I’m sure you’ve been keeping up with our now 16th ranked Ouachita Baptist Tigers. At 9-1, this is the Tiger’s best start since 1972. The Tigers have a veteran team, led by seniors Jaranimo Marks, Ed Keyes, Rowan Ledbetter, “Okie” Benjamin, Daniel Maddox, Quinton Smith and Brandon Rose. Waiting in the wings is a talented group of freshmen, including Austin Mitchell, Zane Thigpen, Emmanuel Engulu and Anthony Henry II.
Mitchell came to Ouachita after a stellar career at Conway High School, where he helped rally the Wampus Cats to get to the state championship game last year. Like fellow freshman Zane Thigpen of Arkadelphia, who made the finals of the state tournament his junior year of high school, the result was not a state championship.
Both players, though, had the experience of leading their teams through successful runs, all the way to the final game. Ouachita Coach Charlie Schaef is pleased with that kind of leadership and track record of success. The freshmen are pleased to join a team with a chance to win a championship.
“I came mostly because I like the basketball program, but I love the fact that it’s a good Christian environment and school. I also like the coaches a lot, they are real friendly, and our helping me succeed in academics as well as on the hardwood,” Mitchell said.
A guard, Mitchell’s specialty is shooting from beyond the arch. In high school he won a national three-point contest, hitting 27 three pointers out of 30 in only one minute.
