Chris Rhymes is an explosive wing player who is coming off knee surgery at the end of last season... expected to be healthy and ready to go sometime in November... has been a winner at every level and in multiple sports... an assistant coach of Rhymes at both Redlands and Cowley County Community Colleges was Yaphett King, a recent Titan forward (2003-04 and 2004-05)... Steve Eck was Chris' head coach at both schools.

COWLEY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Averaged 16.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for Cowley County in Arkansas (pronounced ahr-KAN-zuhs, not AHR-kan-sah) City, Kansas... team finished 31-3, losing in the Kansas Region VI finals in Wichita to Seward County, 71-61, after Chris tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a 74-63 semi-final win over Coffeyville... shot 61 percent from the floor and 73 percent at the line... made 38 percent of his 3-point tries (16 for 42)... gained the president's honor roll.

REDLANDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Averaged 12.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists for a 31-2 El Reno, Oklahoma-based team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation for three weeks.

NORTHEAST ACADEMY: Three-year varsity letterman in basketball and multi-sport star at Northeast Academy in Oklahoma City, which won three state championships during his tenure... all-state selection and league's most valuable player as a senior for the Vikings and Coach Malcolm Roberts... averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals... played in the all-state all-star Game, all-city all-star game and Oil Bowl between Texas and Oklahoma... all-league as a junior... played quarterback for two seasons on the football team... four-year letterman as high jumper on the track team, placing second in the state as a junior and third as a sophomore.

PERSONAL: Born on Nov. 3, 1986, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma... parents are Buster Rhymes and Jackie Ward... played travel ball for Athletes First and Oklahoma Trotters...communications major whose goal is to become a sports analyst or sports agent... his most memorable sports moments were winning three state championships in high school and being named to the all-state team... his father was a standout running back and kick returner for the University of Oklahoma (1980-81, 83-84), and played two years (1985-86) in the National Football League with Minnesota and several seasons in the Canadian Football League... Chris credits Coach Phil Ingensoll for most influence on his career: "Because he cut me my freshman year and motivated me to come back better and stronger."