WEST PLAINS, Mo. – A new era in Grizzly Basketball is beginning at Missouri State University-West Plains, and first-year Head Coach Chris Popp (pronounced “POPE”) thinks fans will be excited about the program’s new direction.
“I understand and appreciate the tradition of the Grizzly Basketball program. With that in mind, we’re starting off new in a lot of ways this year, and we’re trying to build things in a positive direction. This year, in particular, it’s all about the process, establishing how we’re going to do things. I want my team to compete in every day, every game. The goal is to establish a culture that will carry on year in and year out and, I believe, will equate to a lot of wins.”
Helping him in that endeavor is former University of Texas basketball standout Reggie Freeman, who was hired as Popp’s assistant coach in early June. “I’m very excited about having Coach Freeman on board. He is highly regarded in basketball circles across the country, as well as in Europe. He has a great ability to relate to these young men and will be priceless in their individual development as players,” Popp said.
Since joining the program, both coaches have been working hard recruiting new players to fill the team’s ranks. Popp said they’ve been searching for players who have the traits of winners – toughness, leadership, a feel for the game, and those other intangibles that go beyond athleticism, scoring ability and common skills which are used to evaluate players. “You want guys who will buy into being a team player,” he said.
Popp believes he’s found that in the roster he’s built so far. “It’s a good group, a talented group. Several of them have the toughness and the ability to get things done,” he said. “I look for guys who over achieve, and I feel like I have quite a few of those. We do have some talented players who will need to work on that, but it’s a good mix.”
THE PLAYERS
Among them is returning 6-foot, 3-inch redshirt freshman guard Lane Duncan of Licking. “Lane has impressed me with his work ethic this summer. He is a tough young man with a high motor. Those intangibles make him invaluable to our program,” Popp said.
Joining him are a number of freshmen, including recent signee Christian Robbins, a 6-foot, 1-inch guard from West Plains. “Christian is a local player who has a passion for this program. Both of his parents are Grizzly alumni,” Popp said. Robbins is the son of Jason and Melissa Robbins, West Plains, and Duane and Dominique (Savage) Edwards, Little Rock, Arkansas. A native of Alton, Jason played for the Grizzly Basketball team from 1994-96, and Dominique played for the Grizzly Volleyball team from 1995-96.
“Christian can really shoot the basketball,” Popp said. “As he improves in other areas, he has a chance to have a significant impact on our success.”
Other freshmen newcomers include Radshad Davis, a 6-foot, 5-inch guard from Nassau, Bahamas; Greyson Smallwood, a 6-foot, 11-inch forward from Portland, Oregon; Quinton Gray, a 6-foot, 3-inch point guard from Ontario, Canada; Darnell Butler, a 6-foot, 5-inch guard from Lafeyette, Indiana; Stephan Lakic, a 6-foot, 7-inch forward from Serbia; Marcus Blackwell, a 6-foot, 5-inch guard from Bridgeport, Connecticut; and Isaiah Brown, a 6-foot, 7-inch guard from Bronx, New York.
“Radshad brings strength and toughness to our team. He’s one of those guys who just finds a way to get things done,” Popp said. “Greyson has a unique ability to defend the basket. His length and athleticism is only a part of that. He has that knack to block shots. He also has the tools to become a very effective offensive player in a lot of areas.
“Quinton is exactly what I look for in a point guard,” the coach continued. “He has a great motor and plays very fast, yet is solid with the ball and a high level decision-maker. Quinton brings a lot of intangibles to the table. Darnell is a big, strong guard who can really score the basketball. He’s a good young man who has a high ceiling as a basketball player.
“Stephan is an extremely talented offensive player. He can score it inside and outside in a number of ways. He uses his athleticism to attack the rim. His versatility may be key for us this year,” Popp said. “Marcus is another big, strong guard. He can slide anywhere from the point to the forward position. He is a competitor and demonstrates leadership qualities that are important to have in our program. Isaiah is an extremely talented offensive player. He can really shoot the basketball and can score in all areas on the court.”
Popp also has signed sophomore transfer Dwayne Orija of London, England, from Gillette Community College in Gillette, Wyoming, to give the team some experience. “He was a significant contributor to a team that finished third at the national tournament last year,” the coach said of the 6-foot, 4-inch combo guard. “Dwayne brings experience and maturity with him as one of the few sophomores on the team, and that will be important. He also gives us another versatile player with the size and skill to play multiple positions.”
Despite being late to the recruiting game due to the timing of his hiring, Popp, who said he expects to add a couple of additional players in the coming days, feels he’s built the type of team he wants. “I expect my teams to compete. My teams play fast and play hard. We’re going to get out and run, and this is a team that’s built for speed. It’s an exciting brand of basketball. It’s what people want to see and what kids want to play,” he said.
THE SCHEDULE
It’s also what will be needed to face perennial powers such as Indian Hills Community College, Iowa Western Community College, Neosho County Community College and Southwestern Illinois College, all of whom are on the Grizzlies’ schedule this season.
“The schedule is not finalized, but it’s nearly complete,” Popp said. “We open at home with individual games against Southeastern Illinois Community College and Neosho County Community College, which is coming off a very successful season. They went two deep in the national tournament last year. Add to that our region teams, and we have a really tough schedule on tap. I’m especially looking forward to being part of the rivalry with Three Rivers College.”
As for the future, Popp expects the Grizzlies to compete for championships. “That’s the end goal. My approach has always been about the process. It’s who you become and the relationships you build through the game, but at the end of the day, we work with a goal in mind to compete for championships,” he said.
For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website or call 417-255-7991.