By DeJuan Baskin
The Scene staff
St. Louis Community College is sending two basketball players off to Division I programs in the same year for the first time since 1980.
Cortez Conners, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard from Forest Park, and Randy Reed II, a 6-foot-6 sophomore guard from the Meramec campus, made the National Junior College Athletic Association men’s basketball Region XVI first team.
“Both have the potential to play in the NBA or overseas with a little more development,” said Archers men’s basketball Head Coach Randy Reed, who also is Reed II’s father.
Reed II, 21, is attending University of Nebraska Omaha and working out with the Mavericks this summer. At STLCC, he averaged 21.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, a team high.
“If I had known how close I was to becoming an All-American, then I would have went a little harder,” he said.
Conners, 21, will attend California State University Bakersfield and play with the Roadrunners this fall. At STLCC, he posted a season average of 16.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He was named to the all-tournament team after helping the Archers win the District XIII Championship.
“I didn’t know I was even being considered for any special teams,” he said. “I just wanted to help my team win.”
Only a handful of STLCC athletes have been considered for All-American honors. To have two in the same year is rare.
The last time was in 1980, when Reed and Ray Mosby played on the Forest Park Highlanders men’s basketball team under the leadership of Missouri Hall of Fame Coach Bob Nelson.
STLCC campuses had separate sports teams before the district consolidated under the name Archers in 2011.
Reed went on to play at Kansas State and later was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mosby headed to Long Beach State, where he was coached in the famed Tex Winter triangle offense that helped the Chicago Bulls win six NBA championships.
STLCC men’s basketball made its first appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament this year. But the Lady Archers are no strangers to the big stage, having played in the tournament for three years.
During this time, 16 of the women have moved on to four-year schools, including eight after the 2013 season.
“I tell them if they are not academically motivated, this is not the place for them,” said women’s basketball coach Shelly Ethridge.
Reed II also takes academics seriously. He expects to finish his bachelor’s degree in 2015. With two more years of college basketball eligibility left, he will work on his master’s during the extra year at Nebraska.
“This school has nearly a 100 percent graduation rate,” Reed II said. “That’s one of the reasons I chose this school.”
Reed II said he maintains a healthy rivalry with his father.
“I plan to surpass what my dad accomplished in a friendly competition manner,” he said.