Southern Lee names Collins as head coach

Former Southern Lee High assistant boys basketball coach Gaston Collins has been named as the Cavaliers' head coach.

Collins replaces Chris Cherry, who resigned to become the head coach at Goldsboro High.

Collins inherits two starters from a 26-4 team. Akeem Richmond averaged 24.2 points per game, and point guard Chad Taylor also returns.

"People don't realize we graduated six seniors and three starters," Collins said.

"We've got Akeem and Chad, but we've got to have some young guys come through for us.

"Akeem could get us 30 points a game, but if nobody else scores and we give up 31, we lose."

Collins said he hopes the team can play outstanding pressure defense, but it is too early.

"Coach Cherry's leaving was unexpected," Collins said. "He worked with the team in the summer. I've got to do some evaluations before I can know what we'll do."

Collins is a 1992 graduate of Plymouth High and played football and basketball at Elizabeth City State, graduating in 1999.

He was the girls basketball coach at Robersonville Roanoke in 1998-99 and at Bertie High in 1999-2001.

Collins was an assistant varsity boys basketball coach at Elizabeth City State from 2001 through 2006 but took a job as a physical education teacher and boys basketball assistant at Southern Lee.

"I got tired of living out of a suitcase," Collins said, referring to life as a college assistant. "And I realized my passion was teaching and coaching in high school."