Feb. 7, 2004

Charleston, SC - When Citadel coach Pat Dennis scouted J'mel Everhart, he came back from East Texas convinced that the forward was left-handed.

But when assistant Chris Gerlufsen got a look, he took the 6-6 Everhart for a right-hander.

"It's still a mystery," Everhart says with a smile. "I can't tell anybody that."

Left or right, one thing's for certain: In a Citadel basketball season nearly devoid of highlights, the freshman Everhart has established himself as a player Dennis believes he can build a future around.

"J'mel is just a warrior," said Dennis, whose 4-16 team will try to snap an eight-game losing skid today against Wofford. "Basically, he is a freshman and is the heart and soul of this team right now. He comes to play every night and gives you everything he has. I love that kid." Everhart came to The Citadel from Tyler, Texas, as the most prepared of the seven freshmen on the Bulldogs' roster at the start of the season (only four remain). He has started every game and plays 32 minutes a game, most on the team. He's averaging 7.2 points and 7.3 rebounds, ranking third in the Southern Conference on the boards.

And lately, Everhart's defensive assignment has been the other team's best player, whether that player is a shooting guard, a small forward, a power forward or a post player. That matches the long-armed knob up with such veteran talents as Western Carolina's Kevin Martin, UNC Greensboro's Jay Joseph, College of Charleston's Thomas Mobley and Davidson's Brendan Winters.

"He's our top defender," Dennis said. "We put him on the other team's best player, and it doesn't matter if it's a two-guard, a three, a four or a five. He's going to play the best player on the other team."

With a mature attitude and an easygoing East Texas drawl, Everhart has earned his place without sparking resentment from the older Bulldogs.

"J'mel has never been late for a meeting, never had any problems in the Corps," said senior guard Erick Wilson. "A lot of freshmen have come in here immature, but I respect J'mel because he came in here mature and acting like a man from day one.

"He has just worked hard, and that's what we need from some of the other freshmen. Some of them might be on the third team and giving up hope for this season, but we've got to keep on fighting. That's one of the things I respect about J'mel. He comes in and competes every day."

Everhart grew up in Tyler as the son of a bank supervisor and a secretary, and played for a demanding coach at John Tyler High School, Carl Love. But when Gerlufsen first started calling with his Citadel recruiting pitch, Everhart was reluctant.

"I asked my parents, 'What is The Citadel?' " he said. "I looked it up on the computer and saw it was a military school and said, 'No, I can't do that.' But when I made my visit and saw how it was, I thought it would be good for me. It's made a man out of me, I know that."

Everhart needs to work on his ballhandling and jump shot to complement his knack under the boards. Dennis said Everhart and fellow freshmen Aaron Xia, Kelvin Fowler and Joseph Thompson will remain on campus over the summer to lift weights and work on their games.

"That will be very important for this team," Dennis said. "We've got to make great strides over the summer."

NOTES

-- Former Citadel standouts Cliff Washburn, Michael Joseph, Craig Burgess and Tom Slawson are among those expected to play in the second annual alumni game following today's Wofford game.

-- The Citadel baseball team will hold its "Meet the Bulldogs" event at 1 p.m. Sunday at Riley Park. The Blue-White scrimmage is set for 2 p.m.