 |
 |
 |
|
Who's
OnlineWe have 24 guests and 8 members online
Welcome Guest, become a member today.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Do you know somebody that was left off of this list? Contact me at JBurton@bsufans.com with information on new MAC recruits.. |
| Bowling Green, Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Marshall, Miami, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan | | Akron | - 6-7 Quade Milum - Colonel White high school - Dayton, OH
- Milum, who is ambidextrous, also excels on the track team, averaged 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks last season while helping to lead his team to the Dayton City League crown. "Quade will be one of our most athletic players from the day he steps on the court," said Hipsher. "His skill set and work ethic, along with his strong family background, impressed us during the recruiting process."
- 6-4 Adam "Bubba" Walther - Moeller high school - Cincinnati, OH
- Walther, the son of a high school basketball coach, averaged 14 points last season at Moeller High School. No stranger to pressure, he scored 19 points in a 73-65 victory over Columbus Brookhaven in the state championship game. Walther was named to the All-Tournament team. "The thing we liked about Bubba was his feel for the game," said Hipsher. "He comes from a great basketball pedigree and is a tremendous fit in our system. His ability to handle and shoot the basketball is exceptional."
- 6-0 Cedrick Middleton - Brewster Academy prep school - Wolfeboro, NH
- Originally from Marian Catholic high school in University Park, IL
- Also recruited by East Carolina, Siena, Fresno State, Idaho, Maine, Wright State, and UNC Greensboro.
- At Brewster, Cedrick led the team with 17.8 points-per-game. He also averaged 5.0 assists-per-game and 3.0 steals-per-game, in leading the team to a 22-6 record and a ranking of fourth in this season's final TheInsidersHoops.com Top 10 Prep Poll. Those numbers aided him in being a Class A All-New England selection. He is the brother of Buffalo basketball player Roderick Middleton.
- In high school he was a 3rd team All-State Selection - Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. Three time All-Conference Selection in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Marian Catholic All-Time Career Scoring Leader with 1740 points.
| | Ball State | | | Bowling Green | - 6-5 Mawel Soler - Coffeyville Community College - Coffeyville, KS -originally from Union City, N.J.
- Soler averaged 9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, two assists and one steal per game, shooting 57 percent from the field, 28 percent beyond the arc and 75 percent from the foul line. Averaging 13 points and seven rebounds per game as a senior at St. Patrick's High School.
- Soler was a junior college player that will have two years of eligibility at Bowling Green.
- also recruited by Stephen F. Austin, Miami and Bradley
- 6-11 Scott Vandermeer - Lake Central high school - St. John, IN
- He averaged seven points and seven rebounds as a junior at Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Ill., and averaged 10 points for the Illinois Warriors in AAU ball.
- "He's exceptionally skilled," Dakich said. "He fits in perfectly with our motion offense because he can play all over the court despite being 6-10."
- Also offered by Weber State and Illinois-Chicago.
- 6-0 John Floyd - St. John's high school - Toledo, OH - transfer from Oakland University
- Floyd was a high school first team all-state player in Ohio, he averaged 18 points and six assists as a senior. Played in 26 games as a freshman at Oakland averaging 5.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 23 minutes.
- 5-9 Perrick Robinson - Prosser high school - Chicago, IL
- ChicagoHoops.com correspondent Brian Stinnette had this to say about Perrick, "Robinson ranked among the top point guards in the Chicago Public League a year ago... is a super-quick penetrator who can both score and distribute the basketball. Robinson, and backcourt mate Jason Bowden formed one of the top backcourt duo's in the city a year ago. Robinson was headed of to Maine for a year of prep school at basketball powerhouse MCI, but will now enroll at BGSU and play for former Dan Dakich."
- Robinson, a three-time All-Conference and All-City performer, averaged 21.9 points, 8.3 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 6.4 steals as a senior. He also played in the Illinois Basketball Coaches All-Star Game and was MVP of the State Farm Holiday Classic for Prosser. "Perrick is a quick, tough guard that makes other people better and fits in perfectly with our current roster," said head coach Dan Dakich.
- Transferred away from Bowling Green (as per several unofficial sources)
- 6-6 Reggie Harwell - East Cleveland Shaw high school - Cleveland, OH - (redshirt freshman)
- should be academically eligible after sitting out his partial qualifier year. He originally fielded offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, Wisconsin, Xavier, and South Florida and serious interest from Alabama, Marquette, and UNC-Charlotte before his grades became a concern. An athletic presence on the wing, Harwell averaged 20 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block as a junior at Villa Angela-St. Joseph (before transferring his senior year).
- Dayton Flyer Recruiting Rumor Central: "Good potential, great upside. Able to beat people off the dribble and shot the jumper."
- VolBall: 2001 Beach Ball Classic - Player Evaluations: "Harwell was the best player on an overmatched VASJ squad. The wing forward has a nice handle to complement his 6-6 size, and even ran point at times for the Vikings. He's stronger than his skinny frame might lead one to believe, as evidenced when he picked a teammate straight up off the floor by lifting the back of his jersey..."
- Listed as the 219th best player in his class by HoopScoop
| | Buffalo | - 6-8 Christian Schmidt - Chemnitz, Germany
- Schmidt, a 6-8, 200 lb. forward, was a high school teammate of Bulls' center Yassin Idbihi (Tangier, Morocco/Schloss Hagerhof). Schmidt averaged 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game and shot an impressive 44 percent from the international three-point line.
- Schmidt was also a member of Germany's Under-20 Junior National Team.
- "Christian brings maturity and a great deal of international experience to UB," Witherspoon said. "I think that it would be unfair of us to expect him to have the same impact as Yassin Idbihi had (2004 MAC All-Freshman selection), but we are certainly excited about their similar backgrounds. Christian is an extremely hard worker who shoots the ball very well and adds a great deal of size on the perimeter."
- 6-2 Wallace Hall - Denby high school - Detroit, MI
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Hall as the # 27 senior in Michigan
- Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com ranked Hall as the # 18 senior in Michigan
- Hall averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists as a junior for Denby Tech. He was named All-State and All-City Honorable Mention as a junior. He is the third-ranked combination guard in the state of Michigan according to MichiganPreps.com.
- "Wally is a kid who has a lot of skills," Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "He's very quick, he shoots the ball very well, he sees the floor and is a tremendously hard worker. He is in a high school program that is winning a lot of games and is one of the best high school programs in the state of Michigan."
- Hall chose UB over Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Fordham and Idaho.
- 6-11 Andrew Atman - Upper St. Clair high school - Pittsburgh, PA - (redshirt freshman)
averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks per game as a senior. Named to the Pennsylvania All-Star team. His team combined to go 51-5 over his junior and senior seasons. A very athletic player who was also highly-recruited for volleyball. "Andrew has a great upside and great skills," Witherspoon said. "He is a very bright and unselfish kid who shoots the ball well, handles it well and does a lot of other things well for being 6-11. We're really excited to have him in our program as well."
| | Central Michigan | - 5-11 Giordan Watson - Bridgton Academy (prep) - originally from Birmingham, MI
- Watson was named honorable mention Class A all-state by the Detroit News and BCAM. He was also named second team All-North and honorable mention All-Metro by the Detroit Free Press. At Groves, Watson graduated with Vova Severovas who played at Wright State last season. Watson averaged 15 points as a junior and 20 points as a senior.
- "We saw Giordan in high school and he is a great competitor, has good athletic ability and can penetrate," head coach Jay Smith said. "He'll be a 19-year-old freshman with a year of prep school experience under his belt which will help."
- 6-0 Reynold Walters - Eastern Commerce prep - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Walters averaged 12 points, six rebounds and four assists per game last season while earning the Ontario "Defensive Player of the Year" award. He was also a member of the Ontario all-scholastic team. Eastern Commerce captured its third straight AAAA Provincial championship last season and went undefeated against Canadian opponents.
- "Reynold can play the point or shooting guard," head coach Jay Smith said. "He is an outstanding person from a successful program. We are excited to continue to draw from the Toronto area. Reynold is a great on-the-ball defender and he reminds me a lot of one of our former players, Whitney Robinson."
- 7-0 Drew Walker - Port Clinton high school - Port Clinton, OH
- "Drew has nice hands and a good shooting touch and he will give us a post presence on both ends of the floor. He knows he needs to work on developing his body in the weight room," said CMU head coach Jay Smith. Walker averaged 8.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.2 blocks as a junior. His top game was a 20-point, 14-rebound, 7-block performance against Edison High. The center shot 60 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the line. He enters his final season with 145 career blocked shots. Also recruited by Bowling Green, Dayton, Toledo and West Virginia.
- 6-7 Justin Blevins - Marion high school - Marion, MI - (redshirt freshman)
- Selected first team Class C all-state by Detroit Free Press and second team by Detroit News and BCAM in 2003. Ranked No. 36 by Detroit Free Press and among "other seniors to watch" by Detroit News prior to senior season. Captain of the Cadillac News All-Area team as a senior. Averaged 17.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 6.0 blocks as a senior and 12.5 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists as a junior. Selected fifth team Class C all-state by BCAM and honorable mention by Detroit Free Press in 2002. Fifth team Class C all-state by BCAM and honorable mention by Detroit Free Press in 2002. Three-year varsity starter. Started on the varsity as a sophomore and scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and tallied six blocks in a state final loss to Covert after posting nine points and 10 rebounds in semifinal win over Bark River-Harris.
- High school coach Dale Eising: "He's just a tremendous physical specimen. He's a great shot blocker, and has perimeter skills we didn't even take advantage of. He's got a soft touch, can use either hand, but he's best going strong to the basket. We've never seen nothing like him come through our school."
| | Eastern Michigan | - 6-7 Rashaun Marshall - Detroit Southeastern high school -Detroit, MI
- Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com ranked Rashaun as the # 23 senior in Michigan
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Rashaun as the # 3 senior wing forward in Michigan
- Marshall was an All-Public School League forward, third-team Detroit News, All-City and Michigan All-Star Team selection as a senior. He averaged 17.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and two blocks per game for Southeastern last season.
- "He's an outstanding athlete for his size, and at 6-7 he can play a number of positions," Eagles coach Jim Boone said. "That's what we're looking for: The diversity and flexibility is a key element."
- Also recruited by Fordham, Illinois-Chicago and Ball State.
- 6-3 Darryl Garrett - Denby high school - Detroit, MI
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Darryl as the # 7 senior in Michigan
- Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com ranked Darryl as the # 7 senior in Michigan
- RivalsHoops ranks Darryl as the # 119 best senior nationwide and the # 23 best shooting guard nationwide.
- In December Mick McCabe of Detroit Free Press ranked Darryl the # 10 player in Michigan regardless of class. "He will play any position but the post and score in a variety of ways. He has an excellent jumper and takes the ball to the basket with authority. Averaged 23 points last season."
- Darryl placed ninth in the 2004 Michigan Mr. Basketball voting.
- Garrett averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds as a junior in 2002-03 and was co-Most Valuable Player on his team. He was named third-team Class A All-State, third-team All-Metro, and second-team All-Detroit by The Detroit News. He was selected honorable mention Class A All-State and second-team All-Metro by the Detroit Free Press. Garrett has been singled out by several preseason basketball magazines as one of the top players in the nation. He was named to the Top 100 Players list by Rivals 100; named one of the Top 100 Players in the Nation by Adidas; selected as one of the Top 15 players in the State by Prep Spotlight and called the #2 wing player in the state by Michigan Ranking.Garrett averaged 18 points per game as a sophomore for Denby High School. He was named to the Detroit Public School League East All-Conference team. "He is probably one of the best shooters in the state," said Denby coach Rashad Reeves. "If he was on another team, he would probably average 30 points per game. There are other Division I players on the team so he has had to sacrifice."
- 6-0 Rico Harris - Denby high school - Detroit, MI
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Rico as the # 18 senior in Michigan.
- Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com ranked Rico as the # 16 senior in Michigan
- In December Mick McCabe of Detroit Free Press ranked Dan the # 12 player in Michigan regardless of class. "One of the top scoring point guards in the state, he averaged 18 points, 12 assists and six steals last season. He has excellent hands, which help make him a tough defensive player. He can hit the three-pointer, but he is best at penetrating and creating a shot for himself or a teammate"
- Harris averaged 15.2 points and 12 assists last year as a junior. He was named first-team Class A All-State as well as second-team All-Metro and second-team All-Detroit by The Detroit News. He was a second-team All-State selection as well as a second-team All-Metro pick by the Detroit Free Press. Harris has been singled out in several preseason basketball magazines as one of the top prep players in the nation. He was called one of the Top 8 Point Guards in the Nation by Athlon Sports; One of the Top 15 Players in the State by Prep Spotlight; and the #2 Point Guard in the State by Michigan Ranking.
- 6-5 Nick Freer - Stevensville Lakeshore high school - Stevensville, MI
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Nick as the # 33 senior in Michigan.
- He was named by Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com to the Michigan Class B second team (regardless of class).
- Freer is a 6-foot-6 senior forward at Stevensville Lakeshore where he also starts at wide receiver for the football team that qualified for the 2003 state tournament. He averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds for the basketball team as a junior. He was a first-team All-Conference selection last year and was also selected honorable mention All-State by the Detroit Free Press. In addition, he was named first-team All-Southwest Michigan by the South Bend Tribune. In football he was a first-team All-Conference wide receiver as a junior and senior and placed second in the high jump at the 2003 state championship track meet.
- Also received interest from Georgia Southern, Central Michigan, San Diego State, Kent, Western Michigan, Old Dominion, and Toledo
- 6-8 James Matthews - Denby high school - Detroit, MI - transfer from Marquette
- In December of 2002 Mick McCabe of Detroit Free Press ranked James the # 19 player in Michigan regardless of class. "A year ago he was a tower of strength for the Tars, averaging 16 points and 12 rebounds. He can be a dominating inside scorer, but also has a remarkable perimeter shot for a player his size."
- Should be available in January. Burly forward from Detroit ... Originally selected Marquette after considering Ohio State, Southern Cal and Texas A&M. ... Was ruled a fifth-year senior by the Michigan High School Athletic Association and wasn't able to compete in game action during the 2002-03 season ... Averaged 18.0 points and 14.5 rebounds during the 2001-02 campaign .... Played his first two years of prep ball at Verbum Mater Dei High School in Los Angeles, posting 13.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per outing in his second season there.
- 6-1 Derek VanSolkema - Grand Rapids South Christian high school - Grand Rapids, MI -(redshirt freshman)
- In December of 2002 Mick McCabe of Detroit Free Press ranked Derek the # 25 player in Michigan regardless of class. "He was the heart and soul of the team that advanced to the Class B state final last season. His shooting range has improved, and he has a good feel for when it is important for him to score. He does an excellent job of running a team."
- Derek was named to the class B all-Michigan first team.
- Shot 56 percent from the field. Coach Ken Hiskes: "He's multi-faceted, a great passer and shooter. He did it all for us; he was our MVP from start to finish. He really improved his passing and outside shooting; this year he was just spectacular from the outside."
- Helped lead South Christian to two consecutive Class B State Championship games, and a state title in 2002-03. Senior Year: Led his team in scoring at 19 points a game and also averaged five assists and four steals on a South Christian team that posted a 27-0 record while winning the Class B state title....Was named first-team Class B All-State by the Detroit Free Press...Also selected to the Grand Rapids Press All-Area team...Chosen to the All-Conference squad...Also played varsity tennis...Junior Year: Starting guard on the basketball team that advanced to the Class B state title game...Second-team All-State and second-team All-Area basketball player.
- 6-3 Eric Williams - Pioneer high school - Ann Arbor, MI - transfer from Mercyhurst College
- Senior Year: Named the Most Valuable Player on the team and also served as captain...Averaged 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists...Named second-team All-Area by The Ann Arbor News...Selected as honorable mention All-State by the Detroit Free Press...
| | Kent State |  6-4 Darius Davis - Mississippi Delta Community College - Moorhead, MS - originally from Greenville, MS- Rated # 1 available player at Jerry Mullens junior college exposure camp in Tulsa during the off season. “He’s a guy who fits in with our program in a lot of ways,” said Kent State coach Jim Christian. “He is the type of person we want in that he is extremely athletic, he is a very serious student, and he is a very hard-working kid.”.
- 6-4 Jay Youngblood - Mott Community College - Flint, MI - originally from Detroit, MI
- Jay was named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Player of the Year this season.
- "We are excited to add a young man that possesses both the character and ability of Jay Youngblood," Christian said. "He played on two teams that reached the national championship game and is the exact type of young man and player that we want in our basketball program."
- In 2003-04 he averaged 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds 3.1 assists, 3.0 blocks and 2.9 steals per game, while shooting more than 54 percent from the floor. Youngblood also hit 34.5 percent of his three-point field goal attempts. He averaged 21.3 points in the national championship tournament, earning a nod on the all-tournament team.
- In two junior-college seasons at Mott, Youngblood paced the team to a 59-14 record (.808). He scored 1,363 points over those two years, averaging 18.7 points per game in his career.
- also recruited by Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wright State
- 5-10 Marcus Crenshaw - Mackenzie high school - Detroit, MI
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Marcus as the # 12 senior in Michigan.
- Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com ranked Marcus as the # 11 senior in Michigan
- In December Mick McCabe of Detroit Free Press ranked Marcus the # 15 player in Michigan regardless of class. "If you're old enough to remember Nate Archibald, you know how Crenshaw plays. He averaged 26.5 points on a young team last year. He has good range on his jumper, but is more dangerous taking the ball to the basket and finishing with either hand."
- Crenshaw led the Detroit Public School League in scoring last season as a junior, earning honorable mention All-Detroit from the Detroit Free Press. He averaged 29 points and six rebounds last year, leading Mackenzie to the regional playoffs and a berth in the Detroit city semifinals. Crenshaw has excellent quickness and is a solid scorer.
- "Marcus is a proven scorer," Christian said. "He can really create plays for himself and others. He also is a versatile player with the ability to compete at either point guard or shooting guard."
- 6-7 Isaac Knight - Crockett high school - Detroit, MI
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Isaac as the # 9 senior in Michigan
- Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com ranked Isaac as the # 10 senior in Michigan
- In December Mick McCabe of Detroit Free Press ranked Isaac the # 7 player in Michigan regardless of class. "He was more of a support player last season but still averaged 15 points and 17 rebounds. He will be Crockett's go-to player this season and will respond with a better perimeter game to go along with the points he picks up inside."
- As a senior, Isaac averaged 22 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks a game. He was named to the Associated Press Class B all-Michigan first team. He was also named by Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com to the Michigan Class B first team (regardless of class).
- Knight averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks per game his junior season en route to being named to the All-Detroit Third Team by the Detroit Free Press. He helped Crockett to a berth in the Detroit city semifinals and an appearance in the Michigan state semifinals. He possesses great leaping ability and is one of the Detroit Public League's top shot blockers.
- "Isaac adds a tremendous amount of athleticism to our front line," Christian said. "He is a warrior who competes very hard and we're very excited to have him join the Kent State Basketball family." Current Kent State assistant coach Rob Murphy coached Knight until joining the KSU staff last season.
- 6-6 Michael Scott - Northwest high school - Indianapolis, IN
- As a senior, Michael averaged 15 points and 8.8 rebounds. He played along side another D1 recruit (Wesley Clemmons - Southern Illinois).
- Scott is long and athletic with the ability to play score from the outside or off the dribble. He led Northwest to a 12-9 record last season, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds per game. Equally talented off the court, Scott is ranked sixth in his class academically.
- "Mike is a very skilled wing who can take the ball to the basket," Christian said. "He can score on the perimeter shooting the basketball and can break down the defense with a drive."
- 6-8 Kevin Warzynski - Chattahoochee high school - Alpharetta, GA - transfer from Charleston Southern University
- Played two seasons at Charleston Southern University. Was a second- team All-Big South selection as a sophomore and a member of the all-rookie team his freshman season.
- He averaged 13.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game his sophomore season, starting 23 of 28 games played. He shot 47.6% from the field and 87.1% from the free throw line. Averaged 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 29 games played during his freshman year.
- Kevin transferred after his brother Chris Warzynski ran out of eligibility Charleston Southern. They played on the same team for two years.
- Led Chattahoochee High School to a 26-5 record his senior year, earning a regional championship. Was an all-state honorable mention selection and the region player of the year as a senior, after averaging 19 points and eight rebounds.
- Is the son of JoAnn and Ken Warzynski. Father played with the NBA's Detroit Pistons, being drafted in the second round in 1979.
| | Marshall | - 6-10 Jesse Ogelsby - Martin Luther King high school - Lithonia, GA
- Oglesby averaged about 5 points and 6 rebounds last season as a backup player for the Lions. He showed a lot of improvement in an Atlanta-area summer league and will be a starting player this season, Mance said.
- Coach Jirsa said, "He fractured his femur during last season, which is unusual," said Jirsa, who plans to redshirt Oglesby. "But I think he is fully recovered. When we have him up here in June we'll X-ray him again. We'll make sure he's cleared. He's that long center that plays above the rim. I'm excited to work with him."
- A scouting report on www.youthprepstar.com said, "Jesse's a good shot blocker and rebounder. ... Low major player. ... Needs to keep working." As a junior, he averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds.
- Recruited by: Stetson, Mercer, Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Jackson State, South Carolina State and Winthrop
- 6-6 Casey Wohlleb - North Broward high school - Coconut Creek , FL
- "We run a lot, play full-court press," Wohlleb said. "We're just like Marshall. We play full-court trap and press." Wohlleb averaged 20.8 points and 9.7 rebounds and about three assists on last season's 24-7 team, and was named Small School Player of the Year by the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and All-Broward County by the Miami Herald. He was a transfer from Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, where he played on a 2002 state championship team.
- "Casey just has that size at the guard position," said Jirsa. "He's a guard. He can also play small forward, but he's a guard. He can handle the ball and he really sees the floor well. So, I call him a big guard. It's hard to be a big guard. There are many, many fewer big guards than there are small forwards. He has an unorthodox shot, but he's a good shooter. And he stays in the gym. He is a gym rat to the extreme."
- Recruited by: Dayton, Tulane, UNC Wilmington
- 5-9 Ryan Lamb - Whitfield Academy - Mableton, GA
- Comments: I've never seen a kid in high school handle the ball that well," Johnson said. "He'll be the best ball handling point in the nation. That really separates him from most points. His ball control is phenomenal. What separates him from most small point guards is his shooting ability."
- Lamb averaged 14.8 points, 12.5 assists and 8.9 steals in a 28-5 season for the Wolfpack. He made 47 percent of his shots from the field and the three-point line on a Class A state championship team last year. The Hoopmasters.com recruiting site said Lamb almost single-handedly beat Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in the state finals to deny future NBA lottery pick Dwight Howard a state title.
- He was named MVP of the state finals and was an all-state second team selection. He was named to the Georgia High School Association all-state honorable mention list and to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution all-state second team.
- "Ryan is certainly what I define as a pure point guard in my mind," said Jirsa. "He's a pass-first player. He's an excellent ball-handler and a very, very good passer. And he also can make shots. I feel he has the potential to be a great little guy for us."
- He chose Marshall over The Citadel. Nebraska, Siena and Tulsa also showed some interest.
- 6-1 Joseph Miles - Thomas More high school - Oakdale, CT
- Miles was scoring 19 points a game for St. John's High School in Washington, D.C., before breaking his foot in December 2002 and missing the rest of the season. He is a St. John's graduate attending prep school at St. Thomas More Academy in Oakdale, Conn.
- Jirsa said Miles is a penetrator with great quickness, ball handling and shooting ability who can play the point guard and off-guard positions. "Joe is what we call a combo guard," said Jirsa. "He can play the point guard and he can play the off guard. He has a quick first step. He's only about 6-feet tall, but he can score. I think he provides that quickness and explosiveness that we need. He also provides the ballhandling ability at the two guard, which makes him valuable. He's a point guard that can play either position."
- Other schools recruiting Miles included George Washington, Siena and St. Francis (Pa.).
- 6-8 Collins Okafor - Countryside high school - Clearwater, FL -originally from Legos, Nigeria
- "Marshall has got themselves, I've got to believe, the best sleeper they ever signed," said Dave Thorpe, who trains NBA players in Clearwater, Fla., and also coached Okafor during his junior season at Countryside High School. "He is 6-8. He is 230 pounds. He jumps out of the gym. He is quick as a cat. And he has an amazing jumper to 16-17 feet."
- "I call Okafor a fierce competitor," said Jirsa. "I am under the impression and I am cautiously optimistic that he will be a fierce competitor for us. He's got very quick feet and he's physical. When you are quick, big and physical, I think you can be an outstanding defender. And he has a nice shooting touch. He uses the glass. He's an interesting character. He was just too interesting to pass up."
- Averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds as a junior. Did not play as a senior because Countryside's new head coach reportedly didn't get his eligibility approved by the deadline
| | Miami | - 6-5 Eric Pollitz - Ottawa-Glandorf high school - Ottawa, OH
- Eric ranks fifth all-time in scoring for the Titans with 1,220 points and amassed 517 rebounds. As a senior, Eric led the team with 3.4 assists per game and averaged 18.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game.
- "Eric and Tim should fit very well into what we do offensively, and they give us another dimension because they are players who can get out on the fastbreak and finish," said Coles. "We think with a good summer these guys can come in and help us immediately. With our recruiting class, we think we have added great value to our team."
- 6-5 Tim Pollitz - Ottawa-Glandorf high school - Ottawa, OH
- Eric and Tim Pollitz are twin brothers.
- Tim finished his career as the Titans' and Putnam County's all-time leading scorer with 1,693 points. He also became Ottawa-Glandorf's career rebound leader, pulling down 683 boards. As a senior, Tim averaged 20.4 ppg and 10.4 rpg, while also dishing out 3.1 apg.
- Eric and Tim led Ottawa-Glandorf to a 27-1 record in 2004 en route to the program's first state title. Over their four-year tenure, the Pollitz twins spearheaded the Titans to a 96-9 record. Both earned first-team all-district and all-league honors and garnered second-team all-state accolades in 2004. They also were named to the Lima News Dream Team
- "We are very happy to have Eric and Tim choose Miami," said Coles. "I believe they are outstanding basketball players, and I believe they are winners. If you look at their four-year high school record--it's been phenomenal. I've always believed there are two key factors as part of the recruiting process. There's the individual talent and also how did that player help his team win."
- 6-5 Chad Troyer - Seattle Prep High School - Seattle, WA
- Troyer averaged 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a junior and has helped Seattle Prep to 15-5 marks the past three seasons. Heading into the 2003-04 campaign, the Panthers are ranked No. 2 in the state. Troyer is a three-year letter winner and is in his second stint as team captain. As a junior all-metro second team honors and has been on the honor roll all four years. Chad had more than 18 scholarship offers at the time of his commitment including offers from Wyoming, Nevada, Santa Clara, Saint Mary's, Pacific, Princeton, Sacred Heart and UC Irvine.
- 6-3 Lawrence Ross - Battle Creek Central High School - Battle Creek, MI
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Ross as the # 22 senior in Michigan.
- In December Mick McCabe of Detroit Free Press ranked Ross the # 16 player in Michigan regardless of class. "He led the Big 16 in scoring last season (17.5 points), but was mainly a slasher with outstanding leaping ability. Since the end of last season he has worked hard to improve his jump shot. Nobody had a better summer. He stood out at every camp he attended."
- Ross averaged 17.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game as a junior, while averaging 9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 4.0 apg during his sophomore stint at Battle Creek Central. Last season, Ross earned honorable mention all-state recognition and all-city and all-conference accolades. He also was tabbed a Nike All-American. During his sophomore campaign, the Bearcats claimed the conference and district titles. Ross is a two-year letterwinner and is team captain. He also has been on the honor roll all four years.
| | Northern Illinois | - 6-1 Cory Sims - Lewis & Clark Community College - Godfrey, IL - originally from Livingston, AL
- Cory was named a National Junior College Athletics Association Division II First Team All-America.
- “Cory (Sims) brings a great amount of versatility to our program,” head coach Rob Judson said. “We wanted to get a player that can slash to the bucket, get to the line and create opportunities for his teammates. Cory can do each of those. We are looking forward to adding him to our squad. Cory brings a winning background to our program. He led his team to the National Junior College Tournament as well as Conference and Region titles. He knows how to win and that is always an important quality to have as a backcourt performer.”
- The nation’s No. 7-ranked scorer with a 21.5 ppg. scoring average, Sims twice scored more than 30 points during his final season and shot 52.8 percent from the floor. Also a capable free throw shooter, Sims hit 76.5 percent of his charity shots and got to the line an impressive 226 times. Also an outstanding defender, Sims ranked No. 31 nationally with 2.6 steals a game.
- 6-3 Zach Pancratz - Schaumburg high school - Schaumburg, IL
- Zach is ranked by Frank Rusnak of HighSchoolElite.com as # 18 senior in Illinois and is ranked # 19 Brian Stinnette of ChicagoHoops.com
- Pancratz led Schaumburg in scoring as a junior, averaging 16.8 points a contest while hitting more than two 3-pointers a game. An excellent rebounder from his perimeter position, Pancratz averaged 4.9 boards, while dishing out 3.1 assists. Co-MVP of the Mid-Suburban League along with Reichel, Pancratz helped lead the Saxons to an 18-8 overall record and the Mid-Suburban League title. With both Pancratz and Reichel in the lineup, the Saxons have won two of the last three Mid-Suburban League titles and have reached the MSL title game each of their three seasons.
- "Zach can play any of the three perimeter positions," Judson said. "He has tremendous court awareness and is an excellent shooter of the basketball. He has a competitive drive that makes him a better player. He and Craig both come from an outstanding program (Schaumburg High School), where they are being coached by Bob Williams."
- As a sophomore, Pancratz broke into the starting five and double-figures, averaging 10.8 points, while hitting 42 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. An excellent shooter, Pancratz has hit 44 percent of his shots from the floor and dished out 122 assists over the last two years.
- 6-5 Frank Clair - Chicago Leo high school - Chicago, IL
- Frank is ranked by Frank Rusnak of HighSchoolElite.com as # 22 senior in Illinois and is ranked # 22 Brian Stinnette of ChicagoHoops.com
- Clair was a third team Class A all-state selection as a junior, averaging 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. In addition to his steady scoring and rebounding production, the First Team All-Catholic League pick added 3.4 assists and 2.1 blocks for the Lions, who finished the season with an 18-12 record.
- "Frank is one of the most talented players in the Chicago Catholic League this season," head coach Rob Judson said. "He plays for one of the top Catholic League programs, Chicago Leo, and has had an outstanding career there. He's a 6-foot-6 wing player that has a great shooting touch. His signing reconnects us to a high school program that has been good to Northern Illinois in the past."
- Already a two-year starter at Leo, Clair poured in 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds a game as a sophomore to guide the Lions to a 16-12 record and a regional berth. An honorable mention all-Catholic League pick as a sophomore, Clair is a consensus top 25 player in the state heading into his senior season, ranking No. 21 in Illinois by High School Elite and No. 24 by Chicago Hoops.com.
- 6-8 Craig Reichel - Schaumburg high school - Schaumburg, IL
- Craig is ranked by Frank Rusnak of HighSchoolElite.com as # 35 senior in Illinois and is ranked # 33 Brian Stinnette of ChicagoHoops.com
- Reichel combines size with a solid perimeter game. As a junior, the 6-foot-8 post player more than doubled his scoring output, going from 7.7 points per game as a sophomore to 15.9 points last season. A strong defensive presence, Reichel led the Saxons in rebounding (8.0) and blocks (3.4). Despite playing the power forward position, Reichel gives the Huskies a skilled big man who can perform on the perimeter. While he averaged nearly three assists per game as a junior, Reichel hit an impressive 48 percent of his three-point attempts as a sophomore.
- "Versatility is always a priority with us and we got that with Craig," Judson said. "He's big at 6-foot-8, 230 pounds, but has the ability to step out onto the perimeter. He's a great addition to our program."
- Two-year starters for Bob Williams' Schaumburg club, Pancratz and Reichel were both members of the varsity team when the Saxons brought home the 2000-01 IHSA Class AA State Championship with a 28-3 record. That year Schaumburg upset Thornwood High School led by current Chicago Bull center Eddy Curry for the title.
- "Craig is a skilled big man, but his best skill might be his passing," Williams said. "Whether it's his passing in the post or on the perimeter, he -can get the ball to the open player. He's also proven to be a good three-point shooter. Craig has been working extremely hard in the weight room and that will make him an even more effective post player."
- Transferred away from Northern Illinois
- 6-8 Cyrus Tate - Homewood-Flossmoor high school - Flossmoor, IL
- Cyrus has decided to transfer to Vincennes Junior College
| | Ohio | - 6-3 Jeremy Fears - Joliet Township high school - Joliet, IL
- Jeremy is ranked by Frank Rusnak of HighSchoolElite.com as # 8 senior in Illinois and is ranked # 9 Brian Stinnette of ChicagoHoops.com
- Fears is rated as one of the 10 best players in Illinois by Prep Spotlight. Fears averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game last year for Joliet Twp. High School and is a nominee for the McDonald's All-America Team. He chose Ohio over Purdue and Southwest Missouri State. Ohio head coach Tim O'Shea said, "Jeremy is an outstanding point guard prospect who fits the up-tempo style of play we are looking to develop. He is a big, athletic guard who has excellent court vision and finishes well around the basket."
- 6-7 Leon Williams - Cardinal Gibbons High School - Baltimore, MD
- He averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds as a junior earning All-Baltimore Catholic League honors. "Leon is a rugged power forward with excellent upside potential," O'Shea commented. "We love his physical style of play, and as he gets even bigger and stronger, we expect him to be a real force in the paint for us."
- 6-4 Mychal Green - Ohlone Community College (California) - originally from Columbus, OH
- Green was a two-time all-conference selection, including league MVP this past season, when he averaged 22.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.. He shot 50% from the field, 51% beyond the arc and 79% from the free throw line.
- He started his college odyssey three years ago at the University of Louisville (his hometown) on an academic scholarship and did not play basketball. Green has already exceeded the requirements for admissions and possesses a 3.6 grade point average.
- Also offered by Eastern Washington and Sac State and San Jose State. Received interest from Washington State, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Wyoming, New Mexico, USC, Weber State and Boise State
| | Toledo | - 5-9 Kashif Payne - Northfield Mount Hermon prep school -Northfield, MA - formerly of Philadelphia, PA
- Payne played the last two years at the Mt. Hermon School in Northfield, MA where he averaged 16.5 points, 7.0 assists and 2.6 steals in 2002-03 and this year he averaged 11.5 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 41% from the field and 70% from the free throw line. Prior to attending Mt. Hermon, Payne earned Catholic League MVP and Player of the Year honors at Archbishop Carroll in Philadelphia after averaging 18 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game.
- Payne is a very capable penetrator who can infiltrate defenses and shovel passes off to open teammates. A slippery quick guard who darts through traffic and is a tough assignment for larger guards who sometimes struggle to keep Payne in front of them. Smallish in size but finds a way to make himself known in games. Range extends to the 3-point line and somehow at 5-9, he finds people for dishes. About as tough as a 5-9, 155-pounder can be.
- "Kashif is extremely quick and can put a lot of pressure on the ball," head coach Stan Joplin said. "He also can break people down offensively and get us some easy baskets. I always say each year I don't want to be a guard short and I think we'll be in pretty good shape in the backcourt next year."
- 6-9 Haris Charalambous - the Hun School (prep) - Princeton, NJ - originally from Manchester, England
- Charalambous suffered a fractured ankle early in his senior season last year and saw action in only one contest. Before coming to the United States, he averaged 10.3 points and 6.8 rebounds with a 55.9 FG% while playing for the Manchester Magic in England's Senior Men's League. Charalambous is from the same hometown as former Toledo St. John's High School player John Amaechi, who went on to play at Penn State and as well as the NBA.
- "Haris is somebody that can come in and replace A.J. Shellabarger," Joplin said. "He's a low-post threat with a big body and takes up a lot of space. I think he's a good find for us and we're very happy to have him."
| | Western Michigan | - 6-5 Stanes Bufford - Fullerton Community College - Fullerton, CA -formerly of Ferndale, MI
- As a sophomore at Fullerton College, Bufford earned First Team All-California Community College All-State and First Team All-Orange Empire Conference honors after averaging 17.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. In conference games only, he lead the league in rebounding (11.1 rpg.) and was third in scoring. He collected 14 double-doubles on the year and also ranked among the league leaders in assists, steals and blocks.
- “Stanes gives us immediate help on the perimeter,” Hawkins said. “He is a good athlete who can get to the basket and also rebounds well from his position on the floor. He led that league, which is a very good league in California. He led the league in rebounding from the wing. It says something about you if you can lead that conference in rebounds."
- also recruited by Baylor and Fresno State
- 6-7 Dan Hess - Corunna high school - Owosso, MI
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Dan as the # 34 senior in Michigan
- He was named by Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com to the Michigan Class B forth team (regardless of class).
- In December Mick McCabe of Detroit Free Press ranked Dan the # 26 player in Michigan regardless of class.
- "Dan is a very good athlete with a hard-nosed playing style," head coach Steve Hawkins said. "He brings much-needed athleticism to the front line. Dan flew under the radar as far as recruiting goes and is a real steal for the program."
- A two-year letterwinner at Corunna High School, Hess is the first-ever player from the program to be offered a NCAA Division I scholarship. He averaged 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as a junior and helped lead the squad to the Class B semifinals. Corunna finished 23-3 overall and he was named to the all-conference squad as well as all-state by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.
- Also recruited by Toledo, Oakland and Cleveland State. Iowa State, Dayton, Northeastern and New Mexico were also active in Dan's recruitment.
- 6-8 Joe Reitz - Pendleton Heights high school - Pendleton, IN
- As a senior Joe averaged 17.5 points (season high of 29) and 9.1 rebounds (season high of 16)
- "Joe is a tough, blue collar player who will fit well into the style played in the Mid-American Conference," head coach Steve Hawkins said. "He has the ability to score around the basket and adds sorely needed size to our front line."
- Reitz averaged 17.2 points and 8.9 rebounds as a junior for Hamilton Southeastern High School in Indiana. He was named to the 2003 StarNorth and Indiana Junior All-Star teams after collecting all-conference and all-county honors. He also served as the team captain and was named the program's co-most valuable player as a junior.
- During his sophomore campaign, Reitz contributed 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
- 6-6 Andrew Hershberger - Goshen high school - Goshen, IN (redshirt freshman)
- As a senior, Andrew averaged 20.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots. He shot 64 percent from the field and 76 percent at the line.
- Voted to a member of the 2003 Indiana All Star team where he saw significant minutes in the two game series with the Kentucky all-stars, Andrew scored 29 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked 3 shots.
- Andrew finished his four-year high school career with 1,306 points, second to Ritter on the school chart. Hershberger started all 86 games during his prep career.
- He shot 57.2 percent from the field on 506-for-884 and 78.1 at the free-throw line on 284-for-364. Hershberger grabbed 712 rebounds.
- Hershberger shot 64.7 percent from the field this past season and grabbed 215 rebounds as Goshen won its first-ever outright (Northern Lakes) Conference title in boys basketball.
- 6-5 Kristof Kendrick - Pendleton School (IMG Academy) in Bradenton, FL - originally from Lafayette, IN
- Kendrick, whose father, Frank, was an All-America selection and assistant coach at Purdue, led unranked Lafayette Catholic Central High School to the Class A state title in 2003. He was named the title game MVP and averaged 19.6 points and 7.3 rebounds on the year.
- "We feel very fortunate as a staff to sign a player of Kristof's caliber, not only as a player but a person as well," head coach Hawkins said. "His size and strength will be valuable assets regarding success in rebounding from the guard position. One of the questions surrounding the team heading into the season is the strength of our perimeter shooting. With the addition of Kristof, we have upgraded our depth in that area."
- Kendrick earned honorable mention all-state accolades after leading unranked Central Catholic High School to the Class A state title in 2002-03. He averaged 19.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game that season and was named the state tournament's most valuable player (title game MVP). He shot 43 percent from behind the 3-point line and set a school and county record with 1,481 career points.
- Kendrick's father, Frank, was an All-America selection at Purdue and his coaching career included a stop at his alma mater. He was also a member of Golden State's 1975 NBA championship team.
- No longer committed to WMU
- 6-4 Bryan Moten - Saginaw Arthur Hill high school - Saginaw, MI
- After being declared academically ineligible, Bryan Moten transferred to Cincinnati Christian Center Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bryan has verbally committed to Virginia.
- Transferred away from Western Michigan
- 5-9 Mike Jefferson - Westport high school - Kansas City, MO - (redshirt freshman)
- Mike has decided to transfer to an unnamed Kansas junior college team
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
