Eagles Return to the Hardwood for First Practices of the Season
10/18/2011 9:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Men's Basketball officially opened the 2011-12 campaign with four practices in the first weekend of the season. The Eagles joined with the rest of college basketball with its first practice on Friday, October 14th.
"We had a great first weekend," said Head Coach Charlton "C.Y." Young. "We are light years ahead of where we have been in previous years. It is amazing the effect of having veteran guys around that know our system."
The first practice of the 2011-12 season was a return to the hardwood for senior point guard Willie Powers III (Gainesville, Fla.) who missed last season due to injury. Powers looks to score his 1,000th career point in the Eagles' season opener on November 12th against Valparaiso. He sits on 998 career points going into his final season in Statesboro.
"It was great to get back out on the court with my brothers," said Powers. "I like the way we are working as a team both on and off the court."
Fellow Senior Ben Drayton III (St. Marys, Ga.) enters his final season looking to improve on a 5-27 finish last season. Drayton picked up All-SoCon honors a year ago and averaged 15.8 points per game. Sophomore Eric Ferguson (Statesboro, Ga.) picked up SoCon All-Freshman Team accolades last season with 12.0 points per game from his position at forward.
"I'm delighted by the leadership of the seniors and ecstatic for the improvement of our freshman class," added Young. "I'm also very impressed by the determination of our newcomers."
Fans can get their first look at the 2011-12 Eagles at the Hanner Havoc event this Friday, October 21st, at 6 p.m. The list of events includes a dunk exhibition, three-point shootout, scrimmages by both the men's and women's teams and poster signings. There will be a free cookout prior to the event outside Hanner Fieldhouse beginning at 5 p.m.
Fans can follow their Eagles at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com or receive short updates at facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics or on Google+ at gplus.to/GSAthletics.
