Ira Cross Signs National Letter-of-Intent to Play for ENMU Men's Basketball Team

PORTALES, N.M. — Ira Cross, a 6’5” 215-pound forward who played the past two seasons at Gadsden State Community College in Gadsden, Ala., has signed a National Letter-of-Intent to play for the Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team. Cross, from Munford, Ala., will be a junior during the 2005-06 season.

Cross averaged 8.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game at Gadsden State during the 2004-05 season. The Cardinals advanced to the Alabama Community College Conference championship game before falling to Shelton State Community College, 92-83. GSCC finished the season with a 21-13 overall record, including 8-5 in the ACCC North Division. Cross was named to the ACCC All-Tournament Team.

“Ira is an athletic, active player, who can create on the block and rebound,” ENMU Head Coach Shawn Scanlan said. “He has the framework that will allow for more muscle mass and make him even more of a force inside. He can also move out on the floor and use his quickness and athletic ability to make plays.

“He can run in transition and score in close, as well as out to 15 feet,” Scanlan added. “He will be one player we look to fill the shoes left behind by Jamaal Hunnicutt (Second Team All-Region twice; 18.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2004-05).”

Eastern New Mexico University battled through numerous injuries during 2004-05 and ended the year with a 9-18 record. The Hounds hope to stay healthy next year and return to the form that won them back-to-back Lone Star Conference South Division titles in 2002-03 and 2003-04 with a combined record of 40-17 (.702) those two years. The Greyhounds qualified for the LSC Tournament both years and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2003-04.

Ira Cross
Munford, Alabama
Gadsden State Community College