Season Outlook - 2009-2010

The 2009-2010 season will be a historic year for the Fire as it marks the final season of competition within the NCCAA Division II. The Fire will play a partial Sun Conference schedule this year, preparing for full entry into the conference next season.

In Sun Conference action, Southeastern will travel to play Webber International, Northwood University, Johnson & Wales, Warner University, and Ave Maria University, while hosting Embry-Riddle, Florida Memorial, Edward Waters College and St. Thomas University.

Southeastern will also take a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, to play NCAA D-I Charleston Southern University in December.

The Fire will return eight players from last year's team that went 24-13 and finished fourth in the NCCAA II.

Junior guard Nate Marshall returns and is the reigning NCCAA II South Region Player of the Year. Marshall was a 2009 NCCAA II First Team All-American as he averaged 17.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game last year.

Sophomores Marlon Austin, Malcolm Pollock, Seth Spencer, Arthur Jackson and Jordan Witte are back with another year's experience and maturity under their belts.

Austin was named to the South Region's All-Freshman team as he averaged 12.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Pollock averaged 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds last season and became a major contributor for Coach John Dunlap by the end of the season.

Jackson and Spencer, both 6'5 forwards, saw substantial playing time inside last season, while Witte appeared in 35 games last year primarily as a backup point guard.

Senior Travious Sims and junior Paul Austin are two upperclassman also returning.

Sims only appeared in 20 games last year, but averaged 7.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Austin is a versatile guard who averaged 3.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

Newcomers this year include transfers Dyami Thurman and Julius Williams.

Thurman transfers to Southeastern from the University of the Southwest (Hobbs, New Mexico) and is expected to be the team's starting point guard.

Williams, a graduate from nearby Lakeland High School, comes to Southeastern after playing two years at Pasco-Hernando Community College, where he was an All-Conference player as a freshman.

Other newcomers include Drew Hagemeister, Jared Parks, Dexter Barge, Jared Stewart and Josh Baker.

Hagemeister is a 6'7 true freshman center and a three-year starter at Neese High School in Jacksonville, Florida.

Parks and Barge are two long forwards who should contribute immediately as freshmen, while Stewart and Baker both help bring depth to the Fire back court.

Coach John Dunlap has led the Fire to seven consecutive 20 win seasons and, just last year, won his 400th career game.

Southeastern begins its season October 29th when the team travels to Babson Park, Florida, to battle cross county rival Webber International University.