Three Rivers' new women's basketball coach Jeff Walk introduces team members Monday night at Meet the Raiders at the Bess Activity Center. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

For the past 20 seasons, Jeff Walk has been the experienced veteran that people can turn to for advice, now Walk is the one in unfamiliar territory.

Walk, the new coach of the Lady Raiders basketball team introduced the freshman team members for his first season at the college level with Three Rivers at "Meet the Raiders" at the Bess Activity Center. The event was the first opportunity for the fans to get a look at all the Three Rivers athletes.

The basketball team will feature key returnees Allan Spencer, Adam Carpenter and Ken Bingham from a team that finished fourth in the nation last season. The Raiders are welcoming in a freshman class of solid talent including Bell City's Nick Niemczyk and South Iron's David Prater. The team also added Richard Walker, a 6-foot-7 freshman out of Horizon High School in San Diego. Walker's cousin, freshman guard Marquise Carter is also on the Raiders after redshirting last season.

"He is a good player and we played together for his senior year of high school and it was real fun so I would say he is one of the main reasons (I came here)," Walker said. "Also, last year, they had a good season, came in fourth in the nation."

Walker is looking to help out the other Raider post players, 6-10 sophomore Jeremy Marrs and 6-9 freshman Aloysius Henry.

"I think one of my strengths is getting to the basket," Walker said. "I can dribble it pretty good, gotta work on my jumper a little but I think with the practice and all the running, I will be a good player."

Walker likes the idea of being able to learn from coach Gene Bess, who is entering his 39th year at the head of the program.

"He is a good coach," Walker said. "He does a lot of things different that I am not really used to but I have got to get used to it -- I don't doubt him at all."

Bess likes Walker's athleticism to go along with the other strengths the team has.

"He is kind of a perimeter player perhaps, he has got the perimeter player build," Bess said. "I think he has played a lot in the post area, we are just kind of waiting to see. He is a good athlete and I think he going to contribute a lot to our team."

Walker's length is welcomed by the Raiders.

"You can never get too many athletes," Bess said. "You can never get too many guys that are 6-7, so he was a very welcomed addition."

The roster looks good but each player will have to find where they fit in to the overall picture throughout the season, Bess said.

"We have enough talent to play but getting it all together, that is still the key to a great basketball team," Bess said. "I think this bunch could be pretty good if they work hard and play unselfishly and get the right kind of focus."

The Raiders will also have help from Ehimen Orukpe of Lagos, Nigeria, a freshman who will be redshirting this season but will still practice with the team.

"He seems like a great kid and I believe he is going to be a hard worker and he is going to make progress his first year," Bess said. "I think he is going to help everybody else because I think he is smart and is going to be a great team player."

CATCHING UP WITH

Poplar Bluff native and current Southeast Missouri State freshman linebacker Philip Klaproth logged 5.5 tackles against Missouri this past weekend, three of the solo variety.

Klaproth enjoyed playing at Faurot Field in front of so many fans.

"It was pretty exciting," Klaproth said. "I didn't really think it would happen as a true freshman."

Klaproth, who was expecting to redshirt this season, worked hard in camp and was put in the mix when a fellow linebacker sustained a foot injury. There is a noticeable difference to Klaproth with the Redhawks as opposed to his time with the Mules.

"(The game) is a lot quicker," Klaproth said. "You've got to adjust and read stuff faster."