By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Height, experience and mental toughness, according to Ambassador coach Chris Lahm, are among the pluses of seven basketball signees announced by Ozark Christian College this week.
The size is represented by incoming freshmen Parker Ayers and Alex Scott.
The 6-foot-6 Ayers hails from Naples, Fla. Scott, 6-5, helped Seneca post a 23-6 record in 2008-09 and reach the first round of the Missouri Class 3 Tournament.
Five transfers include Carl Junction graduates Paden Bennett (6-1) and Justin Garretson (5-10) who are joining prep teammate Steven Tackett at OCC.
Bennett and Garretson, transfers from William Penn University of Oskaloosa, Iowa, will be sophomores in eligibility.
Austin Morris, 6-1, is another William Penn transfer with three years of eligibility remaining.
Completing the transfers are 6-2 Drew Hanson (Briar Cliff, Sioux City, Iowa) and 5-10 Trevor Mason (Kentucky Christian, Grayson).
Hanson will be a junior in eligibility, Lahm said, with Mason available for four years following an idle season because of injury.
“The transfers will bring a toughness to our team that we lacked last season,” Lahm said. “They have some experience under their belts.”
Ayers, who averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds, added 51 blocked shots in leading Lely to a final eight appearance. He was named the Class 4A Player of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association.
Ayers, in two all-star games, scored in double figures in each contest with a team-best 17 in one.
“Parker (Ayers) gives us the post player we need,” Lahm said.
Scott, as a senior, averaged 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds and shot 39.8 percent from 3 on 49-of-123.
“Alex (honorable mention all-Big 8) will bring a nice dimension to our squad from the perimeter,” Lahm said. “He can shoot over the defense and he can take the ball inside.”
The Ambassadors, 8-28 overall in 2008-09, had just two seniors in Brant Smith and Michael Stephens.
Sports
Height, experience represented in Ozark Christian newcomers
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