Men's Basketball
November 7 - Jamboree and Media Day
2009 Men’s Basketball Team Roster
| Kareem Balson Joey Robinson De’Ante Beasley, Co-Captain Reginald Nation, Co-Captain Justin Poole Nicholaus Mikell |
Courtney Farris, Co-Captain Nicholas High Bear Samuel Thompson Howard Gilbert Rich Langdeau |
The Men’s Golden Knights Basketball team was one of the first sports considered when Athletics was born at West Georgia Technical College. The program is continuously growing and requires committed students who are passionate about basketball. Tryouts are typically held in the Fall Quarter.
Interested students should email the Student Activities Coordinator at tjazha.mazhani@westgatech.edu.
Men’s Basketball Head Coach Walter Dunson
Walter Dunson, a native a Carrollton, GA and Founder/CEO of Global Youth Sports Management was a three sport athlete at Central High School in Carrollton, GA, where he played basketball, football and baseball. Walter was inducted into the Central of Carroll County Hall of Fame in 2006. Walter was drafted by the Atlanta Braves out of high school, but chose to play college football on a full scholarship at Middle Tennessee State University. While at MTSU Walter ran track and played football. Walter was drafted into the NFL by the San Diego Chargers in the 5th round in 1993 as a wide receiver, kick-returner and running back and later signed with the Phoenix Cardinals as a free agent at the same positions including defensive back for the legendary coach Buddy Ryan. Under Walter’s tutelage, for three years while working for the Atlanta Falcons as the Director of NFL Youth Programs the Atlanta Falcons Youth Football Program grew from a few hundred participants in the Metro-Atlanta area to having served more than forty thousand participants throughout the entire state of Georgia.
According to the Boston Herald, Walter is known as one of the nation’s most outstanding young motivational speakers who teach others that, “failure is never final, and instead, it is just a temporary stop on the road to greatness”. Walter is also a personal trainer and student-athlete development specialist. Walter has been involved in sports as a player, coach, Director and/or official from the youth to professional level for 34 consecutive years, he has trained more than 500 kids and he has placed more than 60 kids in four year colleges. Walter’s mission in life is to make a positive difference in the lives of student-athletes all over the world through sports and educational programs. Walter Dunson joins the Golden Knights staff as the Head Coach for Men’s Basketball.
Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Niki Okolovitch
Niki Okolovitch is the Assistant Coach for the Golden Knights Men’s Basketball team. Born in Germany, Niki attended Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, AL. Upon graduation he played basketball for Coach Bill Jones and Coach Mark Turgeon at Jacksonville State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. After college Niki worked with mentally handicapped children, as a counselor with juvenile delinquents, a full time substitute teacher for Douglas County High School, and is currently employed with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff.
