EMCC - Athletics: Sports, News, Players, and Coaches. Go Lions! - EMCC Lions ink hardwood standouts Donovan Walker and Joe McCoy

SCOOBA, Miss. – Meridian High School’s Donovan Walker and Joe McCoy of Raymond High School have become the first two men’s basketball signees of the current signing period for East Mississippi Community College. The signings were announced Wednesday by EMCC men’s basketball coach Mark White.

A 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard/forward, Walker averaged 14.6 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals per game as a senior in helping lead head coach Randy Bolden’s Meridian Wildcats to a 25-5 overall record and No. 1 regular-season Class 5A state ranking by The Clarion-Ledger newspaper. Walker was named MVP of this year’s Jackson Public Schools/Pepsi Holiday Tournament after averaging 16.8 points during the four tournament games, including 19 points in MHS’s 61-49 win over Provine in the championship contest.

“Donovan’s most productive days on the basketball court are definitely ahead of him,” EMCC’s White said. “He comes from an outstanding program at Meridian High School, and we believe Coach (Randy) Bolden prepares his players extremely well to compete successfully at the next level.”

McCoy averaged a team-leading 17.4 points along with eight rebounds and three steals as a junior for head coach Willie Neal’s 23-9 Raymond High Rangers. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound guard was named All-District 6-3A and voted team MVP in 2007-08 in helping pace Raymond to the semifinals of the Class 3A South State playoffs. Highlighted by a season-high 30 points against Bailey, McCoy averaged 28 points during a 14-game stretch as a junior. His career high of 45 points came against Forest Hill during his sophomore campaign.

“Joe has a tremendous upside and should be a very successful player in the community college ranks after receiving a solid foundation under Coach (Willie) Neal at Raymond High School,” White noted. “Joe is a strong, physical guard who should make an immediate impact for us next season.”