Cougars add four players to roster

The Columbus State men’s basketball team has added four players for the 2016-17 season — three guards and a forward.

The players are Darius Joell, Bryson Williams, Rudy Winters and Ryan Burnett.

“We couldn’t be happier after signing these very talented players,” CSU coach Robert Moore said. “I think all four will fit very well in our system and gel together with the returning players that we have.”

Joell is a 6-foot-2 guard from Collins Hill High Lawrenceville, Ga. He played the last season at Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tenn.

He averaged 12.6 points per game and shot 47.1 percent from the field and 41.3 from 3-point range.

He played the previous season at Wallace State in Hanceville, Ala.

“Darius will be able to play both point guard and shooting guard for us next year,” Moore said. “He givesus another outside shooter and he can also create off the dribble for his teammates. Darius really fits our style of play by attacking in transition and making plays off of ball screens.”

Williams is a 5-10 guard from West Florence High in Florence, S.C. He averaged 11.6 points a game in leading the team to the state tournament.

“Bryson is a really effective 3-point shooter and has outstanding ball handling skills,” Moore said. “He reminds me of current Cougar Jacori Payne and the coaching staff feels like Bryson can have some great years at CSU.”

Winters is a 6-4 guard from Cartersville, Ga., who played Dalton (Ga.) State for the past two years. He averaged 13.4 points per game.

“Rudy will provide athletic ability at the wing position and he will be able to guard other wing players in this league,” Moore said. “He really attacks the basket to score and is strong enough to finish through contact. Rudy will be a vital part of our transition game this season.”

Burnett is a 6-5 forward from Henrico, Va., who played last season at Saint Leo, averaging 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds.

Before that he played at Division-I Stony Brook.

“Ryan is very versatile and will be able to play multiple positions for us during a game.,” Moore said. “He is the definition of a student-athlete as he will be working towards his graduate degree at CSU.”

The Cougars went 21-8 last season and 14-5 in the Peach Belt Conference.

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Cougars add four players to roster."