Alex Wells spins a ball on the tip of his finger during practice Thursday. The Chattanooga State men’s and women’s basketball teams practiced at the college’s gym Thursday afternoon. Both teams will be traveling to Kansas next week for national tournaments.
Staff photo by Jake Daniels/Chattanooga Times Free PressAlex Wells respects the national ranking of Midland College, as well as the size of the players on the nation’s third-ranked junior college basketball team.
But the Chattanooga State sophomore guard from East Ridge and his teammates aren’t intimidated by the 30-3 Texas team they will face Tuesday at 11 a.m. EST as the NJCAA Division I men’s tournament begins in Hutchinson, Kan.
“I know they’re real big, but I think we have more athletic guys and we’re just as big,” Wells said. “I think we should win.”
Indeed, the 24-5 Tigers will have the tallest man on the floor – 6-foot-11 Philip Jurick, Wells’ former East Ridge teammate and the nation’s leading shot-blocker with nine per game. He led NJCAA Region VII in rebounding (12.5) and field-goal percentage and was the region player of the year as well as the defensive honoree.
“I think we’re a really good defensive team, especially with big Phil down low,” Wells said. “His defense has really improved since high school.”