Booker departs Montana, will join Indians

The former Portageville star will join Southeast for the 2005-06 season.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Roy Booker has decided to continue his college basketball career much closer to home.

Booker, a former Portageville High School star who was the University of Montana's third-leading scorer last season as a junior, said Friday he has enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University and plans to play his final collegiate season for the Indians.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound guard must sit out the 2004-2005 season under NCAA transfer rules, although he will be able to practice with the Indians. He will then be eligible for games in 2005-2006.

"I'm pretty excited about coming to SEMO," Booker said. "Montana was a long way from home, and I think coming to SEMO will work out best for me."

Booker averaged 9.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last season for a Montana squad that entered the year as the Big Sky Conference favorite but never clicked and finished just 10-18, including 6-8 in league play. Booker shot 45 percent from the field overall, including 31 percent from 3-point range, and he made 74.3 percent of his free throws.

After graduating from Portageville High School, Booker had a standout two-year career at Allen County (Kan.) Community College, averaging 21 points, five rebounds and four assists per game as a sophomore. His freshman season, he averaged 20.7 points a contest.

Booker was rated as one of the nation's top 20 junior college players, and The Sporting News College Basketball issue ranked Booker as the third best shooting guard in the nation coming out of Allen County. He was recruited by Southeast and a host of programs from major conferences, including Nebraska, Kansas State and Texas A&M, before picking Montana.

As a senior at Portageville High School, Booker averaged 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game to earn all-state honors. His uncle, Jamie Booker, is a former University of Washington player who also spent one season with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Southeast coach Gary Garner is prohibited by NCAA rules from commenting on Booker until classes begin on Aug. 23.