STARKVILLE — Ed Townsel didn’t see a finished product the first time he met Donte Powers.
But Powers, who was a standout at East Oktibbeha County High School, worked hard to attract attention and to build his game.
After playing pivotal roles in two of Starkville High School boys basketball team’s runs in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A playoffs, Powers followed in the footsteps of his father, Eric, and Townsel on Monday when he signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at East Mississippi Community College.
Powers will join forces with former Starkville High standouts Darrious Agnew and Markedric Bell.
“They’re getting a very energetic, nice, respectable, you can go on and on with the gentleman aspect,” said Townsel, who is an assistant coach with the Starkville High boys basketball team. “His parents raised him as a really good man.”
Powers expects the style of play at EMCC to help him mature as a player. He also hopes to help Bell, who averaged six points per game, and Agnew, who averaged 8.7, blossom after they combined for 21 starts in a 12-12 season in 2017-18.
“What he told me, it pulled me in and I knew it was the right choice at that moment,” Powers said of EMCC coach Billy Begley. “It really excites me that I get to play down there with coach Begley and (assistant) coach Pete (Story). They’re mostly laid back, and I’m a laid-back person, but they’re going to make me work, and I love to work.”
The signing was a dream come true for Powers’ mother, Verlina, who said her son has worked for the opportunity his entire life. The transition to Starkville High following the consolidation of East and West Oktibbeha County high schools was the move that made it happen.
“I feel like I’ve grown as a basketball player,” Donte Powers said.
In his two years under the coaching of Townsel and Starkville coach Greg Carter, Powers grew into a point guard who balanced his passing ability and athleticism and his scoring. That explosiveness helped him take over district games and played a key role in leading Starkville to an unblemished district ledger. There were stretches that Powers scored 15 or more points in consecutive games, even though he didn’t consider himself a first option to score.
“He cracks double figures no problem in real good games, and that’s what we needed from him,” Townsel said. “We needed him to grow and help us be successful.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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