TheTandD.com | Local players sign with Claflin

Local players sign with Claflin

By THOMAS GRANT JR.
T&D Senior Sports Writer Thursday, May 31, 2007

It's a promise many college coaches often make but rarely keep -- building a winning program utilizing homegrown talent.

Miriam Walker-Samuels is among the exceptions, having recruited some of The T&D Region's top players during her six seasons as Claflin University women's basketball coach. From Lakisha "The Microwave" Griffin to currently Jayshaun Bailey, Samuels has managed to convince local players to continue their college careers close to home.

As the Pantherettes continue to move toward becoming full-fledged NCAA Division II members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Samuels has found two more future cornerstones right in her backyard in forwards Donisha Albert of Swansea and Lasaundra Barron of Orangeburg-Wilkinson.

Just six months ago, Albert and Barron were on opposing sides as Swansea faced host team O-W in the finals of the Orangeburg County Sweet 16 Basketball Invitational. Albert outscored Barron 13-9, but it was the Bruinettes who came away with the 61-50 victory to hand the Lady Tigers their first loss of the season.

Both players went on to help their respective teams win 20-plus games and region championships. A four-year letterman who played in two Class 2-A Upper State finals, Albert led the eventual Region 4-AAA champion Lady Tigers in scoring at 20.2 points per game and averaged 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots a contest.

Although Albert was overlooked for the Carolinas All-Star Classic, the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association selected her as their "Miss South Carolina Basketball" for Class 3-A as the classification's Player of the Year.

When asked about her college choice, Albert said it the way she was recruited by Samuels that made her feel like she could become an important part of the Pantherettes.

"I know it's a good school and they have my major (math education)," she said. "But it's the way they wanted me there which is why I chose (Claflin)."

The 6-0 Barron was a major asset off the bench for the Region 7-AAAA champion Bruinettes. Providing another physical presence behind All-State forward Erika Sumpter, Barron nearly averaged a double-double (10.1 points, 9.3 rebounds per game) as a senior.

Barron follows in the footsteps of older brothers Alex, who was an All-American at Florida State and is entering his third season with the St. Louis Rams, and Zachary, who just completed a successful sophomore campaign for SIAC champion Benedict College.

She also fulfilled a promise made to her father and O-W boys' basketball coach Alex Barron of one day playing for an NCAA college basketball program.

"I was a little shocked," he said. "It was a little different with her because the boys started playing sports a little earlier than she did. She started playing in the seventh and eighth grade ... then got to O-W started to get herself in shape and (former O-W Coach Lyman) Foster helped her a lot and then, Coach (Joshua) Staley came in and used that platoon system and she did real well. With her size, she did real well."

Barron joins University of USC Aiken-bound guards Nakia Pinckney and Merita Curry as college-bound Bruinettes from the 2006-07 team. When Barron arrives at Claflin, she will be accompanied by another former Bruinette. Samuels confirmed Wednesday point guard Alisha Holmes is transferring to the Pantherettes after three seasons at East Tennessee State.

A four-year letterman at O-W, Holmes missed all of last season for the Lady Buccaneers while recuperating from a knee injury. As a freshman, Holmes played in 28 games and scored a career-best 10 points and dished out five assists against Tennessee State. She matched that career high the following season against Florida Atlantic and finished her sophomore campaign averaging 2.3 points in 12.8 minutes per game.

Along with Bailey, Haynes, Jessica Richardson (Claflin), Brittany Sumpter (Johnson C. Smith), Nicole Pittman (Temple) and Jade Robinson (Kennesaw State), Holmes helped guide the Bruinettes to an 87-5 record, four Region 4-AAAA championships, three Upper State finals and a state championship over her four seasons.

Holmes is also the fifth O-W player from the 2002 Class 4-A championship team that's signed a letter of intent with Claflin.

T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547.

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16 comment(s)

The following comments are reader submitted. They do not represent the views of The T&D or Lee Enterprises.

gottospeakonthis wrote on Jun 15, 2007 1:42 PM:

" In response to claflinbro, Dee and son of gamecock: I can not speak for any of the other players because I don't know them personally. However, I have had the opportunity to see Donisha Albert play and she is a great. The exceptional thing about her is that she does it in a skirt!! I happened to know personally that Donisha is an outstanding young lady who is well respected by her peers and her community. She graduated from Swansea high with a 3.8 GPA and with great SAT scores. She has received numerous awards for her many talents and abilities throughout her high school career. She is gifted both athletically and academically. She was courted by numerous colleges: Bethune-Cookman, Lander, Columbia College, and Winthrop just to name a few. She had her pick of some great colleges. Hats off to any coach who would even think about recruiting a player who only wears skirts. I remember from a previous conversation that I had with her in questioning why she chose Claflin out of all the schools that courted her (even some Div I, I think) that she replied, that the coach from Claflin impressed her the most and seemed the most sincere. Now that is saying a lot coming from a young person who often finds themselves used and deceived by hypocritical adults! No doubt some of her family would have liked to see her choose a more "prestigious (Div.I)" school but Donisha is the one who will benefit the most from her experience and education. Hats off to Donisha for having the guts to stick to her beliefs. Not many young people are doing that. I have absolutely no doubt that Claflin will be blessed for having her. I hope Donisha's experience will be one that she has envisioned. I am looking forward to seeing her play at the college level. "

son of a bull dog wrote on Jun 13, 2007 6:10 PM:

" Son of a Gamecock, thats funny, not every great high school student athlete go to USC and Clemson, you have some very smart students at both schools. Some reasons why a student athlete attends smaller school 1. Playing time 2. Close to home 3. the history of the HBCU "

BES Parent-Teacher wrote on Jun 12, 2007 10:48 AM:

" claflinbro, As a highly qualified Instructional assistant, and present academic coach, I have had the opportunity to teach Donisha. I assure you that Miss Albert is gifted both academically and athletically. Please believe in them. We need to stop the crabs in the barrel syndrome. "

Higherlearning wrote on Jun 12, 2007 10:17 AM:

" Great local players thats funny...You guys can't obviously know anything about basketball. These are not great players just local players. Whats all the fuss. "

Noonie wrote on Jun 10, 2007 7:43 PM:

" SCSU alumni. I dont know why you attend more Claflin games you getting the same hot mess. Basketball in this area is mediocre at best. If you want to beat the best you must recruit the best and I just dont see where that has happened. I just took a look at Tonya Mackey recruits and on paper they look better than Claflin. She just can't coach. "

Dee wrote on Jun 10, 2007 7:35 PM:

" I looked at these players and I'm still wondering whats the big fuss is all about. You just have a bunch of kids that could only play at Vorhees and Benedict. Whats the big deal? Claflin has always had a good Div II squad. "

Pantherman wrote on Jun 10, 2007 7:29 PM:

" People please dont hate on Claflin. We have come a long way. I was at Claflin from 1993-1997 and it was a hot mess. I think we are able to pull in these great players because we have renovated the entire campus. We wouldn't be able to recruit these players if it wasn't for these changes. I couldn't sleep at night thinking a roach or rat was creeping around in my room. Thank God we were able to come up. Yes, we have new buildings but we are digging ourselves deepper into debt just like Benedict.... trying to keep up with the Joneses. Yes our admissions progress is deplorable but all we can see is the nice buildings coming up. I'm frustrated because I know one of these ladies and all she can say is that we have nice buildings. "

Son of a Gamecock wrote on Jun 10, 2007 4:48 PM:

" Look I understand the logic behind recruiting kids in the area but this doesn't always equal or transform into a great team. I'm sorry but USC in past was thinking the same way but It didn't win championships. This is about Claflin not S.C State. Who's to say what will become of this recruiting class. Claflin has had some amazing teams in the past. They have always been able to out recruit state when it comes to girls. I went to several games at Claflin last year and was not impressed. It was more like a high school game. To be honest I see more kids at high school games. I also had a chance to see SCSU and had the same feeling. The bottom line is people dont rally around either of these schools. IF these kids are so great why wasn't they recruited by bigger schools. The bottom line these kids dont have the grades. Just look at the admissions process. You can get into Claflin with an 800 sat. You can get in SCSU with a 839 sat. Then we walk around talking about my school is #1 in this and that. Try raising the standards. Steve Spurrier has figured it out....you can't just win with local talent in S.C. People should support these schools regardless if they get one kid the area. I know you rather recruit a kid from the area so your attendance will go up from 500 to 550 that makes since. "

LOCAL SCSU ALUMNI wrote on Jun 10, 2007 3:14 PM:

" IT IS PAINFULLY APPARENT, THAT ONCE AGAIN CLAFLIN IS WORKING SMARTER THAN HER COUNTERPART S.C.STATE. COACH MACKEY HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPTS TO RECRUIT FROM THE TALENT POOL HERE IN HER OWN BACKYARD. WE RECRUIT FROM FAR AWAY, AND STILL DO POORLY IN THE MEAC. COACH MACKEY HAS NO PERSONNEL ON HER STAFF, THAT KNOWS HOW TO SCOUT OR GAUGE TALENT. WHY DIDN'T WE RECRUIT THE YOUNG LADY THAT WAS THE PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN T&D REGION. SHE SIGNED A SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY FOR CHARLESTON SOUTHERN. COACH MACKEY, WHY NOT GIVE THE ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR. WE WANT OUR TALENTED ATHELETES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BE RECRUITED HERE AT HOME. I GRADUATED FROM DEAR OLD S.C.STATE, BUT I ATTEND MORE CLAFLIN BASKETBALL GAMES, BECAUSE I GET TO SEE KIDS FROM MY COMMUNITY COMPETE ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL. IF YOU WERE A NATIVE OF ORANGEBURG, YOU MIGHT WOULD UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY BETTER. "

Claflinbro wrote on Jun 10, 2007 3:03 PM:

" Well hopefully these girls will graduate. I heard alot of these players are not doing very well academically. I hope its works out. Be careful Claflin these people will pit one HBCU against the other. It never fells. Just dont fall for it. Each school has something different to offer. We may have the better womens program but we have a long way to go. Now watch someone turn this into a Claflin vs. S.C State thing. "

"ORANGEBURG NATIVE" wrote on Jun 7, 2007 5:13 PM:

" MORE FAN SUPPORT AND PARENTS CAN CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THEIR CHILDREN ATHLETIC CAREER, NOT TO MENTION LARGER GATES. "

Orangeubrg wrote on Jun 4, 2007 8:42 AM:

" its obvious which college in town ha the better womens basketball program......great job Claflin keeping our girls at home! "

Panther fanatic wrote on Jun 4, 2007 8:41 AM:

" Great job Lady Panthers! "

SCSU fan wrote on Jun 4, 2007 8:41 AM:

" Coach mackey has to go! "

coach mackey has failed wrote on Jun 4, 2007 8:40 AM:

" how could SCSU not move on these players.....yet another example of why Mackey needs to go.....Claflin has onece again gotten the great local players to sign....this is not a knock on Claflin....its great that they can get the local talent to sign....its a knock on Coach Mackey, for getting out worked....AGAIN....thank God this is the last year of her contract... "

Claflin wrote on Jun 1, 2007 4:53 PM:

" Way to go Claflin now you need to work on a Marching Band and Football team again. Turnup the heat and make it better! All we need to do is work out something with SCSU on their away games and use their Stadium until we can do better.... "

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