Ring "Fingers"

Mama Guiot thought our former players and fans with a sense of humor would enjoy laughing at my crooked fingers filled with our rings.  D'Ante Harris blamed my messed up fingers on why he would break off plays but we all know he just wanted to shoot.  Most of the time, of course, we were glad he did.

Unfortunately, some championship rings never got made.

• 1994 Neosho County Conference Champions (A group of tough overachievers that had to make a mid-season turnaround with a first year college coach)

• 2000 Neosho County Conference Champions (Third in a row, I would say "Three-Peat" but have to give Pat Riley credit for the trademark) 

• 2001 Southern Utah University Conference Champs, Conference Tournament Champs, and NCAA Tournament Appearance (Fred House and Jeff Monaco are still screaming about not getting the rings and their total meal stipend)

After 2001, I made sure to come up with the funds to buy rings for championships, not really for the hardware, but to remember the people representing them.  GREAT MEMORIES OF GREAT RELATIONSHIPS!!

D'Ante Harris

ALL-MIAA

ALL-South Central Region

Back to back Conference Champions 2008, 2009

D'Ante's Youtube Highlights

"D'Ante was an explosive gamer, able to score in bunches and lift the crowd to their feet.  He brought his fearless attitude to the team and backed it up with his performance.  D'Ante is one of the key reasons SBU brought home the hardware and was a joy to coach."

Jeremy Logan

SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

2006

Conference Champs

Conference Tournament Champs

2008

Conference Champs

                                    2009

Conference Champs

"PUT IN LOGAN, PUT IN LOGAN"  The crowds would chant for Jeremy when they knew the Bearcats had the game in the bag.  I called Jeremy my cigar.  Putting Jeremy in the game was like Red Auerbach lighting his cigar.  Feb. 28, 2009, against Missouri Western, the Bearcats wound up the game to win the conference title.  As the fans chanted for Logan, I told him to check in the game and he pulled a cigar out of his sock to hand me as he ran to the scorers table.  The crowd went wild.  Jeremy has a talent for including others along his path to success.  He is the ultimate team player.

Click here to see where Jeremy is now:
Jeremy Logan Big Rentz Director, Operations

Ryan Dougherty

SBU 2008-2012

MIAA All-Conference

NCAA All-Region

Team Captain 3 years

Academic All-American

Active with Special Olympics

Student Athletic Advisory Committee

Physical Therapy Degree

NABC National Honors Court

Rex Brown Award

MIAA Ken Jones Award Finalist

School Records Broken - 3 point baskets made (218), games played (119), and minutes played (3,133). Ryan also ranks in the top 10 all-time in several other categories including: points (6th, 1,322), assists (7th, 318), and steals (5th, 136)

“Ryan Dougherty is an example of what excellence is in athletics and academics.  He has performed at the highest level in both areas while enduring personal injury and family tragedy.  Ryan has always honored his team, his family, and his community by demanding perfection from himself and doing his very best even when circumstances afforded him excuses to lower his expectations.  His lifestyle of “toughness” inspires those around him to raise their standards".

Nick Kovacevich

Successful Businessman Nick Kovacevich

NCAA Academic All-American

MIAA All-Conference

SBU Team Captain (2 Seasons)

2007-2009

Nick's SBU YouTube

"Nick was the heart and soul of our back to back championship teams that won 38 consecutive home games, the longest home-winning streak in the nation at that time.  While at SBU, Nick's carried the highest academic standards, charisma, the look, intelligence and was by far the hardest working basketball player we had at SBU.  Nick can do anything he puts his mind to."

Sheldon Pace

SBU 2004-2006 ALL-AMERICAN Bob Cousy Award Finalist NCAA All-Star Participant

"Sheldon Pace showed his incredible basketball skills by scoring when the game called for him to score, passing to make his teammates better and break down defenses, and shutting down the opposing teams key players.  His presence brought crowds to their feet and inspired unity among his team members and fans.  He is the type of player you drove the extra mile to watch and were never disappointed.  Sheldon has talented people skills using his charm and compassion which reaches from the special olympics athlete to the presidents of organizations."

Anthony Evans

Neosho County Community College
1997-1999
All-American
Academic All-American
NJCAA Student Athlete of the Year




University of Georgia



Great Article on "BIG ANT" from 2001.
http://www.redandblack.com/sports/anthony-evans-dispelling-the-stereotypes/article_7fec97fe-0298-5d36-914a-54a122a2961e.html

"Everyone loves "BIG ANT"!  Unless of course you had to guard him.  The gentle giant could physically dominate a game, and yet have the grace and speed of the Panther mascot he represented.  His powerful court presence is a sharp contrast to his overwhelming kind spirit to others.  Those giant calves were as quick to leap to the rim and they were to rush to pick up a teammate from the floor. One minute I called Anthony 'Super Sugar Bear' the next minute I screamed to the team, 'No one shoots the ball until Anthony touches it'.  Winners loves "BIG ANT"!"

Jim Grabowski

SBU 2005-2008
First Team All-MIAA
First SBU Player to win 2 Conference Titles

Before becoming a banker, Hometown Hero Jim Grabowski had the opportunity to play professional basketball for teams in Ireland and Portugal.

Jim made a great transition throughout his career from a role player to a superstar.  He accepted whatever responsibilities were asked of him to make the team better.  No player has won more post-season games at SBU that Jim Grabowski.  His All-American personality serves him well in the business world and makes him a success in whatever he pursues.

Jim's Highlights on YouTube:

Trez Kilpatrick

Neosho County Community College
1995-97
All-American





Graduated from Georgetown University
Played for Legendary John Thompson






"As a player, Trez was a true 'gamer'.  The bigger the game, the bigger and tougher he played.  Off the court, Trez had no problem showing his big heart.  From playing with the Panther Pal little athletes to reading books to kindergartners, Trez was an easy fan favorite.  He still works hard making better lives for young people."

Stan Johnson

Stan Johnson

Played his senior season for NCAA tournament team Bemidji State.  Played 3 seasons at Southern Utah (2001 NCAA Tournament).


Currently Assistant Coach at Arizona State.

Husband of lovely wife, Brittany, and father of Brooklynn and Myles.

My comments when Coach Johnson was hired at AZ STATE:  

“When we hired him at Southwest Baptist, I told our college president, ‘One day I’ll work for him,’ ” said Jeff Guiot, one of Johnson’s mentors. “That’s how good he is. I knew I wasn’t going to have him long. He was too big for this pond that we have here.”

Tomas Brock

Hillcrest High School Current Head Coach
	Former Assistant at Eastern Oklahoma University
Played at SBU 2008-11
	Missouri State University Player 2007-08

 "When I have given quotes to the media or had the privilege of  recommending Tomas for any job or award, the words sound too good to be true.  However, Tomas really IS the combination of the toughest, smartest, leader I've ever coached.  He uses the talents God has given him to the fullest, backed by his strength of character.  I truly believe he will continue to use his gifts in the smallest tasks and greatest challenges he faces."

Jannero Pargo

Current NBA player for Charlotte Hornets

Former NBA Teams: Lakers, Raptors, Bulls, NO Hornets, Hawks, Wizards

Played 1 season in Russia and Greece

Arkansas University 2000-2002

Neosho County Community College 1998-2000 (2 Conference Titles)

LINK:

Phil Jackson said Jannero Pargo was always prepared.

"Jannero did everything right.  He was a big-time overachiever, always ready to play when his number was called.  Jannero made everyone around him better on and off the court able to adjust his game to the need of the moment.  His work ethic, focus on details, self-discipline, team oriented personality has kept him in the NBA for 10 years.  He is the perfect example of how to maximize his abilities and opportunities."