Gregg Webb, Weatherford Democrat

Weatherford College basketball fans who enjoyed watching Edvinas Ruzgas play as a WC sophomore last season can easily catch the 6-6 forward, if they would like, by merely heading east on I-20 for a few miles, hanging a right on University Drive in Fort Worth and motoring to the Texas Christian University campus. It may be a bit more of a challenge to see Ruzgas' former Coyotes' teammate, Roderick Flemings, play on his home court, to the tune of about 3,200 nautical miles, give or take, west of the TCU. Though the Hawaii University team does get as close as Ruston, La. on one of its road trips this season.

The cagers helped Weatherford College win the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference last season, spurring the Coyotes to a 24-6 overall record.

Regardless of the former WC players' geographic differences, a common thread between the two is the positive effect each is having on their respective teams.

Flemings, a 6-7 forward for the Warriors, leads the Western Athletic Conference team in several categories five games into the season, including minutes and average points per game. Currently averaging more than 16 points per contest, Flemings also pulls down eight rebounds every game, the second most of any player on the squad. The junior currently leads the team in steals and draws more fouls than anyone else on the Hawaii University team.

The Warriors are 3-3 on the year.

Ruzgas has helped the Horned Frogs to a 7-3 record and has been the most prolific 3-point shooter on the squad, sinking 54 shots from beyond the arc with a .426 percentage from long range. Overall, the TCU junior shoots at a .526 pace and averages 11.6 points per game, second highest on the team.

Ruzgas handles the ball well and is smart with his passing for the Mountain West Conference member TCU, evidenced by the mere 1.3 turnovers in each contest, the most proficient among the Horned Frogs starters. The cager from Lithuania also pulls down an average of 3.4 rebounds per game and leads the team in time on the court, averaging more than 32 minutes per match.

The former Coyotes played significant roles in helping WC achieve lofty heights last season. On their current paths and playing as they have thus far, chances are the Warriors and Horned Frogs may also reap the benefits of Flemings' and Ruzgas' success, as well.