First-year coach gets Bulldogs ready for 2021

PERKINSTON — This will be the first year in the MACCC for new Mississippi Gulf Coast men's basketball coach Tim Ryan.

That means there are a lot of unknowns, but there's one thing that's certain.

"I don't know the league and the talent level of everybody else," he said. "What I do know is that this is a great group of kids. They work really hard, and how far we can go is a question mark for me right now. All I want for these guys is to get better every day. That's what we want to do, and if we want to be there at the end, we've got to keep working hard."

Ryan spent the last 17 years at the College of Central Florida, where he won nearly 72 percent of his games and a national championship in 2013. He'll start his first season on the Bulldog bench on Friday when Faith Prep visits Perkinston. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.

He's got four players back from last year's team that went 14-8. Jayden McCorvey (Fr., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) is the leading returning scorer after netting 8.8 points and nearly four rebounds. He's an active 6-foot-5 two-guard who is a factor at both ends of the court. 

Anthony Ratliff (So., Jackson/Terry) gets everything out of his 6-foot-5 frame.

"Down low, Champ is an athletic guy with a high motor," Ryan said. "He's probably our highest-energy guy. He seems to be becoming the leader of the team."

Damien Wheaton (So., Bay Springs/Bay Springs) is a big body inside, and Calvin Johnson (So., Long Beach/Long Beach) can shoot from outside.

All three of Gulf Coast's out-of-state spots are newcomers. Melvion Flanagan (Fr., Alexandria La./Peabody) was the Class 4A Player of the Year in Louisiana, where he won Most Outstanding Player award in leading Peabody to the state championship. He averaged 21.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.9 steals as a senior.

"He was recruited by junior colleges all over the country," Ryan said. "We're fortunate to have him. He's quick and can score the ball."

Carr Thiam (Fr., Tampa Fla./Wharton) in a 6-foot-4 wing who is probably the best shooter on the team. Ryan said he knows the game, knows how to play and is a great teammate.

Rodrique Massenat (So., Trenton N.J./Trenton Catholic) played 25 games at McClennan Community College last season, averaging nearly seven points. He's another long body who can shoot.

Ryan wants his team to play fast on the offensive end, but they may have some height challenges on the other end. 

"The style of play on the defensive side, we have to adapt," he said. "We have to learn how to guard the post and guard the bigs. We've been successful with that before. I've won a conference before with a team that was small before, and against a team that had a 6-10 player who went to the NBA. It changes the style of defense a little bit." 

Dontavius Proby (So., Biloxi/Biloxi) is a transfer from Pearl River who brings toughness. Dillon Farmer (Fr., Conehatta/Choctaw Central) was a late addition to the squad who has taken leaps in just two weeks of practice even though he missed a couple days earlier in the month. He's had weekend drills in the Marine Reserves, which means there's obvious toughness. Jeremiah Montgomery (Fr., Hattiesburg/Presbyterian Christian) will also see playing time.

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