After an absence of more than 30 years, men’s basketball returns to Jefferson College when the Vikings host Southwestern Illinois College on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
Cornelius Walker was hired by Jeffco in 2022 as head coach of the men’s and women’s basketball teams. The women begin their season at Webster University on Nov. 2. A Vashon graduate and state champion with the Wolverines, Walker said he senses the community is excited and hungry for the return of men’s hoops; the original program was shut down in the late 1980s.
Along with recruiting locally, Walker said building a new men’s program means connecting at all levels of the community. At 4 p.m. Saturday, the Vikings will host Madness On The Ship at the Field House, a free event for the public that will include a costume contest, men’s and women’s intra-squad scrimmages, a skills competition and a 3-point shooting contest.
“I’m going to do my best to get the community involved,” Walker said.
Practice for both Viking teams began Oct. 1. He said the men’s team has suffered injuries that have set back its progress, but they’re getting healthy just in time for the season to begin.
“I’m very happy with where (the men) are at,” Walker said. “During the recruitment process, I wanted guys who wanted to be here. If it was just 90 percent, if one thing went bad, you might want to step away from this.”
The first player Walker signed on the men’s side was 2023 Herculaneum graduate Gabe Watkins. He was last season’s Jefferson County Activities Association small-schools most valuable player after averaging 18 points per game and surpassing 1,000 career points. Watkins is vying for playing time in the backcourt; Walker said the starting five hasn’t been set yet.
Another local recruit well known to county fans is 2022 Festus graduate Cole Rickermann, a freshman, also competing for time in the Viking backcourt. During his senior year with the Tigers, he was the JCAA large-schools MVP in basketball and offensive player of the year in football (Mississippi Area Football Conference Red Division) at quarterback. Rickermann transferred from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, where he had a football scholarship.
Sophomore Kobe Branscomb graduated from Festus in 2019 and played at Webster University before transferring to Jeffco. A guard/forward, Branscomb averaged 11 points per game his senior year with the Tigers.
Another experienced Walker recruit is guard Jaylen Boyd, a 2020 Ladue graduate who previously attended two Illinois schools, Wabash Valley College and Quincy University.
“I wanted a mix of older and younger players and local as well,” Walker said. “Local guys help with the fan base and transfers bring in skill. We’re well balanced.”
Walker also added size to the roster with 6-9 sophomore center Kemo Cansler from East St. Louis and 6-6 freshman forwards Devante Sanusi (London, England), Kade Harman (Perth, Australia) and Shawn Villanea (Clarksville, Tenn.).
Walker describes himself as a defensive-minded coach who will mix man-to-man, press and zone defenses depending on the matchup.
“I like to play inside-out and dominate the paint, so we can kick out to the shooters and reward our bigs for rebounding,” Walker said.
“I don’t teach effort. Everyone is excited to have (men’s basketball) back. I am, too. The plan is to put on a show. I’ve known the (SWIC coaches) for a long time and we’re good friends and it’s going to be a good game.”
The Jeffco women’s team entertains Southeastern Community College from Keokuk, Iowa in the Vikings’ home opener at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4.
Sophomore guard Jakayla Kirk returns after leading the Vikings with 15.5 points per game last season as Jeffco finished 9-23. She’ll pair in the backcourt with freshman guard Josie Allen, a 2023 Festus graduate and last season’s JCAA large-schools girls MVP, averaging 17 points per game.