Roadrunner Basketball Players Selected for All-American JUCO Event

By GARY STALLARD

AC Athletics

Three members of the Angelina College men's basketball team have been selected to participate in the upcoming All-American JUCO Showcase Invitational taking place July 11-13 in Atlanta Georgia.

The invitation-only event is billed as "the top event of the summer for the top JUCO players in the U.S."

AC's list includes a pair of returning players from the 2024-2025 Roadrunner team that reached the Elite Eight at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament held back in March in Hutchinson, Kansas. Daemon Ely and Jordan Mathews were key contributors to the team's record-setting run to the Big Dance.

Joining them will be incoming teammate Clarence Payia, a 6'6" Beaumont United product who spent last season with South Plains College before recently joining head coach J.J. Montgomery's Roadrunners. At the same national tournament, South Plains reached the Final Four before bowing out to Connors State.

Ely, a 6'6" sophomore from Taos, New Mexico, earned Region XIV Honorable Mention All-Conference honors and was among contenders for Defensive Player of the Year after finishing the year with 45 blocked shots – among the nation's leaders in that category. Ely also averaged 7.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Mathews, a sophomore from Alexandria, Louisiana, also earned a spot on the Region XIV Honorable Mention All-Conference list. The 6'6" forward averaged 9.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game for the Roadrunners.

According to the Showcase's official website, "Each player will play multiple games with exposure to National Media (ESPN, CBS Sports, JucoRecruiting.com), NBA Personnel, and numerous other national media and scouting services."

In addition, an estimated 300 college coaches are expected to attend the event for the purpose of recruiting.

For further information, contact Angelina College athletic director/head men's basketball coach J.J. Montgomery at jmontgomery@angelina.edu.