DECATUR, Miss. — Entering his fourth season at the helm of East Central Community College men's basketball, head coach Dylan Shields said the program has come a long way since his arrival alongside assistant coach Jordan Whittington. Over the past three seasons, the Warriors have steadily improved under Shields' leadership, posting 13, 15, and 17 wins, including a road playoff victory in last year's Region 23 Tournament. "We have seen great strides in our first three years at East Central," Shields said. "The past two years we've had the same core group of players, but they have all graduated and moved on. Now we have a completely new group of players and look forward to continuing to build upon the success we have had."
As Shields enters year four, he said he is eager to see what this new roster can accomplish. The Warriors' 2025 lineup features more local players than ever before, something Shields believes will energize the program and its supporters. "We have a lot of new faces, including more local players on our roster than ever before," he said. "I hope the number of local talents on our team will excite the fan base and make the community want to come out and watch us play. We expect a great home atmosphere this season—one that makes Brackeen-Wood Gym a very tough place to play."
Among the players expected to lead the way is Tarrell Doby, the lone returner from last season who played significant minutes. "We are expecting big things out of him this season," Shields said. Joining him is Will Brunini, a 6-foot-3 forward from Madison known for his toughness and grit. "He's tough; he'll fight anyone in the gym," Shields said. Cameron Lee, a sophomore guard from Florence, is also poised for a breakout year. "We are excited about the growth we've seen in Cam as a sophomore," Shields added.
Gaylon Turner, a returning guard from Vicksburg, missed last season due to a broken leg but is now healthy and ready to contribute. "He's a returner, but he is a freshman on the floor," Shields said. "Now he is healthy and we are excited about the impact he will have." Javin Cooper, a returning guard from Jackson, will take on a leadership role at point guard. "Javin is our point guard; he is a leader on the floor and a great distributor to the rest of his teammates," Shields said.
Newcomer Marouf Moumine, a 6-foot-7 wing/forward from Yaounde, Cameroon, brings high-level experience after transferring from Eastern Florida State College. Moumine originally signed a Division I scholarship with Fairfield University, where he redshirted. "Marouf brings valuable experience in college basketball and will make a big impact in a variety of areas for our team," Shields said. Another key addition is Chris Moliere, a 6-foot-2 guard from Tampa, Florida, who arrives from a strong Division II program. "We're very excited about Chris and the experience he has brought to our team. Chris is a tough competitor," Shields said.
Freshman Tayshun McCray, a guard from Laurel, was one of the staff's top recruiting targets and is expected to make an immediate impact. "We are glad Tayshun chose East Central," Shields said. "He is a quick guard with the ability to make plays for himself and his teammates." Jaylen Torgusson, a 6-foot-6 forward from Decatur, will bring energy and athleticism to both ends of the floor. "Jaylen has the potential to be the all-time shot blocker at East Central when his time is up," Shields said. "He is the most athletic player we have had in my four years as head coach. Jaylen will be a very exciting player for fans to watch."
Another Newton County product, Keaton Gray, provides outside shooting depth for the Warriors. "Keaton has the chance to be the all-time leader in three-pointers made by the time he leaves East Central," Shields said. "Keaton has great range and is a threat every time he catches the ball." Rounding out the group is Montavis Hobbs, a 6-foot-8 forward from Mendenhall who brings a rare combination of size and perimeter shooting. "He can shoot the cover off the basketball," Shields said. "So many coaches have already contacted us about Montavis because of how well he shoots the ball for his size."