Thursday's Daily News 'n Notes: Stratford alum picked, GSU-Boro legend picked, Mercer adds assistants, Scoreboard, and more
Thursday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media. Updates will be noted, so check back.
The weekend high school basketball schedule is in The Latest Coverage.
Stratford alum taken in MLS draft
The soccer career of Stratford’s Jonathan Dean continues with his selection in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft, by Orlando City.
The 5-8, 163-pounder followed his honor-filled career at Stratford – he was a two-year starter and senior captain who helped the Eagles to a 33-4-3 record to Wofford before transferring to UCF after earning All-Freshman honors in the Southern Conference.
He played in 44 matches at UCF in three seasons, with 10 assists. Dean played in every minute of UCF’s NCAA Tournament team in 2019.
Dean, also a cross country and track standout at Stratford, was the 39th overall pick, going ahead of players from Notre Dame, Michigan, and UNLV, among others.
The third and fourth rounds will be held on Monday.
Clemson’s Robbie Robinson was the first pick.
Mercer adds familiar name to football staff
Drew Cronic knows a little about John Russ.
Russ quarterbacked Mercer to a win over Reinhardt back in 2013 in the two programs’ first games, Mercer’s after reinstatement and Reinhardt’s ever.
The new Mercer head coach and former Reinhardt assistant added the old Bears QB to the staff to coach running backs.
Bob Bodine, who has spent time at Georgia Southern was also hired as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, coming from Lenoir-Rhyne. Sumner Ellis joins the staff for defensive ends and as defensive recruiting coordinator.
Honor Roll
Mercer’s Jaron Dougherty is the reigning Southern Conference women’s basketball player of the week.
Around/About Central Georgia
Mercer women open SoCon play with loss
Around/About Georgia
Georgia Southern legend AP among the sport’s top 150 all-time
Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech and Champ Bailey of Georgia also made the list – as did some Georgia high school alums – of 26-150 released. The top 11 will be announced at halftime of Monday’s national championship game.
UGA issues statement on The Mays Matter
State College Basketball Report
Georgia women fall to Vanderbilt
Georgia Tech knocks off Florida State, Peach County grad Woolfolk
Scoreboard
High school coaches should send box scores and/or game information to centralgasports@gmail.com within 30 minutes of completion for expanded coverage. The more info provided, the more info to give people.
High School
Basketball
Girls
Piedmont 47, Young Americans 27
Boys
Community Christian 90, Central Georgia Arts 58
Young Americans 79, Piedmont 73
College
Basketball
W-Arkansas State 70, Georgia State 68, OT
M-Florida College 90, Middle Georgia State 78
M-Georgia Southern 67, Louisiana-Monroe 52
M-Georgia State 90, Louisiana-Lafayette 52
W-Georgia Tech 67, Florida State 52
W-Little Rock 58, Georgia Southern 46
M-Lipscomb 85, Kennesaw State 73
W-Middle Georgia State 86, Florida College 81