National Park College added two more players to each of the men's and women's basketball teams this semester ahead of the school's first season as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
The school's basketball schedule was announced this weekend with more than twice as many games scheduled as the 2016-17 season, when the Nighthawks competed as club teams. The women's team will open the season on Nov. 2-3 at the Pioneer Classic tournament in Harrison at North Arkansas College. The men's team will play the first home game of the season on Nov. 5 against Cossatot Community College.
Additions to the men's team include Preston Crowder, a 6-6 forward who redshirted last season with the Henderson State Reddies in Arkadelphia, and Jaren Richards, a graduate of eStem High School in Little Rock. Crowder's father, Garry Crowder, is the head coach of the women's basketball team at Ouachita Baptist.
"He can really shoot it and has good size," said NPC men's head coach Jason Hudnell. "He is a smart kid and will also be a part of the Honors College at NPC. I look forward having him as another scoring threat for us next season."
Crowder earned Class 4A All-State honors his senior year at Arkadelphia High School. The three-year letterman for the Badgers scored 1,039 points in his career, averaging 16.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a senior.
"I chose to be a Nighthawk because it's a great opportunity to further my career as a basketball player while helping start a new program," Crowder said.
The 5-10 Richards led eStem to a 21-13 record in 2017-18. The Mets exited the Class 4A state tournament in the first round.
"I chose to be a Nighthawk because I loved what the coaching staff presented to me, and I already knew many of my teammates and knew they were great people on and off the court," Richards said.
Richards averaged 17 points per game, seven rebounds and four assists at eStem.
"Jaren is a tremendous athlete with an infectious personality," Hudnell said. "His athleticism really impressed us when we saw his film. He brings us a great on ball defender and a guard that can really attack the rim."
The Nighthawks return their leading scorer and rebounder for 2018-19 in 6-6 Bryant forward Braylon Steen. The team's second-leading scorer, K.J. Corder of Hot Springs, and second-leading rebounder, Lowell Washington, also of Bryant, also return, as well as starting point guard Seth Duke, of Gravette, and Logan Willett, a guard out of Faith Prep Academy in West Memphis.
Jessieville graduate Alex Burleson and Mountain Pine graduate Tyler Zander were among 10 new signees for the team in the spring. Other signees included Garrison Branscum, Perryville; Patrick Greene, Little Rock Mills; David Jaggers, Mayflower; B.J. Lacey, Malvern; D.J. Martin, Pine Bluff; Desmond McDonald, Hope; Dayten Wishon, Gravette; and Brady Woodall, Manila.
The women's team also added a Division II transfer from Arkadelphia in the spring. Mountain Pine's Hailee Crosby transferred from Ouachita Baptist.
New head coach Marvin Moody finalized his roster with two additions from West Fork ahead of his first season with the team. Dara Smith transferred to NPC from Ecclesia College in Springdale, and Brianna Barger joins the Nighthawks as a new signee.
"I chose to come to NPC because of the family environment that I felt the moment I stepped on campus," Smith said.
"She will provide us with valuable experience and leadership," Moody said.
Barger averaged eight points and 10 rebounds per game last season at West Fork.
"I chose NPC because of the beautiful campus and the opportunity to continue my basketball career," Barger said.
"Brianna has a very high basketball IQ, which will be a tremendous asset to our team," Moody said.
The team's spring signings were Summer Godwin, of Mountain Pine; Logan Keener, Lake Hamilton; Trinitee Nevels, Hot Springs; Megan Collins, Ouachita; and MaKayla-Kai Montiho, Poyen. The women's team also returns its leading scorer and rebounder in Faith Bratton, of Jessieville, as well as Fountain Lake's Bailey Womack and Kayla Sims and Malvern's Laney Wallace.
Sports on 08/28/2018