Union’s Pearson named to GSC All-decade team
For Corieon Pearson, answering his phone on that sweltering summer day in July 2012 was a pretty solid decision.
On the other end of the line was Union University assistant men’s basketball coach Trevor Lydic.
“I was sitting at home, getting ready to be a student at the University of Memphis,” said Pearson, “and he asked for me to come up to Jackson for a tryout. They wanted to see me in person.”
Having just helped Seward County (Kansas) Community College finish third at the NJCAA Division I National Championship, the former Ridgeway High standout went the next day to attempt to make the most of this opportunity.
“That probably was the best showcase I ever put on in basketball, I believe,” Pearson said. “After that showing, I knew (a scholarship was earned).”
The 6-foot-2 guard went on to be a three-year starter for the Bulldogs, averaging 16.4 points in competition against other Gulf South Conference foes.
More about his 2014-15 senior season is forthcoming, but as for the here and now, Pearson recently learned that he was the only Union student-athlete to land a spot on the GSC All-decade Team. He was an honorable mention selection of players chosen from 2011 to 2020.
“It came out of nowhere. I didn’t even know they did the all-decade team for the conference,” he said. “But, it means a lot. It’s a big accomplishment.”
Union coach David Niven certainly wasn’t going to argue seeing Pearson’s name on the complete list of 17 honorees.
“Corieon was a tremendous leader and his teammates always responded to him,” Niven said. “He was one of those guys that knew were all five players were supposed to be and would make sure they were there ready to perform their role.”
The 2014-15 Bulldogs were 13-9 in conference play and clinched the fifth seed heading into the GSC tournament. A 77-76 victory over Shorter allowed Union to advance to the semifinals, where the Bulldogs dropped a 77-75 contest to Alabama Huntsville in overtime.
“It wasn’t the worst loss,” said Pearson, “but it was a win that we felt like we needed to get.”
And so, in true NCAA Division II National Tournament Selection Show spirit, Pearson and Co. convened at their coach’s house to watch, wait and see.
“We were really just wanting to see if we were going to get the opportunity to continue to keep playing,” he said. “When our name popped up, everybody cheered.”
As the seventh seed in the South Region, the Bulldogs packed their bags for Lakeland (Florida) to face No. 2 seed Barry.
“It was a little more nerve-wracking than other games,” said Pearson, “but once the ball tipped off, it was just basketball again.”
The end result was a 73-59 setback that ended Union’s season at 20-11. As for Pearson, he averaged 17.6 points and 3.9 assists per game, in addition to be named 2015 ALL-GSC first team and NCAA DII Daktronics all-region.
“I just really let the game come to me my senior year,” Pearson said. “I knew what I was capable of, and with the work that I put in, anything that I got, I worked hard for — so I deserved it.”
Niven credits Pearson’s toughness as the thing that sets him apart.
“He may be the toughest player I’ve coached,” Niven said. “When the clock was running down, the ball was definitely going to be in his hands.”
Buzzer-beaters versus Christian Brothers, West Alabama and West Georgia still stick out in Niven’s mind as he enters his 12th season.
“As a matter of fact, he never missed a game-winner for us,” said Niven. “The moment was never too big for him.”
The 28-year-old Pearson, who graduated with a degree in business administration, is preparing for his second season as coach at MLK Prep.
“The opportunity to go to Union was just like the perfect piece to the puzzle,” he said. “I had a coach that believed in me, handed me the keys and told me to steer the ship — and that’s exactly what I did.”
Bluff City Happenings
CBU men’s basketball players and Cincinnati natives Scott Dennis and Adam Dieball both landed on the GSC All-decade second team. As a senior, Dennis was the 2012 Co-player of the Year after averaging 15.9 points and 9.2 rebounds. The Bucs (25-7) advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 that season, with Dennis also garnering Allamerican and All-south Region honors. Dieball was recognized ALL-GSC first team on three occasions (2017-19). He finished his career with 1,914 points and averaged 5.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists. … The CBU volleyball duo of Hailey Gillis and Alexis Gillis were GSC All-decade second-team picks too. Hailey was an ALL-GSC first team selection from 201012. Her sister, Alexis, represented the Bucs on the first team from 2013-15. Additionally, she was on the 2012 GSC alltournament team and followed that up with an AVCA All-american nod in 2013. … Former Horn Lake star and NFL running back Brandon Jackson has joined Olive Branch as an assistant football coach. The Super Bowl winner with the Green Bay Packers will be apart of the staff being assembled by veteran Darren Bowling for his first season with the Conquistadors. … A quartet of Memphis-area athletes at Northeast Mississippi Community College are MACJC Distinguished Academic All-state. In baseball, there was Jacob Compton (Desoto Central), Bryan Seaman (St. Benedict) and Landon Wilkerson (Lewisburg), while Hillcrest’s Chancey Jackson was honored in women’s basketball.
Summertime on the links
Pat Reilly aced the 146-yard No. 13 using a 7-iron at Spring Creek Ranch.
Larry Ross aced the 105-yard No. 3 using a gap wedge at Fair Oaks.
Keith Rudemiller aced the 104-yard No. 13 using a wedge at Spring Creek Ranch.
Lee Sharp aced the 115-yard No. 7 using a pitching wedge at Galloway.
Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact Chris Van Tuyl at christopher.vantuyl@commercialappeal.com