UTICA – Basketball is back this evening, and the Hinds Community College men's team is poised for another successful season.
 
Last season, under first year head coach Jonathan Nevol, the Bulldogs clinched a berth in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) tournament for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs overcame a slow start and won six of their last eight games to clinch a playoff spot.
 
For the 2022-2023 season, the Bulldogs will have a lot of new faces with 15 newcomers and only two returners on the roster.
 
"We have a brand-new team this year and it's been an interesting process with this group," said head coach Jonathan Nevol. "We are trying to figure each other out and trying to form a strong group with a lot of different pieces."
 
Returners
 
Brodrick Thompson (McComb) and Malachi Martin (Clinton) are the only returners from last year's roster. Thompson played in all 20 games for the Bulldogs and started seven. Thompson looks to continue crashing the boards where he cashed in 83 rebounds last season. Martin played in four games for the Bulldogs and started one. Both returners bring experience and height to the Bulldog's frontcourt.
 
Newcomers
 
The Bulldogs will feature 15 newcomers this season including 10 freshman and five sophomores. Five of the 15 newcomers arrive in Utica as transfers from other colleges.
 
Morgan Green is a 5'10 guard from Greenville. He is a graduate of Greenville High School and arrives from Mississippi Delta Community College.
 
Patrick McCraney is a 6'1 guard from Monroe, Louisiana. He is a graduate of Neville High School.
 
Demarcus Hollis is a 6'4 guard/forward from Morton. He is a graduate of Morton High School.
 
Isaiah Daniel is a 6'3 guard from Compton, California. He is a graduate of Compton High School.
 
Taylon Smith is a 6'0 guard from Vicksburg. He is a graduate of Vicksburg High School and arrives from Mississippi College in Clinton.
 
Kenard Bowie is a 6'6 forward from Jackson. He is a graduate of Murrah High School and arrives from Southwest Mississippi Community College.
 
Isaac Ratliff is a 6'4 forward from Terry. He is a graduate of Terry High School.
 
Damarian Howell is a 5'9 guard from Guntown. He is a graduate of Saltillo High School.
 
Dontavis Poole is a 6'4 forward from Charleston. He is a graduate of Coffeeville High School.
 
John Macky Jenkins is a 6'4 guard from Crystal Springs. He is a graduate of Copiah Academy.
 
Michael Forbes is a 6'4 forward from Jackson. He is a graduate of Northwest Rankin High School.
 
Edarious Williams is a 6'8 forward from Coffeeville. He is a graduate of Coffeeville High School.
 
Jordan Steward is a 6'3 guard from Waynesboro. He is a graduate of Wayne County High School.
 
Rylen Walker is a 6'4 guard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a graduate of Central High School and arrives from Mississippi Delta Community College.
 
Zhavian Green is a 6'3 guard from McComb. He is a graduate of Parkland Academy and arrives from Marion Military Institute.
 
Staff Additions
 
Jarius Smith enters his first season as a graduate assistant coach for the Bulldogs.
 
Smith, a former Hinds basketball player, arrives from Utica Middle School, where he served one season as the boys and girls head basketball coach.
 
Season Outlook
 
Coach Nevol stated, "I like where this group is at right now and I'm excited to coach them this year. They work very hard and will play hard for 40 minutes. I just look forward to us competing every night.
 
Schedule
 
The Bulldogs currently have 25 games scheduled for their regular season including 12 away games and 13 home games to be played at J.D. Boyd Gymnasium. The Bulldogs open their regular season Thursday, November 3 at home against Delgado Community College. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.