West Georgia Athletics

CARROLLTON – After a difficult season a year ago, the West Georgia Wolves men’s basketball team is taking on a total new look for 2009-10. To that end, coach Michael Cooney Thursday announced the signing of West Georgia’s fourth addition of the recruiting season.

UWG has added Justin Cummings, a 6-3 guard from Snead State (Ala.) Community College. Cummings is a native of Brighton, Ala., and will have two years of eligibility when he enrolls at West Georgia next month.

“Justin is an elite athlete and plays at a very high level,” says Cooney of his newest player. “He’s a very long 6-3 and is an elite athlete with great quickness. Also, he can guard any of four positions.”

Cummings comes to West Georgia with excellent credentials. A year ago he was a first team all-state and first team all-region selection for Snead.

He averaged 14 points and five rebounds per game for coach Rodney Hampton’s Parsons. Also, he averaged over 18 points per game over the final 10 games of the season, and was 75.1% shooter from the free throw line.

“Justin reminds me of Dennis Long,” says assistant coach Andy Young, referring to his teammate on UWG’s 2002 Elite Eight team. “On both occasions that we saw Justin, he scored in double figures. But, he’s one of those unheralded players who always makes a big contribution to the overall success of the team.”

While Cooney won’t downplay the comparison to Long, he says Cummings reminds him of a more recent UWG star. “I see a lot of Henrick Foster in him,” says the coach, referring to the former Wolves performer who was a senior in 2008. “You had better know where he is at all times. He’s dangerous on the defensive end and can impact the game in a variety of ways.”

Cummings was the object of much attention from recruiters at both the Division I and II levels. However, he believes West Georgia is the right fit for him. He says, “I am really impressed with what is happening here. I see where this program is headed with the amazing facilities and I just felt that I
could shine at West Georgia.”

Cummings’ decision to sign with West Georgia was not strictly a basketball decision. “The Richards College of Business is one of the best in the country,” he says, adding, “That was the final piece that helped me make my decision.”

Cummings joins three UWG signees at this stage of the 2009 recruiting season. The others are Division I transfer Julian Jones of Western Illinois University, and Australian high school stars Ryan Godfrey
and Brett Seljak.

“With the addition of Cummings we have depth from (positions) two-through-four, and we can make the game pretty interesting,” says Cooney. He adds, “I like how solid this class is academically and the direction we’re going athletically. We are in a good position to compete, we just need to have it all
come together.”

Though the Wolves have signed four players already, Cooney is not finished with this year’s recruiting efforts. The coach says, “There are some very good prospects still available and we are committed to being championship ready for this upcoming season. So we’ll keep working.”