POPLARVILLE, Miss.— The Pearl River Wildcats basketball team is using its "off week" to improve but is also taking a moment to appreciate its status as the No. 4 team in the nation.
The Wildcats (7-0 overall) set a milestone last Tuesday when they were announced No. 4 in the country by the NJCAA polls.
The program's high-water mark comes a season after the Wildcats made history win they won the Region XXIII Tournament and advanced all the way to the Sweet 16 in the NJCAA Tournament.
"This really wasn't one of the things I was thinking about when we took over here," Pearl River coach Chris Oney said, "but once I realized we made the top five I took a step back and I think for the first time it hit me that we're really heading the right direction."
Oney was quick to point out that his success at Pearl River has been a team effort from his program, the administration and the community.
"It doesn't just start with me. It starts at the very top with the administration," he said. "From the president to the athletics director, to the professors, the groundkeepers, when we bring kids on campus everyone makes Pearl River easy to sell to these recruits."
For Oney, being ranked No. 4 continues to give him more selling points to prospective recruits.
"Three years ago I was selling a dream. Last year we actually got to live the dream so now when we're talking to recruits we're actually able to talk about the dream we've lived and how it actually feels instead of saying 'what if,'" he said. "It definitely gets us in some living rooms that we wouldn't have been able to get into before. We're just going to try to continue to build this and not get satisfied."
STRONG SOPHOMORES
Two reasons the Wildcats have continued their dominant run is returning players Cameron Smith (Okolona) and Kelvin Allen (Olive Branch).
Both Smith and Allen served in reserve roles during the Wildcats' historic run last season but they are using the experiences from last season to help lead the way for the Wildcats this year.
The No. 4 ranking means a lot to both players who have bought in to Oney's vision.
Smith is averaging 7.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game.
"I feel like the goal this year is obviously to win a national championship but for us we also realize we've got to take this game by game so we just focus on the next opponent," said Smith, who won a state championship at Okolona. "These new guys have really come in and helped. Tae (Hardy), Rod (Brown), Isaih (Moore) and Jamarcus (Jones) have been great in their roles this year. They all know what their role is and they do it really well."
Allen is averaging 13.7 ppg and three rebounds per game.
"When we came in this year I definitely saw being ranked this high as a goal but for us we feel we can go even higher and the goal for us is to get to No. 1 and stay there," he said. "Myself and Cam had that experience from last year so that helped us understand our roles this year to step up as leaders for the team. Last year we played on a great team so we had to wait our turn but this is such a great program that I feel like this season is paying off more because now we're getting those minutes on a very talented team."
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
An impressive note for the Wildcats is that they are getting it done on both sides of the court this season, ranking 10th in the nation in scoring offense averaging 99.7 ppg. Oney's squad is also ranked second in the country in defense giving up only 56.9 ppg.
Tae Hardy (Ellenwood, Ga.; Believe Prep) is leading the way for the Wildcats with 18.2 ppg while Isaih Moore (Columbia, S.C.; Sumter) is averaging 15 ppg, and Rodgerick Brown (Memphis, Tenn.; Cordova) is averaging 12.3 ppg. Moore has also been named MACJC Player of the Week once this season.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats play their last game before the winter break Monday when they go on the road to take on Copiah-Lincoln at 7:30 p.m.
They return to action Jan. 7 when they take on Delgado on the road at 7:30 p.m.
HOW TO TUNE IN
All home events are broadcast on PRCCAthletics.com and PRCCMedia.com. Anyone who has an Amazon Fire or Roku device can stream PRCC broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" Channel from the app store.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).