Shreveport, LA – The 2009 – 2010 basketball season is less than a week away and the Men’s Basketball Team received more good news today. Two weeks ago, the GCAC coaches predicted the LSUS Men’s Basketball Team would win another conference championship. Today, the conference released the 2009-2010 Men’s Basketball Preseason All Conference Team and the list included two of our very own. Returning starting point guard Jared Stevenson and 2008 GCAC Freshman of the Year Derrick Parker were selected to the ten-player team voted on by head coaches in the conference.
Derrick Parker returns for his sophomore season and the Pilots have high expectations after his play during his freshman campaign. Parker, a 6’7 post player, averaged 11.5 points, 7.62 rebounds and led the Pilots in shooting percentage at 64%. Parker is expected to be a key contributor in helping the Pilots win another GCAC Championship and make their sixth consecutive trip to the NAIA National Tournament. Parker is from Minden, Louisiana, where he was a stand-out player for Coach Alan Shaw and the Crimson Tide.
Jared Stevenson returns for the third straight year as the starting point guard for the Pilots. Stevenson, a 6’0 floor general for Coach McDowell and the Pilots, transferred from Northwestern State University in 2007 and was immediately a contributing factor for the Pilots. In his first season, he led the Pilots to a 34 – 3 overall record in capturing a GCAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship. Stevenson has averaged 10 points and 5 assists a game over the last two years and looks to put up even better numbers for the 2009 – 2010 season. Even more impressive than his basketball statistics are his academic achievements here at LSUS. Stevenson was named to the Dean’s List four consecutive semesters and graduated last spring with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting Degree. He finished his undergraduate work with a cumulative 3.51 grade point average. Stevenson is working towards his MBA while playing for the Pilots in his last year of eligibility.
Stevenson was recognized last year in Kansas City at the 2009 NAIA National Tournament for his accomplishments academically, athletically, and for his community service. Each year, the NAIA selects only four student-athletes in the nation to receive the Pattison Award (Champions of Character Player Award) and Stevenson was one of their choices for the 2008 – 2009 season. The Pattison Family and NAIA say they are looking for young men who are making a difference in their communities and are dedicated to the principle that character is a choice. They selected Jared Stevenson because they realized he understands that being a champion is about reaching your potential and making good decisions consistently in daily life.
The Pilots will open the season this Monday, November 2, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. Be sure to get your season passes now so you can catch all the great action during the 2009 – 2010 season. Congratulations to Jared Stevenson and Derrick Parker for being selected to the GCAC Preseason All-Conference Team. 
