SFA Recruiting Class Nationally Ranked
6/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 21, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The eight-player signing class brought in by the Stephen F. Austin basketball team this year is the biggest group ever inked by Lumberjack head coach Danny Kaspar -- and it may turn out to be one of his best. HoopScoop.com, an Internet site that specializes in ranking collegiate recruiting efforts, recently released its scores for this year's signees. The site has Kaspar's 2007-08 class ranked No. 61 in the nation and No. 5 among Texas universities.
SFA's new crop came in behind only Texas Tech, SMU, Texas A&M and the University of Texas, in terms of recruiting classes in the Lone Star State. Lumberjacks' recruits are also ranked higher than those of any other school in the Southland Conference.
The big class started in November, when Kaspar locked up four commitments during the early signing period. SFA inked prep standouts Jereal Scott, Dean Pele, and Preston Davis, along with junior college transfer Nick Shaw. Scott and Shaw are both forwards, Pele is a versatile guard, and Davis plays the point.
In April, SFA added four more players, starting early in the month with JuCo transfers Eric Bell and Jason Rogers. Bell is a point guard with a ton of up-side and three years of eligibility left after playing just one season at McLennan Community College before inking with the Lumberjacks. Rogers plays shooting guard.
Kaspar bolstered his class late in April when he brought in the last two pieces -- Benson Akpan and Eddy Williams. Akpan, who is originally from Nigeria, comes to SFA from Howard College. Williams, a prep recruit, is a combo guard from Lawton, Okla.
The Lumberjacks are coming off a 15-14 season in 2006-07. SFA went 8-8 in SLC action and finished tied for fifth in the 12-team league.
-- SFA --
