CSAS' Todd Lansden is flanked by his mother, Felicia, and father, Kyle, as he signs his scholarship papers with Tennessee Wesleyan College on Thursday in the high school library. Lansden averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds per game last season for the Patriots.
photo by Dennis Norwood
A year after plucking one of the Scenic City’s most exciting players from Central’s state tournament team, Tennessee Wesleyan assistant coach Ray Stone was back in town to ink another local player to a basketball scholarship.
With rising sophomore Tre’ Tiller already making his presence known for the Bulldogs, CSAS’ 6’6” post player Todd Lansden will now head up I-75 to Athens, Tenn. and hopefully provide some much needed help at the center/forward positions.
According to Stone, the Bulldogs graduated six seniors from last year’s NAIA tournament team, with four of them being post players.
Stone said, “Lansden’s size, athleticism and the way he can run the floor makes him a very attractive signee for us.”
“He fits right into our style of play and if he works hard could see playing time as a freshman,” continued Stone. Head Coach Mike Poe believes in rewarding his younger, hard working players with court time. Case in point, last season Tiller started 24 games, averaging 7.8 points per game and hitting 18 of 55 3-point attempts.
Lansden said, “It’s a real honor to have been recruited by Tennessee Wesleyan. It shows how hard work pays off. I’m very excited to have this opportunity.”
With the school making the change to Tennessee Wesleyan University later this summer, Lansden becomes the first university-era signee for the Bulldogs. Lansden is excited about that, as well. “It has a good feeling to it; it will be better for the students,” he said.
According to Stone, the school will remain an NAIA school with membership in the Appalachian Athletic Conference.
The affable, polite young man averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds per game for Coach Mark Dragoo’s Patriots last season.
Coach Stone was not only impressed with Lansden’s athletic abilities, he also said that after getting to know him he realized that he’s a great young man, as well. He reiterated that, “this is a perfect time for Todd to join our team. There is a great opportunity for him if he continues to work hard.”
Lansden is the son of Kyle and Felicia Lansden, who, according to Todd’s grandfather Alvin Cobb, were also “pretty good basketball players.”
(Email Dennis Norwood at sportsshooter614@gmail.com; Follow him on Twitter at @DennisENorwood.)