RICHARDSON – Three member's of the Tarleton men's basketball program, including two former lettermen and head coach Lonn Reisman, have been named to the Lone Star Conference 75th Anniversary Team.
The lettermen named to the team were Danny Jones and LaShon Sheffield.
The team highlights the LSC's top 75 players and coaches for both men's and women's basketball for the conference's first 75 years. The list was announced by league officials as a part of a year-long anniversary celebration.
“This is a tremendous honor for Danny, LaShon and myself,” Reisman said. “For us to be considered three of this league's best 75 players and coaches in all of the LSC's 75 years is such a humbling honor.”
The LSC 75th Anniversary basketball team recognizes 38 men's and 20 women's players along with 17 coaches.
Reisman is in his 19th season at the helm of the Texans, and the winningest coach in school history has led his team to a 387-175 record as of Thursday, Feb. 1. The .687 winning percentage is ranked No. 7 among NCAA Division II active coaches, and he is No. 10 in victories.
Over the last five seasons, Reisman has led Tarleton to a 140-38 record to date. The Texans have claimed back-to-back South Central Region Championships and made two consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, reaching the national semifinals in 2005. Reisman has guided the Texans to five straight 20-win seasons and five consecutive appearances in the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament, the longest active streak in the South Central Region.
The head coach has twice been named the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Small College Coach of the Year, and he has been named Coach of the Year on nine different occasions. However, Reisman believes this honor may top all the others.
“This is one of the top honors I have ever had,” Reisman said. “I feel very appreciative. When someone looks at you and selects you as one of the top coaches in the history of the LSC, it is very humbling. I don't have a lot of words to say. To know that someone recognizes the success we have had here at Tarleton, and all the grueling hours and effort it takes to run a program like this, I am just grateful. This program has been a significant part of my life, and I wouldn't have traded anything for the last 19 years.”
Reisman noted that the success is not due to him alone, but his players and assistants have had much to do with the national contender Tarleton has become.
“We have had a lot of success over the 19 years, and it is in great part due to the coaches and players who have come through this program,” Reisman said. “All of my assistants have played a key role, and their loyalty, dedication and tireless efforts to Tarleton basketball has made all of this possible.
“I have been very fortunate to coach so many outstanding players that have made this honor a reality,” Reisman said. “These players have been committed to the philosophy of this program, they have been disciplined to run the system and they have believed in the coaching strategy. This program is a true family, and that is what has made us successful.”
Reisman has also served as Tarleton's director of athletics for the last 15 years, and he knows the success and support for the program reaches far beyond the locker room.
“First, I thank God for the many thing he has blessed both my life and this program with over the years. He has been very good to us,” Reisman said. “I also want to thank Dr. Dennis McCabe and his administrative staff for the support, and their backing of the athletics department. To the Texan Club Advisory Board, Texan Club members, the students who come and support our games and the community who have been behind the Texans, you all deserve a lot of the credit in us achieving what we've done over the last 19 years.”
"Jones played for the Texans the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, and he was named to four All-America teams. He was College Sports Information Directors of America Second Team All-America in 2002 and a National Association of Basketball Coaches All-America selection in 2002 as well. He was also named Third Team All-America that season by Basketball Times and the Division II Bulletin.
“Danny Jones was Mr. Energy,” Reisman said. “He never took a day off in practice or during a game. He was a vocal leader while also leading his team on the floor. His enthusiasm for the game of basketball was evident in the way he played. I have coached a lot of quality rebounders, and Danny was one of the best. He got the big rebound when you needed it, and he was also a tremendous three-point shooter.“
Jones is No. 4 on Tarleton's all-time rebounding list with 780 total boards. He averaged 11.8 rebounds in his 66 games with the Texans and leads all rebounders for the school since Tarleton joined the LSC. Jones has the second-highest single-season rebounding total with 416 in 2001-02 while his 143 offensive rebounds is a school record (2001-02). He is also second in defensive rebounds for a season with 273 (2001-02).
Jones was twice named the team's Most Valuable Player, and he also earned two consecutive LSC Player of the Year awards. He was the first, and could be the last, to ever earn the honor in both divisions of the conference. Jones also claimed an individual national championship in rebounding.
“Danny played the game with such passion,” Reisman said. “He was a joy to be around.”
"Sheffield was a two-year letterwinner for the Texans as well, leading the team to back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight in 2005 and 2006. He was named the LSC Preseason Player of the Year heading into the 2005-06 season, and he was on the South Central Regional All-Tournament Team as well. He was also an All-LSC South Division First Team honoree. He was named the South Central Regional Most Outstanding Player in 2005 as he led his team to the school's first-ever regional championship in NCAA Division II.
“As far as I am concerned, LaShon Sheffield is one of the best basketball players I have ever coached,” Reisman said. “He was a tremendous leader and was an outstanding scorer. LaShon never took the day off. He was a two-year starter that took us to two regional championships and Elite Eight appearances. LaShon is a great all-around player.”
Sheffield is No. 12 on the all-time career list in assists with 230, an average of 3.4 per game.
“My congratulations to both LaShon and Danny,” Reisman said. “Our program had two of only 38 men's basketball players selected to the anniversary team, and that is such a privilege. Both of these players exemplify the Tarleton purple tradition. They are two of the top players I have ever coached, and now they have been recognized as two of the top players in the history of the LSC.”
