Leading the way for Nicholls once again this year is big man Cleveland Hill.  Hill has been the big man on this small little campus since the moment he walked on three years ago. Landry, who is basically the father of NSU basketball realized early on that he needed to be able to recruit better athletes if this program was going to have a chance at not only competing, even in NAIA, but ever moving up with the big boys.  He knew he had to bring in some of the local talent and break the stupid color line that so many southern schools had placed on their campuses to limit black athletes from competing.  They always could go to HBCU or so these kids were told but some dared to cross over it.  They might not have been Rosa Parks but they were pretty damn brave kids.  You see Hill was the first African-American athlete to ever play any sport on this campus.  They could have not have made a better choice.  Hill is an easygoing big man who seems to take everything in stride and handled all of the racist nonsense like he does everything else.  With a smile! This trail blazer has made it easier for the guys who have come after him to adjust to this deep south campus and to be honest it is hard to believe it was just three years ago when he broke the color line.  Oh yeah.  Big Cleveland can play some hoop.  At six foot eight 235 pounds he takes up space and is a terrific board man.  He sets solid screens and has a nice touch around the basket and he is not too easy going to dominate the paint.  Hill loves Thibodoux and plans to stay around after he is done playing and pursue his masters in education.  I told you he was the right choice.

The biggest carryover from the NAIA Golden days for Nicholls and probably Nicholls most gifted athlete is junior Larry Wilson.  Wilson understands the game and knows his role on the team.  A great shooter and a very athletic player, Wilson can match up with most wings in the conference.  He had to take step backward this season as he adjusted to not being the only guy on the team who could play.  Once he accepted he was a part of the team and not the only option he got better.  And this made Nicholls better.  Wilson is not a true wing but he is adjusting as he does not have the size (6’5) to be a post player at this level.  His diverse offensive game carries him but he must improve defensively and especially ballhandling in the future.  He does have a chance to move to the next level and is on the right path if he continues to learn and grow as a player.  But for now he is the man in Thibodoux and Landry will continue to count on him to lead the way offensively for this team. 

Coach Landry had some real issues trying to find a guy to run the team.  Gene Simmons got the first take but was more of a scorer and he broke his tongue when he had a rendezvous with three young coeds in the French Quarter and was lost for the year (Joke).  Really he tore up his jaw in a motorcycle wreck.  He was not the answer anyway but boy did he look good in makeup.  Junior Chuck Taylor of sneaker fame got his turn (though limited) but though he can pass was ironically not nimble enough on the floor to guard some of the quicker point guards in the Southland.  Sophomore Chris Jennings got his shot as well and happened to be the starter by the end of the year.  He is not a true point guard either but was a big asset in the transition from the NAIA ranks as he was the type of kid who will do what it takes and just wants to contribute.  Jennings understands the game well and though he is nowhere near as athletic or quick as a guard needs to be at this level he gets by on smarts.  Junior Sonny Charpenter was the closest thing Nicholls had to a real point guard.  A gifted passer, Charpenter loves to get the ball to teammates for easy baskets.  He is well suited to be the floor general with so many good athletes around him.  The weird thing about this kid is that he plays football as well so he did not practice during the off season and it took him quite some time to get into the lineup on a regular basis.  Landry was not happy with this and tried just about everyone else but Charpentier is the best choice.  Landry has to show some confidence in Charpenter as his point guard and let him run the show.  He could develop a better outside shot but he fits in nicely with the scorers around him.  The last fifteen games Charpentier got the majority of minutes and easily lead the team in assists. 

Juniors Richard Polk gives the team solid defense and some clutch baskets in the paint but had a hard time staying on the court. This 6’7 kid can bang down low but fouls too often and limits his availability.  He will get first shot at the four this year but Landry is bringing in some real beef to challenge.  He also has a pair of returning studs who will battle for minutes up front.

The fifth starter is wide open as Landry has made it clear he wants more size and athleticism as the two guard.  Senior Jack Barton is the returning player with the most time here but his chances of starting are slim though he can shoot.  Landry has both Jennings and his sidekick on the JV (until he got called up) Durwin Jackson to choose from and both are better than Barton. Jackson is another point but he can really shoot the three and might get transitioned over to the two but there are some big time recruits coming into town. 

The bench for Landry is deep and well suited for their roles. Junior Johnny Hall gives the team solid play off the wing and can play the post too.  He also is a good defender who has quickness and desire but is best on the offensive end.  Landry was not content with Hall getting too many minutes but he showed he can score when he is on the court.  He had to move to the bench with Wilson moving down to the three and he accepted this though he did not like it.   Junior Shelby Hypolite and sophomore Cedric Robinson are two more post players in the rotation and both started some games last year.  Both can score and also rebound and Robinson was productive especially guarding the rim. The kid that sounds like a Geology study of light beer is a leader and can play but is another true three trying to play post to get on the court.  Seniors Clyde Richards, Phil Driskill and Stanley Beaubouef (you know that kid is local) are in the mix but have slipped way down the bench.  Richards has a shot as he can board some but it’s a long shot. The Smith boys are coming up from JV and hope to steal some minutes on the wings.  This deep crew of players got a lot of minutes as Landry was looking for players who could play within his system and keep building this program for the future. 

Nicholls State has taken a giant leap forward on their trek to becoming a contender in the Southland conference.  A slow start in their inaugural season in this league did not sidetrack them.  Coach Don Landry led his team to solid finish and has great hope that the momentum will continue next year.  The nucleus of a good team is in place and if Landry can fill in the holes and find a couple more athletes and maybe either a new point or trust the one he has then this team could keep on surprising the pundits who think it takes forever to develop a real program in Division One.