LEVELLAND—The South Plains College men's basketball team held its team banquet in the Texan Club on Wednesday night, celebrating their Western Junior College Athletic Conference title and third place finish at the 2017 NJCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament.
Head Coach Steve Green, who was named the 2016-17 WJCAC Coach of the Year after leading the Texans to a 16-0 mark in conference play, spoke in front of a large audience of fans, players and faculty sharing his thoughts on what was one of the most exciting years in program history. Coach Green recognized his coaching staff and players, thanking them for the work and sacrifice they put in and allowed his players who were previously unsigned to announce where they will be attending school next year.
Roberto Gallinat and Jahlil Tripp, each who were named first team all-conference selections, announced they will be attending the University of the Pacific in the West Coast Conference next season. Gallinat was the Texans' second leading scorer, averaging 11.9 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from behind the arc. Tripp proved to be one of the most versatile players in the country as the 6-foot-5 forward from Brooklyn averaged 11.4 points, 6.7 boards and 2.2 assists per game.
Sophomore Justice Green announced he will be attending Eastern Illinois University next season to play for the Panthers in the Ohio Valley Conference. Green averaged 7.3 points per game during his sophomore stint including a career high 23-point performance against Collin County on Nov. 18. Green scored in double figures 10 times during the Texans' 2016 run and was a key contributor coming off the bench.
Shwantrez Davis, a 6-foot-9 forward from Atlanta will take his talents to the Atlantic Sun Conference to play for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles. Davis averaged 6.8 points and five boards for the Texans and capped off the year with an 18-point performance against Northwest Florida State in the Texans' final game at the 2017 National Tournament. Davis shot 57.6 percent from the field in 34 games and will look to add to his game at the Div. I level.
Montell McRae announced he will head to New York to attend the University of Buffalo in the MAC conference. McRae averaged six points and three rebounds in 34 games for the Texans this season and continued to improve his interior game during his two years in Levelland. McRae played a crucial role in helping the Texans advance to the NJCAA Final Four with his 11 points, seven rebounds performance against Vincennes on March 23 in Kansas.
6-foot-4 guard Grantham Gillard announced he will be attending Arkansas State University to play for head coach Mike Balado in the Sun Belt Conference. Gillard was the Texans' fourth leading scorer as the Minneapolis native averaged 10.6 points per game and shot 46.8 percent from the field. Gillard scored in double figures in 17 games including a career high 23-point performance against Hill College in the opening round of the Region V Tournament on March 9.