East Mississippi's Chris Rhoney signs with NAIA member Life University to continue basketball career

SCOOBA – East Mississippi Community College guard Chris Rhoney signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at NAIA member Life University during a Thursday afternoon signing event held on the Scooba campus.    

Having most recently played in this year's MACJC All-Star Basketball Game earlier this month, Rhoney averaged 6.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for head coach Mark White's 18-8 EMCC Lions this past season.  The 6-foot-1, 170-pound backcourt performer also shot 43 percent overall from the field, including 40 percent from three-point range, and 73 percent from the free throw line as a sophomore after transferring from East Central Community College.

"Life University's basketball program fits me better both with basketball and school wise," Rhoney said.  "I'd like for Coach (Mark) White and all of the coaches here at East Mississippi to know how much I really appreciate everything they've done for me.  Coach White took me in when I transferred from East Central and taught me a lot about how to get ready for college basketball from the weight room to the classroom to the basketball floor.  I'll have to stay focused in a big city and be ready for this big change, but I know I can handle it because Coach White taught me enough."    

A product of West Lauderdale High School in Collinsville, Rhoney also earned a spot on this year's NJCAA Region 23 All-Tournament Team after leading the EMCC Lions in scoring during their seventh consecutive appearance in the regional semifinals.  He averaged 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 53 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line, coming off the bench in regional tournament action last month in Clinton.  

"The qualities we like about Chris are his leadership on the floor and his basketball decision making," said Life University head men's basketball coach John Barrett, who enters his ninth season as head coach for the Life U Running Eagles.  "Chris has great instincts for the game and is a guard with good size.  He's a great fit for us and for our style of play because he can play more than one position."    

Located in Marietta, Ga., Life University is affiliated with the Mid-South Conference as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).  Under Barrett, the Life U Running Eagles were 16-15 a year ago and finished the regular season on a four-game winning streak, including back-to-back upset victories over top 25 teams.