Lumberjacks Sign Small Forward
4/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 17, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin head basketball coach Danny Kaspar announced Friday the signing of Mark Gomillia for the 2009-10 season. Gomillia, a junior college transfer, brings the 2009 signing class total to four.
Gomillia comes to SFA from Neosho County Community College, where he starred for two seasons in the highly competitive Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.
"Mark's had an excellent career at Neosho County," Kaspar said. "He can really shoot the basketball and is also a good rebounder. He and Zach Williams should have a real battle for the starting position at the small forward spot next year. You can never totally replace a young man like Josh Alexander, but I do believe with the addition of Mark Gomillia, and Zach Williams returning, we will be pretty strong at that position."
Gomillia is a two-time All-Jayhawk East honoree and earned the Jayahawk East Most Valuable Player award as a sophomore. That honor went along with first-team all-conference accolades and a spot on the First-Team All-Region VI squad this season. As a freshman, Gomillia earned honorable mention in the Jayhawk league.
The 6-5, 190-pound wing is No. 6 on Neosho's career scoring list, having amassed 1,087 points in two seasons. Gomillia led the team in scoring both years. As a sophomore, he averaged 20.1 points per contest and ranked second on the team with 10 rebounds per game.
Most importantly, Gomillia was a key figure in the team's improved success over the last two seasons. The year prior to his arrival, Neosho won just five games. In two seasons with Gomillia on the floor, the Panthers won 32 games.
"Mark is an all-around player," said Neosho head coach Jeremy Coombs. "He shoots the 3, handles the ball very well and can pass. Mark also prides himself on defense. He's an extremely hard worker and one of the most competitive kids I have ever coached."
Gomillia is a native of Atlanta, Ga., where he starred at St. Francis High. Other four-year programs that showed interest in Gomillia during his recruitment this season include St. Mary's (Ca.), Santa Clara, Tulsa, Wichita State, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Georgia State, Iowa State, South Alabama, Utah State, Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana, Colorado State, Hawaii, Penn State and North Texas.
Gomillia joins prep recruits Cory Garrett (Center, Texas) and Will Reinke (Lawton, Okla.), along with collegiate transfer Jordan Glynn (Waco, Texas, by way of McLenna Community College) in the 2009 signing class.
-- SFA --
