2012-13 JUCO Preseason Tips Off This Weekend

Although the start of "official" practices was just a few days ago, over 60 NJCAA teams will be putting their squads through an early test this weekend at the Mullen-Mitchell Jamboree in Dallas, Texas.

Among the participants with be South Plains (TX), the 2012 NJCAA Division I National Champions. The Texans, coming off an unbeaten 36-0 season, will open the two-day event on Friday at 11 a.m. at Collin County Community College against Indian Hills (IA), who finished seventh in this year's national tournament.


Four other national tournament contenders will see action in Dallas: Seward (KS), the third-place finisher at the nationals, fourth-place Eastern Oklahoma, seventh-place Indian Hills (IA) and Navarro (TX).

One of the key contributors for South Plains during their title run last season was Brooklyn (NY) native Tymell Murphy, who attended Marcy Campus HS and did one year at upstate Mohawk Valley before transferring to SPC. Murphy, who averaged 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Texans last season, has moved on to play for Florida International.

Brooklyn, however, will still be represented this season in Levelland, however, as 6-6 Malik Nichols (Boys & Girls HS and Bridgton Academy) and 5-9 Darrel Lucky (Robeson HS and NIA Prep) are both on the South Plains roster for the 2012-13 season.

Big Apple Sports will be watching Nichols and Lucky along with at least two dozen other New York-area players who will be in Dallas this weekend.