June 13, 2007

CONTACT: Luke Brymer, Sports Information Assistant, Wallace State
Community College, luke.brymer@wallacestate.edu, 256/352-8231



Wallace Basketball Player Named Player of the Year



HANCEVILLE, Ala.- Wallace State-Hanceville basketball player Cory
Cooperwood has been name the Junior College Player of the Year by the
Alabama Sports Writer's Association.



"There is only one award offered for all junior college athletes for all
sports, so this is a great honor for Cory and quite an accomplishment,"
Lions' head basketball coach Allen Sharpe said.



This has been a season of honors for Cooperwood as he helped lead his
team to a trip to the state tournament and a final ranking of fifth in
the nation. He was fifth in Division I in points per game (16.200), was
named to the All-Conference first team and was named as an NJCAA first
team All-American. The NJCAA All-American award is the first to any
Wallace State-Hanceville basketball player.

Cooperwood with Coach Alan Sharpe (left) and ACCC Commissioner Al
Cox (right) at the Alabama Sports Writers Association Banquet.



"Cory is very deserving of all the awards he has been given. They
couldn't have gone to a better kid. He is a great person, athlete and
student. He's trying very hard to do the right thing and I admire the
work he's done," Sharpe said.



Sharpe added, "Cory also realizes that to be one of the best in the
nation, you have to have a solid team behind you. He knows he couldn't
have made it to where he is without his teammates. Cory is a team player
and really helps to lead on and off the court. He is very good at what
he does."



"Our team will be built around him next year and we will look to him to
be our leader and voice on the court. He is the only returning player
from last year and has a lot of responsibility on him," Sharpe said.
"He's excited about the upcoming season and so are we. We have some new
talent and some sophomore transfers that we are hoping to develop into
another great team. With Cory's help we believe we can do that."



The Lions finished the season at 28-4 and had achieved a ranking as high
as No. 4 in the nation. They finished at No. 5 and will begin their
2007-08 season on November 2 at a tournament at Cleveland State (Tenn.).



For more information about Wallace State basketball, visit
www.wallacestate.edu or www.acccsports.org.




PHOTO by Amanda Shavers/The Cullman Times: Cory Cooperwood scores a
lay up at a Wallace State game.

  Kristen Holmes
  Director, Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8118
  E-mail: Kristen.Holmes@WallaceState.edu