Trojans move on without Weathers, Clark

Here's the full story in Friday's Dothan Eagle on Troy basketball and how the Trojans shape up for next year, though a final roster spot will likely be filled at some point. You can read it on dothaneagle.com HERE.

BY DREW CHAMPLIN | dchamplin@dothaneagle.com

 

Troy men’s basketball coach Don Maestri confirmed Thursday that two players off last year’s team – leading scorer Will Weathers and reserve guard Daronte Clark – won’t be back with the team next year.

Weathers was Troy’s starting point guard for the last two years after transferring from Central Florida. He scored 12.2 points per game and led the Sun Belt in assists with 5.3 per game, but recently started exploring his professional options.

“He made some major contributions to our program, but he’s moving on and so are we,” Maestri said. “We wish him the best of luck, but he will not be back with the program.”

Clark came to Troy as a sophomore from Northwest Florida State College. He scored 4.7 points per game in 25 games. Maestri said he anticipated Clark transferring closer to his home in Gallatin, Tenn.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up in the Nashville area,” Maestri said. “He and his father are really close. He’s a fine kid, he always had a smile on his face and he did the right thing on and off the court, but everybody wants to play. That’s the name of the game.”

Troy has already signed four players, and with Clark and Weathers’ departure, still has a scholarship to give. Maestri said coaches are still searching for another guard, or possibly a transfer.

“The ideal thing would be to add another point guard,” Maestri said. “Antione Myers (signee) is a point guard all the way and an impact player. He’s fast and a great finisher, like (Chicago Bulls’) Derrick Rose. He’ll contribute immediately.”

Returning seniors Emil Jones and Alan Jones have been point guards before, though coaches want to leave Alan Jones at the shooting guard spot. Tevin Calhoun, a 6-foot-7 signee from Hill College in Texas, is another immediate impact player set to join Troy’s rotation.

The other two signees are Brevard (Fla.) Community College 6-foot-9 center Josh Warren and Pensacola State College guard Jeff Mullahey, a teammate of Myers.

“(Mullahey) is another kid who can stroke it,” Maestri said. “He’s another kind on a very unselfish team at Pensacola. He’s got very good basketball IQ.

“I feel pretty good about Josh. The deceptive thing about him is his statistics. When you watch him play, you’ll really like this kid. He plays like a dog gone guard who’s just trying to make the team. I have high hopes for him.”

Three scholarship players who redshirted last year – forwards Breon Dixon and Westley Hinton and guard Deonata Jethroe – are all scheduled to be back. Alan Jones (10.4 ppg) and Justin Wright, a forward (10.3 ppg) are the top returning scorers.

At 6-foot-3, Emil Jones led Troy in rebounding last year (5.9 rpg) and scored 9.6 ppg). The Trojans also return guard R.J. Scott (8.9 ppg) and forward Ray Chambers (4.9 ppg).