Forward, Mississippi State ‘01, Ht: 6-8, Wt: 220
High School: Lanier High School, Jackson, Miss.
Birthdate: May 26, 1978 (Jackson, Miss.)


HOW ACQUIRED: Claimed by Riverdragons as free agent on Feb. 27, 2002
YEARS PRO: 2
2001-02 SEASON AVERAGES: 9.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg over 21.4 mpg in nine games

OVERALL Played impressively in Memphis Grizzlies vet camp this October before being released in final round of cuts…Also participated in 76ers free agent camp over summer…Played nine games for Heat in November 2001…Slash forward who can rebound and run the floor, game also thrives on isolation plays…Takes quality shots, hitting 55.1% from the floor...By end of season established himself as Riverdragons starting small forward…Made immediate impact in lineup after being claimed on Feb.27…

2001-02: Started final three games of season, averaging 13.0 ppg and 6.7 rpg over 24.3 mpg…Scored season-high 16 points in second straight start for Riverdragons in win over Fayetteville on Mar. 22…Had first double-double posting 10 points and season-high 10 rebounds in first start of the season against Mobile on Mar. 18…Had 10 points against Greenville on Mar. 3…Had eight points and three rebounds in Riverdragons debut in win over Fayetteville on Mar. 1…Claimed by Riverdragons on Feb. 27…

2002 PLAYOFFS: Started all three playoff games…Led team in rebounding with 7.3 rpg…Hit dependable 13-25 FGA’s, shooting 52% from the floor…Kept team close with 12 points and eight rebounds in Game 3 loss at Greenville on Apr.6…Had playoff-high 12 rebounds in Game 1 victory at Greenville…

CAREER: Has one year of pro basketball experience…Played nine games for Miami Heat in November 2001, averaging 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds over 10.9 minutes per game…Scored season-best eight points hitting 4-8 shots from the floor against the Atlanta Hawks on Nov.3, 2001…Pulled down a season-high six rebounds in a game twice playing under Heat head coach Pat Riley…In college, was a three-year starter at Mississippi St…Averaged 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds over 24.2 minutes per game during four seasons (1997-2001) at MSU…Tied school’s record for games played (123)…Led team in rebounding (6.8 rpg) his senior year (12th in the SEC) on his way to becoming just one of two Bulldogs to play in all 31 games that season (2000-01)…Scored 14.4 ppg as a junior to earn honors as MSU’s best offensive player…Ranks third among the school’s all-time leaders in dunks (106), 10th in points (1,307 points) and 11th in rebounds (677)…

PERSONAL: Born in Jackson, Mississippi…First name is Tephen…Attended same college as Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone…Nicknamed ‘Tang’ as a child by his aunt–an admirer of the astronauts who relied on the orange breakfast beverage while on the moon…Majored in arts and sciences at MSU…Considering coaching as a career after basketball…Favorite movie is “Rush Hour 2”…