Standing 6 feet, 8 inches and averaging more than 12 points a game, Cape Fear Community College basketball forward Tyrek Coger draws the attention of Sea Devils opponents.
He also drew the attention of the University of Mississippi, which has signed the standout big man, making him the first CFCC player to make the jump to a major NCAA college and further establishing the local program as a place for players to gain national attention.
“It’s a big step for us as a program,” said coach Ryan Mantlo of Coger’s commitment to ‘Ole Miss. “It takes us to the next level. It’s a work in progress but we want to be at the forefront of junior colleges on the East Coast. We’re starting to see the fruits of those efforts finally come through.”
When he becomes a Mississippi Rebel next season and competes in the Southeastern Conference, Coger will be the first CFCC athlete to move on to a Power Five conference, which includes the top schools throughout the country.
But Mantlo said that in all likelihood, Coger won’t be the only player on this year’s Sea Devils squad to play at a higher level next year.
At 5-3, the Sea Devils started the season in the National Junior College Athletic Association top 25, coming in at No. 18. And two of CFCC’s losses this season have come against top-10 teams in road games, including No. 3 Northwest Florida State and No. 10 Georgia Highlands.
The Sea Devils are projected to win the NJCAA Region 10 and return to the season-closing national tournament. CFCC has made tournament appearances for two consecutive years and in four of the past seven seasons.
“We have a chance to be really, really special this year,” Mantlo said.
Coger comes to the team from Raleigh, where he was recruited by Mississippi out of high school after they saw him play in basketball camps. But Mantlo said that he wanted to stay closer to home coming out of high school and chose CFCC, with its focus on recruiting top junior college level players from the Tar Heel State. Coger is a key member of the front court that powers the Sea Devils, Mantlo said.
“Our front court could be the best in the country,” he said.
Freshman forward Alonzo Tyson leads the team with 16.8 points per game and has already committed to High Point University. Freshman forward DeVarte Watson is contributing 6.6 points per game and also getting looked at by other major college programs, Mantlo said. Sophomore guards TJ Evans and Calvin Davis are making big contributions to the team, respectively averaging 16.2 and 11.8 points per game.
All of these players could see action at the next level, Mantlo said, with Maryland East Shore, University of Charlotte and University of North Carolina Wilmington already expressing some interest.
The Sea Devils are establishing a reputation as a program that prepares junior college athletes for the next level, as at least 50 players have moved on to bigger programs after their two-year stint at CFCC concluded, including Charlotte, Towson and Youngstown State.
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