With a 7-6 start to the 2010-2011 season, the Southeastern men’s basketball team opened league play last Saturday with a 64-54 win versus Southland Conference (SLC) foe Stephen F. Austin at home. The Lions are continuing to put together the pieces for sustaining their success, as head coach Jim Yarbrough recently announced the signing of two prospects out of Mississippi for the early signing period of the 2011-2012 recruitment class.

Southeastern inked Donovan Ross, a 6-foot-6-inch 195-pound forward out of Ridgeland, Miss., and Todd Nelson, a 6-foot-3-inch 185-point guard and an experienced junior college transfer from Itawamba Community College (ICC) from Brandon, Miss.  

“Todd’s a player who can play at the two or three spot,” stated coach Yarbrough in an Athletics Media Relations press release. “He’s a smart, steady kid and we’ve had some great success with players from Itawamba in the past with [current Lions] Jason Marks and Gary Dixon.”

Yarborough is confident that Nelson’s great shooting ability will help fill the void of departing senior guards Trent Hutchin and Dixon.

Nelson was intrigued about the opportunity of joining the Lions for the 2011-2012 basketball season.

“I am really thankful for this opportunity to be able to continue my education and still play basketball,” stated Nelson in an ICC Sports Information Department press release. “I look forward to being able to come in and make a difference right away.”

Yarbrough is excited about landing Ross and feels that he can aid the Lions with his 62 percent and 70 percent shooting abilities from the court and at the free throw line respectively.

“Donovan Ross is a very special high school player,” stated Yarbrough in the press release. “He’s a really explosive athlete who can step out and hit the mid-range jumper. He’s having a great senior season early on and will be an electric player for us next year. He’s a super young man who’s going to be a very good ambassador over the years to come at Southeastern.”

Both athletes have had a successful past. According to ICC Sports Information, Nelson averages a team-high 15 points and two assists per game with ICC and helped lead ICC to the regional championships last year.

“Todd is a great young man and has really improved and helped us get to the region championship game last year,” stated ICC head coach Marty Cooper in the press release. “He can really shoot the ball, but most of all he is really a great person and good student. He’ll be a perfect fit for Southeastern Louisiana’s program.”

On the other hand, Ross has been a dominant player on the high school level, averaging nearly a double-double, 18.8 points and nine rebounds, every game for Titans head coach Roderick Davidson. The Titans are currently ranked No. 4 in the Clarion Ledger Super 10 with a 17-1 overall record, while posting a 23-9 record last season.

Ross, a two-time All-Madison County first-team product and Jackson All-Metro team selection, was also named Most Valuable Player for the Titans in the district tournament last season.

“Donovan does a lot of great things for us,” stated Davidson in the press release. “Rebounding, blocking shots, he works hard and is always doing great things for us.”

For more information on Lions basketball visit www.lionsports.net or contact the basketball office at (985)-549-3744.