Why Little Rock?

Trojans are the OVC Favorites

(St. Louis, MO) – After tying for the Ohio Valley Conference basketball title last year, we’re sharing why Little Rock will win the championship this season. ULR, Western Illinois and Morehead State ended in a three-way tie and Darrell Walker’s team seems to have the edge over the other OVC schools.

What makes the Trojans special? Why Little Rock?

Let’s start with guard K. K. Robinson. The graduate performer returned after an all-conference and all-newcomer season where he averaged 15.8 point, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He dominates everyone’s preseason, player of the year acknowledgements.

He is good enough from deep (32%) and gets to the line (117 free throws) and makes his charity opportunities (84%). At just 6’ tall he recorded 19 blocks and 34 steals. The former Arkansas and Texas A&M player, does it all.

Walker says Robinson could easily average 16 points and seven assists per game and he is excited about Robinson’s growth as a leader. Robinson has taken a more vocal role on this year’s team.

Why Little Rock – Talented Depth

Senior guard Jordan Jefferson returns for his fourth season with Walker. The 6’4 guard averaged 6.4 points last season and has appeared in 81 games (starting 54) and collected 611 career Trojan points. He and Robinson lead the cultural piece of Walker’s program.

Creed Williamson returns and the 6’8 sophomore appeared in 29 Trojan contests last year. Corliss Williamson’s son was a top-200 player coming out of Little Rock Christian Academy and then spent a year at Link Year Academy. Walker expects solid improvement from the local product.

Extremely talented transfers bring the depth, length and speed that Walker wants in implementing his desired defensive schemes.

Creighton transfer Jonathan Lawson and LSU transfer Mwani Wilkinson have ‘power conference’ experience and were each top-100 prep players. Lawson spent one year at Memphis. Neither played big minutes at their previous stops, but the 6’5 Wilkinson and 6’7 Lawson add length and big time experience to the Trojans.

Tuongthach Gatkek spent a year at Florida and one at Texas State and Walker believes the 6’9 post player could be the OVC’s best interior defender. Limited to just twelve games last season, he recorded 13 blocks and averaged 4.3 points per game.

Walker is high on his junior college transfers. Garden City’s Charles Chukwu averaged nearly nine points and over seven rebounds last year and Isaiah Lewis was his region’s player of the year. The 6’9 Chukwu adds depth to the post, but ULR has size everywhere.

6’8 Ante Beljan returns from injury. The Croatian forward is joined in the Trojan frontcourt by 6’11 Serbian Nikoa Milosevic ande 6’9 freshman Caleb Pennyfeather.

Why Little Rock? – Walker Factor

Walker played at Arkansas and then spent ten playing seasons in the NBA. After spending 20-years coaching at the professional level, he ‘came home’ to take over the Trojan program. He has won two conference titles in his first six seasons in the ULR lead position.

Walker’s ability to relate to players and help build team unity is exceptional. While he believes players create the chemistry, it is his ability to give the both freedom and guidance to become more unified is why he excels.

The Trojans lost the OVC Tournament championship game last season and Walker and his returners are on a mission to win that title game in Evansville and reach the NCAA Tournament.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo of K.K. Robinson courtesy of lrtrojans.com.