Strickland to sign with SouthArk Stars

Photo by Keyvonnie Nelson
Photo by Keyvonnie Nelson

Magnolia senior guard Markeveon Strickland, who helped lead the Magnolia Panthers to the Class 4A State Basketball Championship, is expected to sign a junior college letter-of-intent Friday afternoon with SouthArk Community College Stars in El Dorado.

Strickland was one of Magnolia’s consistent outside shooters during a season that saw the Panthers win their first state championship in 22 years.

He hit key 3-pointers during the championship game that helped the Panthers knock off the favorite Little Rock Mills Comets.

Strickland’s signing will take place in the Media Center at 2 p.m. Friday on the Magnolia High School campus.

SouthArk earlier announced that men’s and women’s intercollegiate basketball programs will tip off for the first time this fall at South Arkansas Community College, and the college is pursuing acceptance into the National Junior College Athletic Association.

SouthArk is applying for NJCAA Division II, which allows for providing college scholarships to athletes. Starting intercollegiate scholarship basketball was natural, according to SouthArk president Dr. Barbara Jones, in part because throughout much of the 1980s SouthArk forebear Southern Arkansas University-El Dorado Branch had such a team, the Stars.

Now, basketball is back—and so are the Stars.

“Basketball has a rich history on our campus, so we’re proud to bring college basketball and the Stars mascot back to this institution, and the surrounding area,” she said. “This is something that we’ve been discussing for some time, and we’re happy to unveil it officially. We believe that the Stars will generate excitement both in our campus community, as well as in the community at large. It’s a great opportunity for area athletes to continue their basketball careers beyond high school, while getting a top-rung college education.”

Coaching the Stars men’s team will be El Dorado’s Nate Davis, currently the boys’ head basketball coach at Hermitage High School.

“I’m truly blessed to be given the opportunity to not only lead, but build, the men’s basketball program here at South Arkansas Community College,” Davis said. “There is so much talent in the area, and now we will be able not only to showcase these student-athletes on the court, but also help further their college education as well. I sincerely believe that with the support of our community, this will become something very special.”

Coaching the women will be Dermott’s Michael Wolfe.

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