Sidelines
Chester Webb, Big Man on Campus
The No. 22 jersey of Chester Webb, the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in the history of Georgia Southern men’s basketball, was retired in January.
Webb, a two-time All-American and NBA draft pick, has his name etched in the program record book 18 times. The 6-7, 180-pound center from Elberton, Ga., was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution collegiate All-State Team all four years of his career and was the first freshman to be selected to the squad, as well as the first individual to earn the honor every year of his career. Webb’s jersey joins those of Scotty Perkins (No. 15), Jeff Sanders (No. 42) and Michael Curry (No. 20) retired by Georgia Southern.
Tech QB Shaw now an Eagle
Jaybo Shaw, Georgia Tech’s No. 1 backup option quarterback the past two seasons, has enrolled at Georgia Southern. The Flowery Branch, Ga., native is likely the leading contender for the quarterback position this fall. Shaw arrives as a junior and is eligible to play immediately.
Men’s basketball scores big recruiting class
The future looks bright for Charlton “C.Y.” Young’s basketball Eagles. ESPN has ranked the Eagles’ 2010 recruiting class as the best in the SoCon.
All four signees earned high rankings from national scouting services. The incoming class also earned an honorable mention in ESPN’s rankings of the top recruiting classes for mid-major programs. Eleven teams were ranked (including a tie for 10th) with 16 programs earning honorable mention status. Georgia Southern was the only Southern Conference team listed.
Signees were: Marvin Baynham, F, 6-7, 195, Miami, Fla. (Norland); Tre Bussey, G, 6-3, 165, Lithia Springs, Ga. (Lithia Springs); Eric Ferguson, G, 6-8, 175, Statesboro, Ga. (Statesboro); Sam Mike, F, 6-8, 220, Atlanta, Ga. (Columbia).
Freshman Brent Russell rakes in honors
Redshirt-freshman defensive lineman Brent Russell from Comer, Ga., was named Most Valuable Player by vote of his teammates at the annual postseason football banquet in January.
The award was just the latest honor garnered by the freshman. Russell was named the 2009 Freshman of the Year for the Division I Football Championship Subdivision by the College Sporting News. He was also selected as First Team All-Southern Conference by the SoCon Sports Media Association and Defensive Rookie of the Year by Southernpigskin.com, earning a spot on the Web site’s 28-man All-SoCon Team.
Athletics Hall of Fame seeking nominations
The Georgia Southern Department of Athletics is accepting nominations for the Athletics Hall of Fame 2010 induction class. Nominations must be submitted by May 15.
Hall of Fame induction is open to persons who have made an outstanding contribution to Georgia Southern as a superior competitor, a coach, administrator or athletics official, or a supporter who has made significant contributions to the advancement of athletics.
Nominations and supporting documentation may be mailed to Department of Athletics, P.O. Box 8115, Statesboro, Ga., 30460. Complete guidelines may be found on the Hall of Fame link at georgiasoutherneagles.com.
Volleyball celebrates a record-setting year
A 20-win season highlighted a record-setting year for Eagle volleyball.
The squad ended its year with two All-Conference selections, three SoCon Player of the Week picks, two record-setting players, four season series sweeps, four different All-Tournament Team honorees and one Tournament MVP. With only one senior and 10 freshmen and sophomores, a team of 15 players recorded the best season since 2005, going 21-10 overall, 11-5 in Southern Conference play and an astounding 13-2 at home.
Baseball inks nine players for 2011
The baseball Eagles, coming off a 2009 Southern Conference Tournament championship and number two seed in the NCAA Regionals, received commitments from four pitchers and five position players for the 2011 season.
The signees are: Josh Adams (P, 6-2, 185, R-R) Bath, S.C. (Midland Valley HS/Spartanburg Methodist); Stryker Brown (INF, 5-11, 175, L-R) Rocky Face, Ga. (Dalton HS); Taylor Burke (P, 6-0, 180, L-L) Statesboro, Ga. (Bulloch Academy); Tyler Christman (P, 6-2, 180, R-R) Sumter, S.C. (Sumter HS/USC Sumter); Lucas Hart (P, 6-3, 165, R-R) Kennesaw, Ga. (North Cobb HS); D.J. Henderson (INF, 6-2, 175, R-R) Detroit, Mich. (Southeastern HS/Olney Central); Taylor Jones (OF, 6-1, 185, L-R) Kathleen, Ga. (First Presbyterian Day); Ben Morgan (INF, 5-9, 165, R-R) Evans, Ga. (Greenbrier HS); and Jesse Piccolo (C, 6-1, 190, L-R) Flagler Beach, Fla. (Palm Coast HS/St. Johns River CC).
For complete bios, the 2010 schedule, or to purchase tickets visit georgiasoutherneagles.com.