Filling the role of departing forward Sherrie Tucker will be difficult for the Coppin State women?s basketball team this fall.
Tucker, the Eagles? leading scorer as a senior, is one of five players leaving the Coppin State program that lost to Connecticut 77-54 in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 2006.
“Sherrie Tucker is irreplaceable,” guard Rashida Suber said. “At the same time we have a good, strong team coming back.”
Suber and roommate Talia Sutton, who Brown calls the Eagles? “backbone,” are captains.
Shalmar Oakley will join Suber in the Eagles? backcourt, while a trio platoons at Tucker?s forward position. Coppin was 22-9 last season.
The defending MEAC champions added one recruit, and coach Derek Brown and his staff are currently on the prowl for at least two other impact players. “Just trying to tidy up some recruiting, and also a schedule,” Brown said Tuesday.
With the start of the season bumped up a week, allowing up to two extra games for most programs, Brown is contemplating the Eagles? impending docket. “There are teams calling, and we can play some teams, but I?m just not sure if we?re going to play them yet,” he said. The team is slated to face Xavier and Seton Hall this coming season.
“I don?t think it?s as strong as last year?s [schedule], and we?re basically not doing a lot of traveling,” Brown said.
The freshest face on a young squad is the lone player to sign with the Eagles thus far: Lakeytah Irving, who is a senior at Albany High School in Albany, N.Y. Brown sees the 5-foot-11 forward as a versatile player who can play both forward positions.
“Basically, that?s what I?ve been looking for this year ? multi-talented players who are about six feet, can play power forward and can step out and face the basket,” Brown said.
Brown and Suber agree that the right players are in place, and hard work will drive the Eagles? success.
“No malcontents, no knuckleheads,” Brown said. “Everyone is on the same line. They enjoy each other and they play hard.”
BROWN?S BABY BIRDS
Here is a look at Coppin?s incoming player: Lakeytah Irving, 5-11, forward (Albany, N.Y.): Brown sees the combination small/power forward as a solid addition to the Eagles? bench. “It?s going to be tough to crack that nucleus, but hopefully she can. That?s why we recruited her,” he said.
Did you know? Coppin is scheduled to face Seton Hall, Lafayette, Bucknell, Xavier and play in the University of Miami tournament . . . Brown returns 10 players, including seven freshmen and sophomores . . . Five players have departed, including seniors Shaunita Middleton, Shawna Boyd,Ashelley Wilder and Sherrie Tucker . . . Brown served as the women?s basketball coach while with the men?s team as an assistant from 1999 to 2001 . . . Brown also coached the Eagles? softball team in 1999.
