Dawon Cummings Chooses Indiana State

April 23, 2012

Pictured with Dawon Cummings, center, are Dawon's father, Louis Cummings, and Coffeyville Head Men's Basketball Coach Jay Herkelman.

Coffeyville Community College sophomore guard Dawon Cummings signed with Indiana State on Monday during a signing ceremony held in Nellis Hall. Cummings, who will have two years eligibility remaining, chose the Sycamores over schools such as Loyola of Chicago, Missouri State, Iona and Ohio University.

"When I went of my visit, I felt it was the best fit for me," explained Cummings. "I got to meet the players and the coaches are great. I should be competing for a shooter role and back-up point guard."

Cummings, who played high school basketball at Hogan Prep in Kansas City, Mo., was a second team All-Jayhawk Conference selection this past season. Cummings averaged 13.8 points per game this past year and shot 35% from beyond the three-point arc. Cummings shot 78% from the charity stripe and was second on the team with 60 steals.

This past year, Coffeyville won the team's tenth Jayhawk East title over the past 12 years and finished with a 28-4 overall record. Last year as a freshman, Cummings averaged seven points per game for a coffeyville team that placed fifth at the NJCAA National Tournament and finished with a 33-5 record. The junior college national tournament in 2011 was a highlight for Cummings.

"It was a good experience," said Cummings. "I enjoyed being able to compete there because not a lot of teams make it."

So, after playing for winning high school and junior college teams, joining a winning atmosphere for his next stop was important to Cummings. "I want to make the tournament and have a chance to compete for a conference championship," said Cummings. A member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Indiana State finished with an 18-15 overall record last year which included an appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The Sycamores lost in the first-round to Robert Morris. It was the Sycamores third consecutive year of playing in a post-season tournament.

"Indiana State is a good choice for Dawon," said Coffeyville Head Coach Jay Herkelman. "They should be one of the top three teams in the Valley next year. I know all the coaches there and they're good guys."

"They will have a lot of open minutes avaialable next year," added Herkelman. "Dawon has a chance to get a lot of them."

Cummings will hope to emulate the success of two former teammates on the 2010-2011 Coffeyville team. Neil Watson, who played this past year for Southern Mississippi, and Stacy Wilson, who came off the bench this season for the Murray State Racers, were both teammates of Cummings last year.

Watson was named second team Conference USA this past year. Watson was also named Conference Newcomer of the Year and was also picked as the Sixth Man of the Year by the league coaches. Wilson saw action in 32 games for Murray State, averaging four points per game. Murray State finished with a 31-2 record this past year.

"I still stay in contact with them," said Cummings. "They still help me out with some tips and help keep me motivated."

Cummings would like to join his former teammates in the NCAA Tournament next March. "I want to make the tournament," said Cummings. Since the Valley should get 2-3 teams in the tournament next year, it will be a realistic possibility. Regardless, Herkelman believes Cummings will be successful.

"He will be a good player in the Missouri Valley," said Herkelman.