Sports recruiting process in full swing

After another long season, the Eastfield Harvester basketball program has started the process of bringing in new recruits. The Harvesters had a great season winning the Mid-American Conference with an overall record of 22-10 before losing in the regional tournament.

 

   Eastfield hopes to attract the type of successful talent the team has had over the past two seasons. With two first- team NJCAA All-Americans in the past two years, and many players signing to play at four-year institutions, this program has been improving for years.

 

 The Harvesters will lose key players this season including All American point guard Marcus Brister who led the team in scoring averaging 17.4 points a game.  Also leaving are forwards Anthony Wells and Ronnie Dodd. Dodd led the team in rebounds, averaging 8.1 per game and Wells averaged over 11 points a game this season.

 

   All three players received scholarships. Brister will be attending Southeast Missouri State and Wells and Dodd will continue their education at Masters College outside of Los Angeles.

 

 Now Eastfield needs players who can step into these players' shoes and continue the winning trend.

 

 The job of recruiting falls upon head basketball coach Anthony Fletcher. Fletcher has proven he can bring real talent to this program.

 

 "It's all about going out and working hard to find good players," Fletcher said.

 

 Fletcher says recruits have only committed verbally at this time. These names will be released after players have officially signed.

 

 "We got good players coming in, and we have key players returning from last year," said Fletcher.

 

Small forward Kevin Harvey and shooting guard Kevin Arnold are the key players returning next season. Harvey averaged 9.7 and Arnold 10.1 points per game.

 

Since Eastfield doesn't offer scholarships, Fletcher understands that past success plays a big part in the recruiting process.

 

"These kids understand that this is an investment in themselves," Fletcher said. "Kids come here and play for a year or two and they have a great chance to move on to four year schools."

 

Freshman walk-on Jonathan Hayes wants to play at Eastfield because of the opportunity it brings.

 

"I have seen the talent in this team and they have done a good job in the past," he said.

 

"I believe I can work my way up and maybe earn a scholarship to a major college."

 

The recruiting process will continue through the off-season.