Schools sign pair of WCCS alums
Published 11:50 pm Thursday, August 13, 2009
SELMA — Chris Walker of Aliceville and Michael Acoff and Ronald Lane, both of Selma, are marking Nov. 28 on their calendars.
The Tuskegee men’s basketball team plays at Florida A&M.
Maybe an explanation is necessary.
Walker and Acoff will be on the basketball court that day, but not as teammates. And Lane plans to be in the stands, not pacing courtside.
Walker and Acoff stopped by to see Lane on Thursday on their way to their colleges.
They are two of Lane’s success stories as men’s basketball coach at Wallace Community College-Selma.
The two are among the six WCCS sophomores who graduated off the latest Warriors basketball team.
Walker — a 6-foot-6, 200-pound power forward — got the attention of college recruiters with his 18 points and 13 rebounds a game. He decided on Florida A&M.
“I was impressed by the new arena,” said Walker, who said he was recruited by Montana State, Troy and Georgia State. “I think I will fit into their defense — which is man-to-man or press — and their run-and-gun offense.”
Acoff (6-6, 230, power forward) averaged 12 points and 13 rebounds a game last year at WCCS. He decided on Tuskegee.
“They run a man-to-man defense,” said Acoff, who looked at offers from Benedict College of Columbia, S.C.; and Columbus (Ga.) State.
“I feel like I can cover. Their offense is run through the veer on the post players,” he said.
Lane said Walker and Acoff were “a blessing” for his first-year team last season.
“They are good kids from good families,” he said. “They were the cornerstone to the team that went to the regionals last year.”
The six sophomores who graduated from last year’s squad were a testament to the school, Lane said.
“Their moving on in our first year as a staff, that means a lot,” he said.