Ricky Sears
The new Dalton State men’s basketball program has come up big in the state of Alabama.
Coaches Tony Ingle and John Redman signed senior point guard Ricky Sears, 22, Monday in the James E Brown Center on the school’s campus.
Sears comes to DS from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama where Redman coached as a student assistant. As a freshman, he played for Alabama state champion Wallace State, a junior college in Hanceville.
Sears transferred to Bevil State in Jasper for his sophomore season. He averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals per game at Bevil State.
Redman recruited Sears to Spring Hill for his junior year. He led the Badgers to wins over three NAIA top 25 teams – Lee University, Emanuel, and the State University of New Orleans.
The coach and Sears have established an excellent relationship that will now extend to DS.
“We’ve developed a familiarity,” Redman said. “I helped to recruit him to Spring Hill and he was a good player for us and a good leader. I’m excited that he is in the Dalton State program.”
Ingle agreed. “He brings a lot to the table,” said Ingle. “He’s multifaceted. He’s a combo guard. He is small and competitive enough that we could go a small line-up and he could play three positions.”
Sears says he looks forward to working with the coaches in beginning a new athletic tradition. “I’m looking forward to getting back here in a couple of weeks,” he said. “It’s going to be a big year for us.”
Sears played high school ball at Austin High in Decatur, Alabama. Ricky is the son of Dyra and Ricky Mostella of Decatur. He has three siblings. Detrick Mostella, 19, has signed to play with the University of Pittsburgh. LaJay Sears, 24, played point for Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. They have one sister, Brittney Sears, 26.
Dalton State opens their first ever season as a four-year school on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Spring Hill. The Roadrunners then go to Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi on Friday, Nov. 1,and Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
The first home game at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center will be on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7:00 p.m. against Hiwassee College.
Point guard Ricky Sears, seated, signs to play his senior season with the new Dalton State basketball program. Roadrunner Coaches Tony Ingle and John Redman are standing.