just don't have the physical strength right now but are working very hard to get that physical strength," Ray said. "I think our strength coach Ryan Johnson does a tremendous job with those guys, but they're probably a year away from being physically able to go in and bang on a night in and night out basis with some guys on the court that are 21 and 22 years old.

"But I think they have the talent to be good players, but at some point in time it's going to be a physical challenge for those guys. But I like the way those guys are working, I like the dimension they bring to our team, their skill level and their ability to knock down shots from the 3-point line."

Walk-on Kyle Gullet is a 6-6 freshman forward. He had five points, two rebounds, three steals and one assist against Missouri S&T.

"Kyle is probably our best frontcourt shooter," Ray said in a release. "He's a bright young man who has been a pleasant surprise for us in practice."

Two other junior college transfer forwards previously had signed to play for Southeast but failed to become members of the team.

Clyde Santee, a 6-7 forward, signed a National Letter of Intent in May and did not join the team for summer activities while he tried to straighten out his academics.

It was announced Oct. 21 that Santee did not meet the qualifications of a 4-2-4 transfer.

He'd spent two seasons at Massachusetts prior to Odessa College, where he averaged 12.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists last year.

"We were looking forward to Clyde being a member of our basketball team," Ray said in a press release. "Unfortunately, Clyde was unable to complete NCAA requirements necessary for a 4-2-4 transfer."

Xavion Dillon's departure was announced the same day, citing a move home for personal reasons.

"We fully understand and support Xavion's decision to return home and wish him the best in his future endeavors," Ray said.

Dillon, who signed to play for former coach Dickey Nutt during the early signing period last November, spent two seasons at Southwest Mississippi State and averaged 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks last season.