Seven sign to play basketball for Coker

Coker University men’s basketball has added seven signees for 2019-20, first-year head coach Jarred Merrill announced last week.

Royce Hunter, Jaylin Stewart, K.J. Harris, Noel Pinnock, Sparky Fabre, Williams Onyeodi and Chris Swiney have signed on to play basketball at Coker.

Harris and Pinnock will have three years to play since they were only freshmen a season ago. In total, the Cobras will bring in four transfers and three true freshmen.

Hunter joins Coker from Coastal Bend College, where he was a member of the basketball team. In a Coastal Bend uniform, he averaged 15.4 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game while also being named Second Team All-Conference.

He had nine games where he scored at least 20 points, including a season-high 26 against Blinn Junior College. He also attended Ranger Junior College as a freshman, where he averaged 7.0 points per game under Billy Gillispie.

Before junior college, he was a member of the J. Frank Dobie High School basketball team.

He averaged 12.6 points per game as a junior. As a senior, he averaged 21.5 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game, and was the 6A District MVP. In the classroom, he was an honors student. He also played AAU basketball for the Houston Top Guns. The Houston, Texas, native is the son of Roy and Ginger Hunter, and plans to major in business.

Stewart comes to Coker from Walsingham Academy where he played basketball. He was the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) Player of the Year in 2017-18, while also being a three-time All-Conference First Team selection. He was a two-time All-State selection by the VISAA, and also named a Daily Press All-Star twice. He was named the Walsingham Academy Athlete of the Year in 2018-19.

In total, he scored over 2,000 points, dished out over 500 assists and pulled down 500 rebounds during his high school career. Away from the hardwood, he was the leader of his school’s Spirit Club for two years. He also played AAU basketball for Team Richmond Garner Road. The Petersburg, Va., native is the son of Terrelle Stewart, and plans to major in business.

Harris joins the Cobras from Otero Junior College where he was a member of the basketball team. In an Otero uniform, he averaged 8.0 points per game and 6.0 assists per game. He shot 43.5 percent from downtown and 52.0 percent from the field last year.

He also posted eight double-digit assist games while ranking 11th in JUCO in assist to turnover ratio and also ranking 22nd in assists.

Prior to junior college, Harris played basketball at McKinney North High School. He averaged 14.0 points per game, 5.0 assists per game and 4.0 rebounds per game and he was also named All-District Team Most Valuable Player.

Academically, he was a member of the National Honor Society. The McKinney, Texas native is the son of Valerie and Kenneth Harris, and plans to major in business.

Pinnock comes to Hartsville from Redlands Community College where he was a member of the basketball team. He scored a career high 20 points on three occasions and averaged 10.0 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Before community college, he was a member of the Fort Bend Elkins High School basketball team. He was named Honorable Mention in 2015-16, and the team was a state finalist in 2016-17.

Academically, he was named cum laude in 2016 and also a member of the honor roll.

He also played AAU basketball for M&E Elite, who were the 2016 EYBL Big Cup Champions. The Houston, Texas native is the son of Noel and Tiffany Pinnock, and plans to major in business.

Fabre comes to Coker from Lake Brantley High School where he was a member of the basketball team. In a Patriots uniform, he averaged 15.0 points per game, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. He was also named First Team All-Conference and All-Area Honorable Mention in 2019. Academically, he was a member of the honor roll and he was also involved in peer counseling and the sunshine club.

The Longwood, Fla., native is the son of Sheffie and Gudrun Fabre, and plans to major in either business or sports management.

Onyeodi comes to Hartsville from Fayetteville Academy where he played basketball and soccer and also competed in track and field.

On the basketball court, he was selected to All-State, All-Tournament, All-Conference and 910 prep second teams. He was also part of a NCISAA 2A state championship and a regular season conference championship team.

Academically, he was named to the honor roll and he was also a member of the Brave Club.

He also played AAU basketball for Team Felton. The Raeford, N.C., native is the son of Franklin and Lillian Onyeodi, and plans to major in business administration.

Swiney comes to Hartsville from Tallahassee Community College, where he was a member of the basketball team. He played high school basketball at Notre Dame High School, where he was a member of one Colonial Valley Conference championship team.

Academically, he was a Dean’s List selection. The East Orange, N.J., native is the son of Craig and Yolanda Swiney, and plans to major in exercise science.

The Cobras open their 2019-20 season at Limestone on Nov. 13.

Author: Stephan Drew

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