MSU named among Champions Of Character institutions

BECKLEY, W.Va. - Mountain State University has been named among the Champions of Character institution with The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for 2008-2009. 231 colleges and universities were chosen for sharing the NAIA's commitment to high standards and to the principle that participation in athletics serves as an integral part of the total education process. Read More...

MSU Basketball

Mountain State 5-foot-8 guard Rashad Nesbitt, right, stands next to new MSU signee Paul Sturgess during practice Friday in Beckley. At 7-8, Sturgess will become the tallest player to play college basketball.
Rick Barbero / The Register-Herald

7-foot-8 Sturgess honing game at NAIA school

JOHN RABY

AP Sports Writer

BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) - Paul Sturgess snares an offensive rebound between two defenders, attempts a dunk but misses, grabs the rim and gets whistled for a technical foul.

But wait. His coach, Bob Bolen, has an issue with the referee.

"How is that hanging on the rim?" Bolen said. "His feet were on the ground."

At 7-foot-8, Sturgess is the tallest college player in America, transferring for his junior season to tiny Mountain State University.

The word Sturgess would like you to focus on is "player" - not "tallest."

He's heard all the jokes, felt all the stares. He says his health is just fine and at age 22 he hasn't experienced the chronic knee, foot or leg problems that have beset other super-big men. Read More...

Cougars’ signee Sturgess brings a lot to the table

By Dave Morrison
Sports Editor

The questions don’t come as quick as the stares.

But still they come.

“Do you play basketball?” A popular one.

“How do you sleep at night?” Another one.

“What’s the weather like up there?” Not so much.

At 7-foot-8 (that’s 92 inches), Paul Sturgess has heard it all.

Good thing he has an easy-going manner. It comes in handy.

“Everywhere I go I get stared at, I’m not going to lie about it,” the England native said. “But it doesn’t really bother me. It’s going to happen for the rest of my life. If I shied away from it, what good is that going to do me? I just take it all in stride. I hold my head high, I’m proud of who I am and I’m putting it to good use, really.”Read More...