Men's Basketball

Summer Roundup: Men's Basketball AUGUST 06, 2007 As the summer begins to wind down and the new school year approaches, the LSUS men’s basketball team has yet to slow down. Since the conclusion of a disappointing loss to Azusa Pacific University in the NAIA National Tournament, the Pilot coaching staff and players have remained extremely busy both on and off the basketball court. The following stories are a brief update of what the Pilots have been doing this summer: Pilot Basketball Camps a Huge Success – For the fifth consecutive summer, attendance at the LSUS summer basketball camps continues to grow. Considered by many to be the best individual basketball camp in the area, over 250 kids from all over the country attended at least one of the three LSUS basketball camps that were offered in early June. Although most of the individual instruction these young boys and girls receive is from the Pilot coaching staff, it is the LSUS men’s basketball players that continue to make the camps special. The chance for a camper to play their favorite Pilot player in a game of one-on-one, H-O-R-S-E, or knockout is always the biggest thrill of many in attendance. With all of the repeat campers who continue to come back every summer, the LSUS coaches and players must be doing something right! In addition to the individual camps, the LSUS Pilot Team Camp was also a success. With 14 teams in attendance once again this summer, the camp featured some of the best local and area talent. The fierce two-day competition gave several high school players the opportunity to play at “The Dock,” and it also allowed the Pilot coaching staff to evaluate some of the local talent in their own gym. Players, Coaches Give Back to Community – The 2006 NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Award winners were back at it again this summer. Recognized for their efforts both on the basketball court and in the community, the Pilot basketball team continues to give back to local schools and churches. For the second consecutive year, several men’s basketball players made a visit to Noel United Methodist Church for their Upward basketball camp. The Pilot players “wowed” those in attendance with their exceptional shooting and ball-handling skills, along with several high-flying dunks in the dunk contest. Seniors Josh Porter and Jamon Morris also served as motivational speakers for the many kids in attendance. At the conclusion of the event, the players signed basketballs, t- shirts, and posters for all of the campers. On August 11, several players will assist with the set-up and breakdown at the Volunteers for Leadership Summit held at First Baptist Church right here in Shreveport. In addition to all of the player’s community service efforts, men’s head basketball coach Chad McDowell visited a local church this summer as the feature instructor at the First Baptist Church of Shreveport’s basketball clinic. Kids between the ages of 5 and 13 were given individual basketball instruction by the four time LABC coach of the year. Not only did Coach McDowell spend the five days teaching these young kids the game of basketball, but he also taught them on how to be a winner in life. McDowell was also the guest speaker at the Doyline High School athletic banquet in early May. Doyline is the alma mater of two future Pilot players, Cody Walker and Ta’Kevin Huey. Assistant coaches Ryan Edwards and Kyle Blankenship were also involved this summer in several community service events. Coach Edwards helped serve as a basketball clinician for Camp Shriver, a Special Olympics organization in Louisiana. Coach Blankenship was the basketball camp coordinator at Project 61, an annual inner-city sports camp at Comanche Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Both of these events allowed each coach to give back to those that might be considered less fortunate than others. Pilots Participate in Firecracker 5k – The LSUS Pilots had an explosive start to our nation’s independence day. On July 4, several players and coaches of the men’s basketball team participated in the annual Firecracker 5k run that benefits the American Cancer Society. An estimated crowd of over 3,000 runners and walkers took part in this year’s race. Josh Porter was the first LSUS player to finish the race, crossing the finish line in just over 22 minutes. Coach Ryan Edwards took home the bragging rights amongst the coaching staff, finishing with a time of 23:40. In other notes, athletic trainer Lance Champagne and men’s basketball player Chris Wafer, who ran the entire race with a 25 lb. weight vest strapped on his back, both finished the race in less than 30 minutes. Will Josh Porter Play in 2007??? – After suffering a season ending and life threatening injury in just the seventh game of the 2006-2007 season, All-American Josh Porter remains hopeful of stepping back onto the floor at “The Dock” wearing a Pilot uniform once again. Porter, who broke the C5 vertebrae in his neck, continues to rehab and make the necessary progress towards his goal of playing for the Pilots in 2007-2008. After only playing in five games prior to his injury, Porter was granted a medical hardship by the NAIA, allowing him an additional season of competition. Porter has already been released by his doctor for participation in non-contact drills; however, he is still waiting for a full release which is expected in September. According to head coach Chad McDowell, he and the entire basketball team expect to see Josh Porter back on the basketball court this fall! Men’s basketball players will report for classes on August 27. The Pilots will open up the 2007-2008 campaign on November 2 on the road against Southwest Assemblies of God University. A complete 2007-2008 player roster and season schedule will be released once they are finalized. Men's Basketball Releases 2007-2008 Schedule AUGUST 27, 2007 Shreveport, La. – On Monday, LSUS men’s basketball head coach Chad McDowell released his team’s 2007-2008 schedule. The 2007-2008 schedule has the Pilots facing three non-conference opponents who advanced to the NAIA National Tournament last season and three NCAA Division 1 programs, including McNeese State, Centenary College and the Northwestern State Demons. The Pilots return three starters and five lettermen overall from last year’s team which finished 25-7 overall, won their second consecutive conference tournament championship and made their 3rd straight appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. In addition, Coach McDowell and his staff have added a very talented recruiting class to the 2007-2008 roster. “We are excited about the quality schedule we have put together,” said McDowell. “There is not one night that we can afford to not play our best game and expect to win. Our non-conference schedule will be a good test for us, and the GCAC is as tough as ever. The team we have assembled along with our schedule will make for another exciting year.” LSUS will open up the pre-season with an exhibition contest versus NCAA Division 1 McNeese State on October 31. This will mark the second time in three years that the two programs have met in an exhibition game. McNeese State defeated the Pilots 91-81 in the 2005-2006 season. LSUS will begin the 2007-2008 regular season slate on the road in Waxahachie, Texas, in the Pepsi Classic November 2- 3. The Pilots will play Paul Quinn College in the season opener on Friday night, and then will face another Red River Athletic Conference opponent and tournament host Southwest Assemblies of God University on Saturday. The Pilots will return back home on November 6 for their first game in Shreveport; however, this game will not be played at “The Dock.” For the first time in school history, the Pilots will travel across town to face Centenary College. Two nights later, the Pilots will travel over to Tyler to face Texas College (11/8) in the first of two games between the two schools this season. Texas College will make a return trip to Shreveport (11/28) to face the Pilots at “The Dock.” On November 12, LSUS will finally play its first home game on the season. The Pilots will play host to Jarvis Christian College, a 2007 NAIA National Tournament qualifier. LSUS and Jarvis Christian will also meet for the second time on the year December 6 in Tyler. Other non-conference games on the schedule include road contests versus ETBU (11/20), Wiley College (12/4), Southwest Assemblies of God University (12/14) and the 2006 NAIA National Champion Texas Wesleyan University (12/15). A home contest versus the University of Texas-Tyler is scheduled for Saturday, November 24. In the final of three exhibition games versus NCAA Division 1 schools, LSUS will travel to Natchitoches to face the Northwestern State Demons (12/8). The Pilots and Demons have battled three times in the last four seasons with the Demons prevailing in all three contests. Following a very tough and challenging non-conference schedule, things won’t get any easier as the Pilots enter the New Year and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference play. The Pilots will begin the conference season on the road in New Orleans for games against Loyola University-New Orleans (1/3) and Southern University-New Orleans (1/5). Belhaven College and Dillard University will be the first two conference opponents to make an appearance at “The Dock” in 2008.

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