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| 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, Miami, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan | | Akron | - 6-5 Jimmy Conyers - Southern Maryland Christian Academy - Baltimore, MD
- "With his tremendous athleticism, Jimmy will be our most explosive perimeter player from the day he steps on campus," the first-year head coach said. "Offensively, his ability to get a good shot at any time definitely addresses a need for our team. On the defensive end, his potential is almost limitless."
- Conyers, finished with a game-best 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting and tied the game high with 10 rebounds in the Capital Classic all-star game on 4/23/2005
- Conyers led SMCA in scoring as a junior in 2003-4 averaging 17 points to go with six rebounds and four assists.
- also recruited by: Georgetown, Murray St., Penn State, Virginia Tech and George Mason
- 6-5 John Rybak - West Allis Hale High School - Milwaukee, WI
- An all-area selection by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last season, he led the Greater Metro League in scoring as a sophomore and junior as well as being an all-conference pick each of those seasons. He has started in every game of his high school career
- "John ranks among the very best shooters we have seen," Akron coach Keith Dambrot said. "His tremendous range combined with his superior passing ability make him a threat anywhere on the floor. John's leadership and basketball IQ make him a great fit for our system."
- 6-6 Nate Linhart - Gahanna Lincoln OH
- Last season, he led his team to a district runner-up finish with a 16-7 record, and was tabbed a First-Team All-Ohio Capital Conference selection.
- "Nate is one of the most versatile players we have recruited," Akron coach Keith Dambrot said. "He possesses an infectious love for the game and an outstanding work ethic. His skill set is unique for someone his size and gives him an exceptional feel for making the right play."
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Nate as the # 14 ranked player in the Ohio 2005 class
- 6-1 Nick Dials - Willard high school - Willard, OH - transfer from Ohio State
- Dials will sit out the upcoming season because of NCAA rules and have three years of eligibility beginning in the fall of 2005.
- "This is big for our program,'' said head coach Keith Dambrot, the former head coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary, where he won two state championships with LeBron James. "Nick is a guy who is a winner, and he has an outstanding knowledge of the game. I actually recruited Nick during his junior and senior years. He's the kind of guy you want in your program because he's a good athlete and a good person."
- Dials initially was a walk-on at Ohio State last year but earned a scholarship before the start of the season. As a freshman last year, Dials appeared in 19 games and started nine. He averaged 4.5 points, 2.1 assists and 1.4 rebounds a game for the Buckeyes, who finished 14-16.
- In his senior year at Willard, Dials averaged 27 points, five rebounds and 5.9 assists a game and led the Northern Ohio League in scoring and free-throw shooting at 86 percent. Willard finished the regular season with a 21-0 record in Dials' senior year, including a 14-0 mark in conference play as the Crimson Tide won the league title as well as the sectional and district championship. Dials also led Willard to the Division II regional semifinals.
- He was the Northern Ohio League, Ohio District 6 and Ohio Division II Player of the Year as a senior, was a first-team All-Ohio selection and was the MVP in the 2002 Ohio North/South All-Star game and the Ohio/Kentucky All-Star game. He finished his prep career with 2,180 points.
- Although Terell previously verbally committed to Akron, there was no mention of his signing when Akron announced the completion of their recruiting class with Jimmy Conyers:
- 6-4 Terrell Eargle - Prep School in South Carolina - originally from Youngstown, OH
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- [In high school, he] was named first team All-Federal League and third team Division 1 All-State as a junior. Named first team All-Northeast Inland All-District and led Austintown-Fitch to Division I Canton District finals, losing to eventual state runner-ups Canton McKinley.
- Clark Francis of HoopScoop.com ranks Terrell as the # 78 best 5th year prep player in the nation
| | Ball State | | | Bowling Green | -
 6-4 Bryan Moten - Cincinnati-Christian Center Academy (prep school), OH - formerly of Saginaw, MI - also recruited by: Virginia, Baylor, UNLV, Auburn, Florida State, Bowling Green and Kansas State. Previously verballed to WMU, went to prep school, verballed to Virginia in the winter then committed to BG this summer.
- Averaged 28 points, five rebounds and four assists as a senior at Arthur Hills High School in Saginaw
- Vince Baldwin of PrepSpotlight.com ranked Bryan the # 5 wing guard in Michigan's class of 2004
- “He is one of the best pure shooters that I have ever seen. He has tremendous range on his shot and can just flat out shoot the ball,” said Cincinnati Christian coach Travis McAvene. “He’s also very good off the dribble and that combined with his shooting is I think what makes him so attractive to the college coaches.”
- WMU head coach Steve Hawkins had this to say about Moten in May of 2004 after he initially committed to the Broncos, “Bryan can really shot it. He’s got unlimited range. Another good athlete with good size at the guard spot. He can get to the basket and has a very quick release, comes off the screens well. He will be a real three-point threat for us. We felt like when we got a commitment from him last year that we got a steal. As he went throughout this year it became evident that we were right. He’s very capable of playing well and having a great career here.”
- Stephen Bell of MichiganPreps.com says this about Bryan, "Moten is a smooth scoring guard who gets great elevation on his shot and loves to pull up in the lane."
- 6-4 Darryl Clements - Rogers high school - Detroit, MI
- Clements helped the Rangers to the Michigan Class D state title and averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists as a senior.
- "Darryl is a very versatile, all-around player that has a real understanding of the game at both ends of the court.," said Dakich.
- 6-7 Dusan Radivojevic - Serbia & Montenegro
- Radivojevic, 19, averaged 35 points and six rebounds for Takovo, a 3rd Division amateur program in his native land. He was a member of Beopetrol, Belgrade (the top junior team in Yugoslavia) and won cadet (under 16) and junior (under 18) national titles in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he averaged 20 points per game with Borak, Cacak, a junior amateur squad.
- "Dusan is a very experienced player who works hard, is a great shooter, and has excellent fundamentals," added Dakich.
- 6-2 Martin Samarco- Schoolcraft College - Livonia, MI - Originally from Ypsilanti, MI
- Martin was elected to the NJCAA Division I All-Americans second team
- Martin was 13th in the country averaging 21 points per game and finished 14th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage making 46.7% of his shots. He connected on 122 of 261 three-pointers last season and was a first-team All-Region XII honoree.
- "Martin brings to our team an ability to score and will have an immediate impact on our program," added Dakich. "He gives us a solid scoring threat from the outside and is an excellent addition to our team."
- also recruited by Kansas State, Western Michigan and Kent State
- 6-6 Lionel Sullivan - Deporres high school - Detroit, MI
- Helped lead St. Martin DePorres to a state title his sophomore season
- "Lionel brings a good combination of physical tools and intensity," BG coach Dan Dakich said. "He is a tenacious rebounder and brings a very workmanlike toughness to basketball. He also has a real desire for his team to win.''
- averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds a game for Deporres as a Junior
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Lionel as the # 8 ranked player in the Michigan 2005 class
- also recruited by Valparaiso, Toledo, Kent State, Eastern Michigan and Detroit
- 6-5 Nick Wilson - Trenton Central high school - Trenton, NJ
- Wilson was named second-team all-county last season, averaging 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.0 steals per game. He helped Trenton Central High School finish second in the state of New Jersey in 2003.
- "Nick possesses tremendous athletic ability, along with a determination and toughness that makes him a very good defensive player," BG coach Dan Dakich said.
- An athletic two guard who can shoot the three-ball well and get the ball to the rack. He moves his feet very well on the defensive end as well.
- scouting report by Thom Jones of prepstars.com:
- Athlete/slasher who is constantly looking to take you off the dribble. Will occasionally dribble with head down advancing the ball upcourt, and his stroke could use some honing, but Wilson shows electric athleticism at times. Rises and swipes ball off glass and uses good body control after his athletic forays, generally from the wing.
- 6-8 Jeremy Holland Austin high school - Austin, IN
- averaged 19.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for Austin High School last season.
- "Jeremy brings really good size and skill [to our program]," said BG coach Dan Dakich. "He has the ability to play inside and outside, which has always been the forte of the forwards we have had."
- Jeremy was named to the Indiana Junior all-star team
- also had offers from: Southern Illinois, Bowling Green , Evansville, Western Kentucky, Indiana State, Weber State and Dayton
- 6-7 Erik Marshall - New London high school - New London, OH
- Named first team All-Ohio last season. He has helped New London High School, which is coached by his father Dale, to a 37-6 record over the last two seasons.
- "Erik has a very good combination of athletic ability and skill and can play a variety of positions," BG coach Dan Dakich said. "As a coach's son, he has a real understanding of the game."
- Vince Baldwin of Prepspotlight.com ranks Erik as the #6 power forward in Ohio and the 18th best prospect overall in the 2005 class.
- Also recruited by several mid major schools including Evansville and other MAC schools.
- averaged 18.6 points and 12 rebounds per game as a junior
| | Buffalo | - 6-9 Vadim Fedotov - played for the German team Rhoendorf Dragons last season
- Fedotov averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds on the last season for Rhoendorf. He also played for the Under-20 National Team of Germany.
- "We really think that Vadim will be able to add a toughness and a temperament that we like to see from our post players and he is excited about going to school and pursuing an education in the United States," Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "We are really excited about Vadim and what he will bring to our program, both as a student and as an athlete."
- 6-1 Andy Robinson - Schenectady High School - Schenectady, NY
- He averaged 14.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.1 steals per game as a senior, but was known more for being a lock-down defender.
- "He's extremely coachable, he's a good guy to have on your team, he's never a negative distraction. He'll be a great representative of their school, just like he was here for our school and our community" said Schenectady head coach Mark Sausville... "He'll probably play the two, but he could see some time at the point, he's very versatile. He's got to work on his skills, like any player making the jump to the next level. I'm sure he'll continue to work at it. He's always been a hard worker."
- "Andy had a great career at Schenectady," Witherspoon said. "He plays hard and he has the kind of character that we are looking for. We think that Andy has a tremendous upside."
- 6-0 Eric Moore - St. Benedict Prep- Newark, NJ
- plays for Danny Hurley at perennial power St. Benedict's Preparatory School. He averaged 12 points and five assists per game last season. As a junior, he averaged 18.2 points per game for Morristown-Beard High School and was named to the All-Morris County First Team.
- "Eric not only shoots the ball very well, but has great vision and great size," Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "He comes from a terrific program and he works extremely hard."
- 6-3 Greg Gamble - Niagara Falls high school -Niagara Falls, NY
- averaged 11.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals for New York powerhouse Niagara Falls, which went 24-3 and lost to Mount Vernon in the state public school championship game. Gamble was a third-team All-Western New York selection following his junior campaign.
- "We feel that Greg, like our other signees, will be a great leader for this program," Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "He works extremely hard and understands the value of hard work. He carries himself very well and is someone that the entire University will be proud of."
- Greg was a third-team All-Western New York selection for the Wolverines. The 6-foot-3 Gamble averaged 11.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals for season-long No. 1 large school Niagara Falls, which went 24-3 and lost to Mount Vernon in the state public school championship game.
- Gamble said he was also offered a scholarship by Canisius while Boston University, Rhode Island, Marshall, Holy Cross and Binghamton were also very interested.
- "I didn't think I'd commit until next season, and I didn't plan on staying close to home, but they jumped on me early and it just clicked," said Gamble. "I clicked with the coaches, the players, the surroundings, the campus. It's just a good fit for me. I was a role player, but I just accepted it, knowing we'd need a third scorer and checking the best player (on the opposition). I just kept working on my game," Gamble said. "Part of me wanted to wait a little bit and see how good I could make myself (as a recruit), but most of me was pulling towards UB. They have a lot to offer. Every year they're getting better and better."
- On a team that prides itself on defense, Gamble was its best defender who always guarded the opposition's best player. His excellent all-around game included unselfishness and great finishing ability as well as a team-leading 51.3 percent shooting from 3-point range (20 of 39).
- 6-2 Sean Smiley - McDowell high school - Erie, PA
- averaged 15.9 points and 4.9 assists as a junior at McDowell. He is 32 points shy of 1,000 career points and is on pace to break the school's career scoring mark later this season. Smiley was a first-team All-Metro selection as a sophomore and a junior and has helped lead the Trojans to three straight 20-win seasons.
- "Sean shoots the ball extremely well, but just as importantly moves well without the basketball which is a skill that is not typical of most players his age," Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "He is very quick and he brings a certain level of athleticism to our program. He is also very willing to get after it on the defensive end of the floor."
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- A tough defender who excels at playing in transition, Smiley is working on improving his athleticism and all parts of his game for the next level.
- Sean had also scholarship offers on the table from Canisius and Gannon. Other school recruiting him including Kent State, Notre Dame and Holy Cross. Smiley returns for the Trojans after helping them to a 26-2 record last year
- Sean Smiley was featured on the opening pages of the March 15 issue of Sports Illustrated in a photograph of him dunking with his body nearly perpendicular to the backboard.
| | Central Michigan | - 6-10 Brandon Ford - St Clair Secondary School - Sarnia, Ontario Canada
- also recruited by Canisius, La Salle, Albany NY and Oakland
- "Brandon is very athletic and a quick jumper," CMU coach Jay Smith said. "He's an aggressive banger who will help us along the front line immediately next season."
- 6-7 Aaron Richie - Bellmont high school - Decatur, IN - [photos] - Central Michigan
- Richie comes from a basketball family as his father was a high school coach and his brother, Nate, plays at Drake. He averaged 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season for one of the top teams in the state of Indiana. Bellmont was the state runner-up in Class 3A and has been ranked No. 1 four of the last five years. He was first team All-Northeast Hoosier Conference and underclass all-state by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. He was named the MVP of the state sectionals and semistates last season. He earned all-state honors from Hoosier Basketball Magazine and Associated Press.
- "Aaron can really play the point at 6-7," CMU coach Jay Smith said. He's a great ball handler and passer ... a real winner. He can shoot the three and we're looking for him to get stronger physically."
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- An outstanding shooter from the perimeter who provides great size out on the wing. Last season he helped lead Bellmont High School to a 22-5 record and the Indiana Class 3A State Championship game where the Braves lost to Evansville Mater Dei.
- also recruited by Davidson, New Orleans, Samford and Wright State
- 6-7 Andre Smyth - Vincent Massey Secondary School - Windsor, Ontario Canada
- Smyth was named first team all-city last season after averaging 26 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists per game. He tied for Mr. Basketball Windsor honors and was named to the all-tournament team at the University of Windsor Christmas Invitational Tournament. He was ranked in the top 10 in Canada's NIKE All-Star camp.
- "Andre is a workout fanatic who is multidimensional," CMU coach Jay Smith said. "He can shoot the three, take it to the hole, or post up. His father coached against Peter Lambropoulos, a former Chippewa great, back in Windsor in the early 80s and that connection helped us."
- selected to play in the 2004 Men's Nike All-Canada Camp All-Star Game
- also recruited by St. Bonaventure, Fordham, Rhode Island, Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- Smyth is one of the top players in all of Canada... Smyth provides a physical and athletic presence on the court and is an outstanding shooter from beyond the three-point arc.
- 6-8 Chris Kellermann - O'Fallon high school - O'Fallon, IL
- Kellermann plays high school ball for his father, Kevin. He was the team's leading scorer as a junior, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 44 percent from three-point range. Kellermann earned first team all-conference and all-area honors and honorable mention all-state laurels.
- "Chris is an inside-outside threat who can shoot the three or post somebody up," CMU coach Jay Smith said. "He's a big man with good handles and he's a good passer. He's is a multi-dimensional player who can hit you from different angles."
- from the HighSchoolElite.com scouting report:
- A sharp-shooting big man that has the capabilities to put the ball on the floor, Chris is an improving prospect. He has grown two inches from the start of his junior year to the summer going into his senior season. His father, Kevin Kellermann, is the head coach at O'Fallon.
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- Chris shot 44 percent from beyond the arc last season and 89 percent from the charity stripe. He has excellent ball handling and passing skills. Kellermann needs to improve his strength but he is young for his grade and could grow some more.
- 6-5 Mike Kramer - Oak Hills high school - Cincinnati, OH
- Kramer started as a junior on a team that featured three seniors who are now playing college basketball and another who is playing football. He averaged six points and four rebounds per game while shooting 43 percent from three-point range.
- "Mike comes in with a wealth of basketball knowledge," CMU coach Jay Smith said. "He plays for the best AAU program in Cincinnati where he runs a motion offense and knows how to play without the ball. He's made himself a great player by staying in the gym all the time."
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- Capable of playing point guard at the next level but is best suited for shooting guard. Has excellent size and all-around skills to play on the perimeter. Is considered one of the top "sleepers" in Ohio's 2005 class.
- also recruited by Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan along with 10 other offers
- Averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds as a junior
- Mike is ranked as the #4 wing guard in Ohio and the 19th best prospect overall
- 6-3 Jon Yeazel - Kellogg high school - Middleville, MI
- Yeazel averaged 16.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game last season. He's a two-time first team All-OK Conference selection. Jon made the all-county team and was honorable mention all-area from the Grand Rapids Press.
- "Jon was the first recruit who committed to us and got the ball rolling with this class," CMU coach Jay Smith said. "He's a tough competitor who shoots well and can create his own shot. He'll primarily be a shooting guard but he can play the point. Jon's a guy who loves to play basketball."
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- Yeazel is noted for his great handles and hops. Jon is a very strong and physical point guard. He could play point guard, but is best suited for shooting guard at the next level. He averaged 18 points per game as a junior.
- also recruited by Bowling Green, Cleveland State, Drake, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, UNC-Wilmington and Western Michigan
| | Eastern Michigan | - 6-7 Gino Smith - Christian Center Academy Prep School - Cincinnati, OH - formerly from Milwaukee, WI
- Averaged 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per game as a senior at Christian Center Academy
- also recruited by Southern Mississippi, Seton Hall, Alabama, Colorado State and Liberty
- "We're fortunate to get a player like this at such a late date," Eastern Michigan coach Charles Ramsey said. "It's almost like someone was looking out for us."
- 6-10 Chris Knaub - Jacksonville Junior College (Texas) - Eastern Michigan - originally from South Bend, IN
- also recruited by Charleston Southern, Eastern Michigan, Valpariso, American, and Bowling Green
- "He can really shoot it," said Jacksonville head coach Brandon Curran. "He runs the floor well and can also defend well inside. In high school he shot a lot of three-pointers, but he learned how to use his body while he was here."
- averaged 3.1 points and 2.0 boards last season (2004-5) as a sophomore at Jacksonville JC.
- 6-6 William Cooper - Pershing High School - Detroit, MI
- averaged 11.5 points, 4 blocks and 7.5 rebounds per game as senior in the 2004-5 season
- also recruited by Ohio University, Central Michigan, Toledo, Oakland and North Carolina A&T
"He's very, very athletic, and has a nice mid-range game, a good rebounder," Pershing coach A.W. Canada said. - 6-10 Kyle Dodd - John F. Ross Collegiate and Vocational Institute - Rockwood, Ontario Canada
- averaged 23 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocks per game during the 2004-5 season
- Todd also helped Team Ontario win the 2004 Under-17 Canadian National Championship
- Carlos Medlock - Murray Wright high school - Detroit, MI
- Carlos averaged 20 points, 4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game as a senior in the 2004-5 season
- He was a second-team All-Metro Detroit and third-team All-State in Class A by the Detroit News. He also was an honorable mention All-State for Class A by the Detroit Free Press.
- "He's pass-first, score-second, kind of a throwback," EMU head coach Charles Ramsey said. "I love his intuitiveness. (Point guard) was a major need and I feel very confident we've covered that."
- 6-8 Brandon Wolfe - Redford high school - Detroit, MI
- Wolfe averaged 14.7 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 blocks as a senior shooting 46% FG and 71% FT during the 2004-5 season
- Averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds as a junior
- also recruited by Georgetown, Tennessee, Temple, Cleveland State and Detroit Mercy.
- High school Coach Derrick McDowell said, "He does a whole lot of things well. He rebounds and passes and has real value in terms of experience and his ability to handle the ball under pressure. When we need to release pressure, we use him. He's a different kind of talent because he doesn't score as much. He's been solid, doing the little things. He's had a good career over the four years." Wolfe had 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in Redford's 56-47 victory over Pershing in the PSL final. A Mr. Basketball candidate, Wolfe was named MVP of PSL West Division."
- "He's going to be the guy who'll go into traffic and get difficult rebounds and run the floor hard," said Dave Telep, a national recruiting expert for Scout.com. "He's one of those guys who'll work and give all effort. Not a bad spring pickup."
- 6-4 Zane Gay - Olivet high school - Olivet, MI
- In 2004-5 Gay helped Olivet win the Class C state title by averaging 22.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2 assists per game
- As a senior, he finished third in the balloting for Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan and was named first team all Michigan (class C).
- "We are very excited to have Zane become a member of our basketball family at EMU," EMU coach Jim Boone said. "Zane is an outstanding player, a prolific scorer, and an excellent athlete. But, as good as he is on the floor, Zane is a better person. He will be a very valuable asset to the Eastern program.
- As a junior in 2003-04, the 6-foot-3 Gay helped lead Olivet to a 23-3 record and a spot in the quarterfinals of the state of Michigan Class C Tournament. He averaged 26.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while earning first-team Class C All-State teams selected by the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.
- "I really like the coach at Eastern and they have some good guys, some good player, really some good talent and it seems like they are a team on the rise," Gay said.
- As a junior, in 2003-4, he averaged 26.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and nearly two assists per game.
- Named to the Class C all-state first team as a junior.
- Named MVP of the "Blue Chip" Camp in Kentucky this summer.
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- Zane will be four-year varsity starter for Olivet High School, where he was a consensus Class C All-Stater last season. Gay has great range on his jump shot. He's a tough player who's noted for being an outstanding defender to go along with his offensive skills.
| | Kent State | - 6-4 Julian Sullinger - Fork Union (VA) Military Academy - formerly from Columbus, OH
- Sullinger was the Columbus City Co-Player of the Year as a senior at Northland High School, while also earning All-Ohio Division I Second Team. That year, he averaged 22.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 68 percent from the field.
- In his one season at Fork Union, Sullinger averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per contest.
- ... Kent coach Jim Christian said. "He [Julian] possesses many of the qualities that we look for in a player. Julian is tough, unselfish and does all the little things to help a basketball team win games. Julian comes from a great program at Fork Union and is the son of a coach and really knows how to play the game. He plays basketball the ‘right way’ and has tremendous basketball knowledge. We’re very pleased he chose Kent State."
- 6-3 Omni Smith - Eastfield [TX] Community College - formerly from Chicago, IL
- also recruited by Texas State, Arkansas State, Youngstown State, and Western Illinois
- “Omni is a guy who will give us a tremendous amount of versatility,” said Christian. “He is a shooting guard who can handle the ball and create his own shot. Also, he wants to be a part of our program. He understands the tradition we have here at Kent State.”
- Smith averaged 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game last season at Eastfield College.
- "He was our second-leading scorer at 19 points a game, and he can flat out score," said former Eastfield head coach Chris Johnson. "He's a big-time scoring two guard who can shoot the three and get to the basket. He's a helluva player."
- 6-0 Jordan Mincy - Ridgeway High school - Memphis, TN
- Helped Ridgway win the Class 3A (big school) state title this past season (2004-5) when he averaged 10 points and 6 assists per game.
- “Jordan is the exact type of player, in all aspects, that we’re looking for,” Christian said. “He is a true point guard that makes his teammates better. Jordan’s a very athletic floor leader that captained his high school team to a state championship. We’re very excited to have someone of his athletic ability and character enter our program.”
- Hoop Scoop ranked Mincy as the 14th-best player and second-best point guard in Tennessee in class of 2005, while Dave Telep had Mincy ranked as one of the top-10 point guards in the nation that did not commit during the early signing period in November.
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- Run your team type of point guard. Pass first player. Leader. Must develop a scoring move either a jumper or strong drive.
- 6-10 Brandon Parks - Maconaquah high school - Bunker Hill, IN
- "We are very excited Brandon Parks decided to become a member of our program," Kent head coach Jim Christian said. "His biggest asset is obviously his size, which is something we really need. He has a great work ethic and is tremendous young man who has a bright future with us."
- From the scouting report by Judson Burton of BSUfans.com:
- Brandon is another banger style of post player. He finds his favorite spot on the box and bodies up every time down the court. I don't know if the pictures I took do him justice. He is a "hoss" (see the classic TV show Ponderosa). He is a big boned legitimate six-foot nine-inches at the minimum. Almost all of his damage is done at close range and I did not see him shoot anything further out than six feet from the basket. He may have a face up jumper, but he didn't display it when I watched. Whenever he is on the court, your eyes are drawn to him because he is just that darn big. He isn't just tall… he has some meat on his bones. There are taller players and more polished players but very few monsters the size of Brandon.
- "I think [the Kent State coaches] see his size, and also the fact he is an athlete. He is not just a tall kid. He can run, he is strong, he is proportioned well and he has good hands," Maconaquah coach Rick Clark said. "He is a young senior too -- he doesn't turn 18 until May, so I think he will get even bigger. He has a big upside."
- "It's like a big family," Parks said, referring to the players. "The coaches are young and energetic. I liked the campus too. I liked everything about it. I have room for improvement everywhere. I am just going to try to work as hard as I can this season. I don't play anything in the spring, so I am going to work in the weight room. I am pretty strong right now, but I want to get a lot stronger so when I get in there as a freshman I can push people instead of being pushed around."
- Named the best rebounder at the Five-Star Camp this summer in Pittsburgh.
- also recruited by: Dayton, Indiana State, Evansville, Wisc-Milwaukee and Cleveland State.
- Parks averaged 9 points and 8 rebounds with 61 blocks last season as a junior.
- 6-4 Mike McKee - Plum high school - Pittsburgh, PA
- "Mike is a perfect fit for Kent State University," Kent head coach Jim Christian said. "He is a great student that has a tremendous work ethic and is as tough as nails. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the Class of 2006 and really knows how to play the game."
- "There's a good group of guys out there," McKee said. "I liked their competitiveness, and I like the coaching staff. I'll be able to have my parents make most of my games. That's a big factor... They recruited me as a 2-guard, as a shooter. They said they have a need for a shooter and, after a couple years lifting weights, I could really help."
- also recruited by Eastern Michigan, High Point, Holy Cross, James Madison, Robert Morris and St. Francis.
- averaging 20.9 points, making 88 three pointers, while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc. He also shot 82 percent from the free-throw line and made nine three pointers in a game as a junior.
| | Miami | - 6-4 Mike Bramos - Grosse Pointe North high school - Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
- earned third-team all-state honors and was the MVP of his conference, while earning first-team all-East Detroit News distinction. He helped his team to a 21-3 record and league and district championships. Bramos is a four-year letterwinner in basketball and has served as team captain three years.
- "Mike Bramos reminds me of a guy I coached up at Central Michigan--Dan Majerle. He's rugged, he can run, he can finish plays and is an aggressive player," says Miami coach Charlie Coles. "He not only has great potential, but he's on his way to that potential right now. He's got a good all-around game, and I believe he's going to end up being a good scorer in college."
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- Bramos scored 25 points and pulled down 16 rebounds in an upset win over top ranked Detroit Denby in this year's Michigan state tournament. He seemingly plays his best in the biggest games. Bramos carries a 3.6 GPA.
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Bramos the # 7 player in Michigan's 2005 and the #1 Small forward in the state
- Bramos finished second to Chandler in Mr. Basketball voting and led North to a Class A semifinal for the first time.
- Bramos was selected for the 2005 Detroit News Dream Team
- He averaged 20.1 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks as a senior in the 2004-5 season.
- also recruited by: Central Michigan, Dayton, Eastern Michigan, Marquette, Oakland, Western Michigan and Bowling Green
- 6-9 Adam Fletcher - St. Albans high school - Saint Albans, WV
- Garnered second-team all-state honors and is a candidate for West Virginia Player of the Year this season. Fletcher also was a first-team all-league selection. Led his team to a 17-7 record, district and region championships and a berth into the West Virginia State Tournament. He is a four-year letter-winner and serves as team captain this season.
- "Adam Fletcher is a good runner, a good shooter and a very good low-post presence," says Miami coach Charlie Coles. "When I went to see him play, one of the things that impressed me most was that he had multiple skills and wasn't strong in just one or two areas. When I was driving home, I thought to myself, `This guy can help us right away'."
- "I started out not even looking that hard at Miami, and then it was the first visit I took," said the 17-year-old center. "All of the coaches there were involved, but Coach Smith just kept after me to come for a visit. Once I got there and saw what was there in Oxford (Ohio), I thanked him for staying after me." ...Miami was one of seven Mid-American Conference schools to offer a scholarship to Fletcher, who had solid offers from more than 20 Division I schools.
- A second-team Class AAA All-State pick as a junior
- averaged 21.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and 2.0 bpg last season as a junior
- also recruited by James Madison, Dayton and Kent State.
- 6-8 Tyler Dierkers - Cincinnati Moeller high school - Cincinnati, OH
- Part of Moeller's state championship team as a sophomore. He is a three-year letter-winner at Moeller.
- "I watched Tyler Dierkers play practically the entire summer recruiting period, and came away feeling that we not only had to recruit him, but that I was going to miss not seeing him play for a while. Every day I watched him play he improved. He's a player who can play three positions for us. He has a lot of skills, and I'm very excited about him coming to Miami because he's got off-the-chart potential," said Miami coach Charlie Coles.
- Considered to be a very good wide receiver football prospect also
- also considered St. Louis and West Virginia.
- from the scouting report by Mike Musgrave of RecruitingNation.com:
- Tyler is one of those players who gets under your skin if you are his opponent. He plays hard, and works for everything he gets. He is showing some decent post moves, and his jumper has range out to the three point line. He will have to be a major contributor for Moeller to succeed next year.
- averaged 8 points and 7 rebounds on a team that included several other D1 recruits including Andrew Brackman (North Carolina State), Bubba Walther (Akron), Josh Duncan (Xavier) and Ryan Childress ( Wisconsin-Milwaukee).
- Dierkers is currently ranked #3 power forward in the senior class by Prep Spotlight Magazine. Tyler is ranked #10 overall in the 2005 class.
- Akbar Abdul-Ahad signed with Idaho State after Miami told him he would have to attend summer school
- 6-0 Akbar Abdul-Ahad - Indian Hills CC, Iowa - originally from Minneapolis, MN
- also recruited by: Weber State, Kent State, Delaware, Wisconsin Green Bay and Louisiana Tech
- averaged 11.3 points and 3.7 assists per game at Indian Hills where he was an IHCC and an All-Region XI honorable mention selection.
| | Northern Illinois | - 5-9 Quintan Lipkins - Sharpstown high school - Houston, TX
- “We are excited to be adding a player of Quintan’s quality,” NIU coach Rob Judson said. “Texas is a talent-rich state and they play the game at a high level down there. Quintan will add to our team speed and quickness, but we are also excited about his ability to shoot the basketball. We saw Quintan at a few places over the summer and identified him as a player who could help this program. I saw him at a tournament in Las Vegas, NV, and Rick Ray (NIU assistant coach and recruiting coordinator) saw him at the Great American Shootout. We are pleased with his decision to be a Huskie.”
- “I think he’s the best in the state of Texas,” Sharpstown head coach Adrian Jones said. “I can’t talk about national rankings because I haven’t seen everyone play, but I can talk about this state. He’s played against Gulf Shores, which has some nationally-ranked players, but they didn’t stop him. That speaks volumes in my opinion. He’s been the sparkplug in our offense. He pushes the ball, he’s a good shooter and a snappy passer. One thing’s for sure, his teammates need to be ready to catch the ball, because he’ll fire it over to them with some authority. He’s a fiery competitor that hates to lose and if he needs to take the ball at a big man to win a game, he will do it.”
- also recruited by Tulsa, Oklahoma State and Illinois-Chicago
- averaged 24.5 points (# 3 scorer in Texas Class 4A last season) and 9.9 assists per game while shooting 42.1% from 3-pt range
- 6-6 Ben Rand - Rochelle high school - Rochelle, IL - transfer from Iowa
- Named first team all-state by Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and second team all-state by the Associated Press as a senior. Unanimous first team all-conference selection as a senior. Three-time Dixon Telegraph Player of the Year. Scored school record 2,144 career points in final three years. Also holds school career rebound record (829). Averaged 23.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and four assists per game as a senior, shooting 50% from the field and 77% from the free throw line. Averaged 23.1 points and 8.5 rebounds as a junior, shooting 52.5% from the field and 76.7% from the free throw line.
| | Ohio | - 6-6 Jerome Tillman - Beavercreek high school - Beavercreek, OH
- also recruited by Drake, Southern California and Wright State
- As a senior in 2004-5 he averaged 26.7 pts, 11.7 reb, 2.6 steals while shooting 40 % on 3-pt, 71 % FG and 81 % FT.
- “Jerome is the only four-year starter in the history of the school and our all-time leading scorer,” said Beavercreek coach Charlie Back. “He’s a hard worker and a very strong player whose style of play features both an inside and outside dimension. I believe many programs missed out on a great player and Ohio got a wonderful talent who will only get better.”
- Clark Francis of Hoop Scoop Online ranks Jerome as the 394th player in the class of 2005 nationally.
- 6-1 Antonio "Tony" Chatman - Monroe Community College - Rochester, NY - originally from Charleston, MA
- During the 2004-05 season Antonio averaged 15.3 points 3.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists earning him an honorable mention spot on the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball All-American team
- At Charlestown High School he helped the Townies to a 79-1 record during his career and three straight Division II state championships
- 6-9 Ken Ottrix - Tavapai College - Prescott, AZ - originally from Columbus, OH
- averaged 8 points, 2 blocks and 5 rebounds per game last season
- "He will bring more perimeter-oriented game," Ohio assistant coach John Rhodes said. "He is more of a face-up foreman type with a good skill level and good shooting range. He'll give us the opportunity to keep the floor spread and develop the force in the middle"
- Tavapai Coach Howard Brown said, "Ken is a natural three-man and can score consistently from the perimeter. We asked him to move inside and bang and compete for rebounds and his unselfish play was a big reason we turned around a 2-5 start to advance to the region semifinals against top-ranked Arizona Western.”
- 6-6 Johnnie Jackson - Fairley High School - Memphis, TN - transfer from Boston College
- Averaged 21.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 5.0 steals per game as a senior at Fairley High School. Earned 2001-02 All-State accolades from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association; also gained District MVP honors. Captured All-District and All-City honors as a junior and senior; was a two-time team MVP. Was one of five finalists for Tennessee's "Best of the Preps" basketball player of the year.
| | Toledo | - 6-3 Ridley Johnson - Charlestown High School - Boston, MA
- averaged 17.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists as a senior in 2004-5 while helping the Townies (25-2) win their fifth State title in six years - the third of his career. His game-high 25 points at the Mullins Center was the deciding factor in the Townies' win over Springfield Commerce in the state title game.
- Helped Charlestown High School to a pair of state championships in the past three seasons, averaged 15.4 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists per game last season as a junior.
- "Ridley is a kid with a huge upside," said Jack O'Brien, Johnson's coach at Charlestown High. "He shoots the ball really well and he is a gifted athlete who comes from a program where he is used to winning. The coaches there seem to be very big on finding kids who can shoot the basketball, and this kid can really stroke it. He can also slash and drive the ball to the basket, so I think he will bring a lot to the team. It seems to be a good fit for both parties."
- also recruited by: Robert Morris, Central Connecticut, Sacred Heart and St. Francis
- 6-4 Jonathan Amos - Hillcrest high school - Dallas, TX
- "The chance to play right away was a big thing for me, and I also feel like Toledo is a place where I will fit in," Amos said. "I like their style of play, and I think they have a lot of good players, so they're set up to be good for a few years now. I liked the coaching staff, and when I visited campus I liked the environment there. I felt like it was a win-win situation for me".
- "Jonathan is a kid who is committed to the game and who can do a lot for you," said Von Harris, the coach at Hillcrest. "He can shoot the 3, take you off the dribble, and he has the leaping ability to post people up. The fact he is a hard worker and a team player just makes him that much more valuable."
- TexasRoundball.com ranks Jonathan the # 13 player in the Texas class of 2005
- also recruited by North Texas and SMU
- scouting report from preproundball.com
- Amos is an explosive offensive player who simply can score buckets anytime on anyone. He poured in 55 points in a game this spring at the Pump 'n Run Easter Classic, and had numerous 30 point games for Dallas Pump 'n Run this summer. The bouncy wing connected on 71 three-pointers as a junior at Hillcrest, but is at his best using his athleticism to attack the hoop, and pull-up for his deadly mid-range jumper.
- As a junior, Amos averaged 15.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He made71 three point shots and earned first team All-Region honors.
- 6-7 Jerrah Young - St. Rita High School - Chicago, IL - transfer from West Virginia
- "We originally recruited Jerrah out of high school so we're very familiar with him," Stan Joplin said. "Jerrah liked the up-tempo style of basketball that we play and the fact that we have two players from Chicago including Rashay didn't hurt. Jerrah is long and can score in the low post plus he's a strong rebounder and defensive player. We think he has a lot of upside."
- Jerrah averaged 18 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots as a high school senior. He was named to the first-team All-Catholic League, third-team Class AA Illinois all-state selection, selected to play in the Wendy's All-Star game, participated in the Illinois Basketball Coaches' Association All-Star game, MVP of the Adidas Mac Irvan Fall Tournament. He averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds as a junior. He was rated as one of the Top 300 players by Prep Star.
- Jerrah was ranked by Frank Rusnak of HighSchoolElite.com as # 8 senior in Illinois class of 2003, "A good athlete that plays aggressive inside and is a rangy shot-blocker. One of the state's premiere defensive players."
| | Western Michigan | - 6-3 Patrick Alston - Wabash Valley Community College - Mount Carmel, IL - originally from Covington, TN
- "He really shoots it well and he's athletic and long," WMU head coach Steve Hawkins said. "He's 6-3, 6-4, and has really long arms and moves his feet really well. He really came on strong at the end of the year," Hawkins said of Alston, who averaged 17 points per game while spurring Wabash Valley's 9-1 finish. "He wasn't a big-time recruit all year. ... Interest really picked up close to the time we came in."
- "... Pat will be unbelievable for them," Wabash Valley coach Toby Madison said. "You never have to worry about him. He religiously goes to class. Pat has a great couple of years ahead of him at a great program. He's a good shooter behind the arc, off a couple dribbles mid-range and he can finish at the goal as well."
- Alston averaged 13.5 points per game and shot 41% from 3-pt range for 21-10 Wabash Valley as a sophomore in 2004-5
- also recruited by Kent State and Indiana State
- 6-3 Shawntes Gary - Concord high school - Elkhart, IN
- “Shawntes is a very athletic, high flying player,” head coach Steve Hawkins said. “He will bring a lot of excitement to the floor with his athleticism. He can drive to the basket and is also a very capable shooter, which makes him a difficult threat to defend."
- As a junior Gary averaged 16.9 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 58.1 percent from 2-point range.
- Reported to have a 40" vertical leap
- also had offers from Kent and UNC Willimington
- 6-6 Derek Drews - Elkhart Central high school - Elkhart, IN
- "He's not a small forward, he's not a power forward. He's like a Dave Debusschiere-type forward," WMU coach Steve Hawkins said. "He's an old-school forward, the kind of player who understands this."
- During his sophomore campaign Drews averaged 17.9 points and 5.9 rebounds and was voted the most valuable player in the Northern Indiana Conference. Last summer Drews suffered a foot injury that required surgery and forced him to miss the first five games of the season. He averaged 14.4 points and 4.9 rebounds during his junior year after his injury.
- Scouting report by Rob Harrington of prepstars.com:
- Has some low post and perimeter ability, although his shot release is a touch slow behind the arc. Fine passer who sees the court and will thread the needle in transition. A decent standstill jumper, Drews has adequate foot speed and will use shot and head fakes to trick defenders. We liked that he is constantly looking to feed the post and maneuvers himself to create better passing angles.
- from the Scout.theInsiders.com scouting report:
- Very good mid-major prospect who has some intangibles (son of a coach, grandfather played at Michigan State) and plays multiple positions; solid perimeter stroke.
- 6-6 Donald Cloutier - Lawrence North high school - Indianapolis, IN
- “It won’t take long for Bronco fans to appreciate Donald’s athleticism and ability to excel both in the post and on the perimeter,” head coach Steve Hawkins said. “He has a good shooting touch and is just as comfortable posting up inside. Donald has really flown under the radar, playing for not only one of the best high school teams in the country, but one of the best AAU teams as well."
- Helped lead Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis to the Class 4A state championship and a 29-2 overall record. Serving as the Wildcats’ sixth man, he posted season averages of 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Lawrence claimed the county tournament title (he started in two of those victories) that season and also defended its conference championship as well.
- From a BSUfans.com scouting report:
- Donald was a member of the Lawrence North high school basketball championship team this past March. He is tall and athletic with a decent handle on the ball. Donald dunks everything close to the rim and he has a beautiful looking three point shot that he doesn't miss much. He did a respectable job of defending players that were sometimes taller and bigger than he. Most of his baskets came from offensive rebounds, a couple nice baseline drives but mostly from spot-up face-up jumpers. One of the first things you notice about him in his pictures is the size of his shoes. It looks like Donald will grow taller.
- 5-9 Andre Ricks - Detroit Pershing high school - Detroit, MI
- "He's a 5-9 little jet," WMU coach Steve Hawkins said. "He's very quick, runs the floor well, he has good vision. He's very capable of dictating tempo on both ends of the floor."
- Michigan Hurricanes AAU team
- Vince Baldwin from PrepSpotlight.com ranks Andre as the # 8 junior point guard in Michigan
- In December Mick McCabe of Detroit Free Press ranked Bryan the # 45 player in Michigan regardless of class.
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