WESSON – Co-Lin Head Basketball CoachDennis Sims announces the signing of eight student-athletes whowill compete for the Wolfpack basketball team during the 2011-2012season. Signees include Fred Fairman, Daniel Washington and KeithJohnson, all of Brookhaven High School; Jay Case of West Lincoln,Roman Lofton of Crystal Springs, Chevelle Bonner of Wayne County,Joe Cunningham of Moss Point and Anthony Davis of Leesville High(LA).

    Fred Fairman, a 6-8 forward, helped the Brookhaven High SchoolPanthers to an excellent season in 2010-2011. Brookhaven finishedwith a record of 22-5 during his senior season and 20-8 his junioryear. As a senior, Fairman led the team in scoring with an averageof 14.9 points per game. He also led the Panther’s in rebounding byaveraging 10 boards per game.

“We are extremely excited about Fred comingto Co-Lin,” said Sims. “He is the type of player who continues toget better and we look forward to helping him grow as a player andman.”

    Daniel Washington, a 6-7 forward, was the defensive stopper for aPanther team that was known for clamping down on opponents thisseason. Daniel averaged 6.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game forthe 22-5 Panthers. Washington was also the team leader by averagingover 1 block per game.

    “Daniel might still be growing. It seems like every time he comesin to the gym he looks a little taller,” said Sims. “We’re going towork hard to bulk Daniel up some but his length and athleticability are what you need to play in this league.”

    Keith Johnson, a 6-0 guard, was the jack of all trades for the 22-5Panthers this season. A guard who also played inside when his teamneeded it, Johnson was one of the leading rebounders and bestleapers on the team. Johnson averaged 9.4 points and 5.8 reboundsper game for Coach Preston Wilson’s Panthers.

    “Keith is very quick, very strong for a guy his size, and best ofall he is very competitive,” said Sims. “Keith has a high motorthat should translate well to the college game.”

    Sims added, “We feel blessed to be getting all three of these guysfrom Brookhaven High. Coach Wilson has done a great job of makingthem better players and at the end of the day they all three wantedto join the Wolfpack. Good players who have the desire to come inand work are what we are always looking for.”

    Jay Case, a 6-1 guard, led the West Lincoln Bears to a  24-0 regular season record. Case wasa big reason for that unblemished record. Case averaged 21.6points, 4.4 steals, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists a game for CoachLane Young and the Bears who finished the year with a 28-1record.

    “Jay is just so competitive. He doesn’t want to lose at anything.It doesn’t matter if it’s cross-country, baseball, or basketball,Jay wants to win and will do whatever it takes,” said Sims. “Thatcompetitive fire is something we’ve been looking for all year andwe are excited Jay will bring that to Co-Lin.”

    Roman Lofton, a 5-8 guard, was a good player on a good team as ajunior. He was the main attraction for Coach Broderick Owen’s toughTiger team. Lofton was District MVP and led his team with a 16.5points per game average. Known as one of the best three pointshooters in the area, Lofton is a stocky guard who has improved attaking the ball to the rim. During the last week of his seasonLofton suffered a knee injury that kept him from competing for theTigers in the playoffs. Crystal Springs finished the season with a19-11 record.

    “Roman is working hard right now to get his therapy and rehab takencare of,” said Sims. “Like a lot of these kids he was the go toplayer for his high school team so he knows the hard work it isgoing to take for him to get back but we love his outlook andattitude so far.”

    Chevelle Bonner a 6-5 forward, knows something about winningchampionships. His Wayne County War Eagles just capped aspectacular 31-1 season with a 5A State Championship win for CoachRon Norman. Bonner averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds a game for adeep and senior loaded team. Bonner is the eighth member of hissenior class signing to play Junior College basketball nextseason.

    “Chevelle is a wide bodied post man who should be able to do somegood things for us,” said Sims. “He has a soft touch and his highschool team was very successful so we know that he’s beencoached.”

    Cunningham has been the go-to player for the Moss Point Tigers forthe last two years. A 5-8 combo guard with great scoring andleadership capabilities, Cunningham led Coach Micoe Cotton’s teamwith a 22 points per game average in his senior season. Cunninghamwas selected to the All-Coast team and led the district inscoring.

    “Joe is going to be great for us on the court and off the court,”said Sims. “He is polite, responsible, and he has a great will towin. We are very excited that he wanted to come to Wesson.”

    Anthony Davis, a 5-8 guard, hails from western Louisiana and callsthe town of Leesville home. Most people in Leesville probably neverheard of Wesson  but Daviscomes from a family with deep roots in Copiah County. His mothergrew up in Jackson and he has many family and friends that residein Hazlehurst.

      This season Davis completed hiscareer by suiting up for the Pickering High Red Devils.  Davis  helped Coach Eddie Thomas’s team to a29-4 record and a deep playoff run. Davis averaged 17.5 points, 6.3steals, and 6.2 assists per game.

    “Besides being a good player Anthony is a really great kid. Hisfamily serves in the military and he has spent a large part of hisadolescence living in Germany and Italy,” said Sims. “His familyhaving such deep roots in this area is a plus to go along with thefact that he is a really good player and an even betterperson.”