SENATOBIA – Across the NJCAA, you would be hard-pressed to find a team dealing with as much change in a short amount of time than the Northwest men's basketball program.

Longtime assistant coach Shane Oakley takes over the reigns of the program on an interim basis following the resignation of all-time winningest coach Bubba Skelton after 14 years, two stints and 295 all-time victories. Last season, Skelton had guided the Rangers to a 22-4 overall record and the first MACJC North Division title since 2006.

"One chair makes a lot of difference," Oakley said, on assuming the head coaching role. "I have been fortunate to sit under a lot of great coaches and learn and observe, so as you watch every person you have coached with, you take away a lot from them. At the end of the day, I have to be me and have my own style and coach players in the way that I see works best for us. I'm ready to go and make the best of it."

A changing of the guard isn't the only challenge facing the Rangers this season. Northwest will be without the services of four of its starting five from last season, including sophomores Therrell Gosier II and Alex Shepard, along with Tremont Robinson and Radarius Washington. Additionally, four more sophomore reserves have also departed from last year's team.

That leaves sophomore guard Jitaurious Gordon as the team's only returning starter. In 26 games, Gordon averaged 14.3 points, 2.8 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game, which included 20 games with 10 or more points scored. The Second Team All-MACJC selection also participated in the JUCO Report Top 100 event in Atlanta during the offseason.

Alec Rayburn and Mike Robinson will also join Gordon as the three returning players for the Rangers. Both players came off the bench last season, with Rayburn averaging 2.1 points in 17 games and Robinson averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 19 games.

Overall, the Rangers will mostly consist of unproven freshmen and JUCO transfers. Although rebuilding can be a common theme in junior college, this season will bring forth more changes than Northwest has experienced in quite a while.

"It's going to be tough," Oakley said, on the massive amount of new faces. "It's going to basically be baptism by fire, meaning that we're all going to get in there together. It's going to be a new thing for all of us and we're going to try and figure things out as we go. We're going to continue to play up tempo and do what's been successful for us and hopefully, somewhere down the road we can settle on the five starters and everyone else can figure out their roles. (But) we're just going to have to take it all one day at a time."

A total of three JUCO transfers will compete for starting roles, including Southwest Mississippi transplants Devon Benson and Quez Williamson, along with Itawamba transfer Kendrick Fountain. While at SMCC, Benson averaged 8.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and one assist in nine games of action, while Fountain saw action in 21 games for ICC, averaging 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game, earning three starts.

"The great thing about them is that they have a little experience (at this level)," Oakley said. "They will be trying to compete and form a nucleus for us."

Northwest will have seven freshmen on the roster, meaning that the young guns will get to see plenty of action as well. Among them is Gentry High product Ernest Minton, who averaged 9.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and two blocks per game as a senior, while leading coach Chico Potts and the Rams to a 30-4 overall record and the semifinals of the Class 4A state tournament. He also racked up numerous accolades during his high school career and Oakley likes what he sees so far from the 6-foot-5 forward.

"He's a guy that isn't flashy, but he is athletic," Oakley said. "He's long, he's disciplined and he comes from a good high school system. He's been coached well, he's a team guy, knows what it takes to win and he's ready both physically and athletically. There's some speed of the game that he has to catch up on a little bit, but as far as knowing how to play the game and what to do, he's going to give us some minutes and help us rebounding and defending with our motion offense."

Another freshman to watch is 6-foot-5 forward Montez Allen. The Lake Cormorant product certainly made a name for himself while with the Gators, averaging 14.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a steal per game as a senior, while also eclipsing 1,000 points for his high school career.

Joining him is 6-foot-1 guard Nick Edwards, the only out-of-state player on the Rangers' roster. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Edwards played his high school basketball at Grayson High, where he helped guide the Rams to a 22-7 overall mark last season and to back-to-back Final Four appearances in the Class 7A state tournament. For his efforts, he was also recruited by several programs ranging from NCAA Division II to NAIA.

"Montez can play some step out forward," Oakley said. "He has to toughen up just a little bit, but he has the knowledge and skill-set to play and contribute. Nick will have to come in and play the one and two spots for us. He knows how to play and comes from a great high school. Overall, we have newcomers that fit in, but it's just about getting that right mixture and defining roles. Once we do that and once everyone buys in to that, I think we will be okay."

One thing Northwest doesn't shy away from is playing tough opponents, both within the MACJC North Division and out. Matchups against local foes Arkansas State Mid-South, Arkansas Baptist and an always challenging Missouri State-West Plains squad make up the majority of the Rangers' non-division slate. Faith Prep, Tennessee Prep and newcomer SAU Tech round out the full non-division schedule.

As far as the division competition goes, the Rangers managed to battle through stiff challenges against Holmes and Northeast en route to the division title. Both teams are expected to be just as difficult again this season, along with the remaining four rivals within the division.

"I tell people all the time that our division is as tough as anywhere else at this level," Oakley said. "Night in and night out, you have teams that can beat anyone on any given night. Holmes and Northeast are both loaded again with sophomores that have been in it before. East Mississippi has a lot of returning guys back as well, so it's not going to be easy and we will have our hands full. Our guys are going to have to grow up and learn that no matter if we're at home or on the road, that it's going to be a war every night and we have to come ready to play."

Even among all the changes and challenges that lie ahead for the Rangers, Oakley just wants his team to stay together through the adversity.

"We have to understand that this is a team game and everyone is going to have to find their niche," Oakley said. "Whether it's new guys that have to step up in new roles, someone going from playing 20 minutes to 35 minutes in a game, or someone having to play more or less than they did before, we all have to do whatever it takes to contribute and help us win. With our sophomores, it's going to be about them stepping up to be leaders and showing the young guys how we play and what we expect from them. Northwest has a proud tradition of winning and we have to find guys that are willing to step up and get the job done."

Northwest will open the 2018-19 campaign on Thursday, Nov. 1 against Faith Prep. Tipoff from Howard Coliseum is scheduled for 7 p.m.