Bobcat Cagers Land Four Standouts
4/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Montana State added immediate perimeter help and a host of young players on Thursday, the second day of the spring National Letter-of-Intent signing period. Mick Durham announced the addition of junior college guard Derrick Edmonds, high school guard Jacques Wilson, and prep center Chawn Johnson and forward Branden Johnson.
Edmonds, a 6-1, 175 lb native of Baton Rouge, La., transfers to MSU from Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, Calif., where he averaged 20.1 points a year ago. Edmonds shot 41% from three-point range, earning First Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State honors.
“We’ve really added some nice experience on the perimeter with Derrick,” Durham said. “We wanted to increase our depth there, and Derrick is a shooting guard with great range who can also get to the basket. He’s fast and athletic, and should be one heck of a defender. He’s an important piece to next year’s team, and he understands where he’ll be needed. I really like what he’s all about off the court and that was as important to me as his ability to play.”
Edmonds hit 111 three-pointers for Los Medanos, and his coach, Derek Domenichelli lauded his range. “Derrick has been a phenomenal shooter for us the past two seasons,” Domenichelli said. “He’s a very explosive scorer, and has been an absolute pleasure to coach. He is very unselfish, he always tries to get his teammates the ball. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He will be able to come in and knock down shots from a long ways away.”
Branden Johnson comes to MSU from Eisenhower High in Yakima, Wash. The 6-8, 215 lb forward averaged 17.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocked shots a game last year, shooting 59% from the floor. He earned First Team All-League and Regional Tournament MVP honors, and was named to the second five of Washington’s All-State team.
“We feel Branden’s best basketball is ahead of him,” Durham said. “Branden really finished his senior year strong, which is a great statement about his future. He’s long at 6-8, and can play big inside and also has a good-looking three-point shot. He needs to get stronger and has the frame to do that. Coach Pat Fitterer has done a great job developing Branden the past two years, and really has Branden believing in himself. We’ll work hard to develop him as a power forward with the ability to play center in certain situations. We’re excited about his basketball future and his 3.8 GPA shouldn’t be overlooked.”
Eisenhower coach Pat Fitterer agrees with Durham’s assessment. “I think (Montana State is) getting a great kid,” said Fitterer, whose 26-4 squad won league, district and regional titles this year on its way to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament. “He’s a diamond in the rough. He’s come on like gang-busters, and if he keeps improving at that rate he could be a real special player. He likes to shoot the three. In the All-State game in Key Arena last week he scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and four of his baskets were on three-pointers. We needed him to be an inside-oriented player because of his size. He did that, and that made him that much a better player. Now he has the full game offensively. I know the Montana State coaches were impressed that he went inside and got physical with the big guys, and was still able to step outside and shoot the three.”
Chawn Johnson is a 6-8 center from Antelope Valley Christian in Lancaster, Calif. He averaged 19.2 points, 10.4 boards, and 4.2 blocks last year, earning All-CIF Southern Section Division V-A First Team honors.
“We really like Chawn’s potential,” Durham said of Johnson, who doesn’t turn 18 until October, “and the direction he’s headed. He’s very young and we feel he has the potential to grow. We felt we needed a high school center to bring balance to our program, and he’ll be able to learn and develop behind Al Beye and Ted Morris. Chawn is just realizing the potential he has on the basketball court, and he’s excited about his opportunity at Montana State. Chawn’s a big, strong kid with a huge upside. We were really looking for a young center to develop in our program, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to work with and develop Chawn’s potential.”
“As a player, Chawn is one of the harders workers we’ve had,” said his prep coach David Nurse. “He really wants to get better, and he has been focused on playing on the Division I level. He is a great player to have because of his character. He’s a very coachable young man.”
Jacques Wilson is a 6-1, 190 lb guard from Century High School in Pocatello, Idaho. He earned Southeast Idaho and Great Basin Conference Player of the Year honors and was a First Team All-State choice. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 4.0 assists as a senior.
“We’re excited to bring Jacques into our program,” Durham said. “He’s someone we followed all season, and we are impressed by his growth as a player. Jacques is explosive and brings a lot of energy to the game. He’s a quality person who understands our league and what it takes to play at this level. He’ll have a great experience playing against our veteran guards next season. We’re projecting him as a point guard with a scoring mentality. Jacques has played both guard positions in high school, and is very capable at either.”
“Jacques had to be one of the most difficult players in Idaho to guard,” said Century High Coach Cody Shelley. "He played the point for me this year, and played a wing last year. He can really finish at the basket, and shoots very well. He has ballhandling ability and great quickness, and I think he’ll fit in nicely at Montana State.”
Pronouncer
Chawn: like shawn
Jacques: jock-wezz
Edmonds, a 6-1, 175 lb native of Baton Rouge, La., transfers to MSU from Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, Calif., where he averaged 20.1 points a year ago. Edmonds shot 41% from three-point range, earning First Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State honors.
“We’ve really added some nice experience on the perimeter with Derrick,” Durham said. “We wanted to increase our depth there, and Derrick is a shooting guard with great range who can also get to the basket. He’s fast and athletic, and should be one heck of a defender. He’s an important piece to next year’s team, and he understands where he’ll be needed. I really like what he’s all about off the court and that was as important to me as his ability to play.”
Edmonds hit 111 three-pointers for Los Medanos, and his coach, Derek Domenichelli lauded his range. “Derrick has been a phenomenal shooter for us the past two seasons,” Domenichelli said. “He’s a very explosive scorer, and has been an absolute pleasure to coach. He is very unselfish, he always tries to get his teammates the ball. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He will be able to come in and knock down shots from a long ways away.”
Branden Johnson comes to MSU from Eisenhower High in Yakima, Wash. The 6-8, 215 lb forward averaged 17.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocked shots a game last year, shooting 59% from the floor. He earned First Team All-League and Regional Tournament MVP honors, and was named to the second five of Washington’s All-State team.
“We feel Branden’s best basketball is ahead of him,” Durham said. “Branden really finished his senior year strong, which is a great statement about his future. He’s long at 6-8, and can play big inside and also has a good-looking three-point shot. He needs to get stronger and has the frame to do that. Coach Pat Fitterer has done a great job developing Branden the past two years, and really has Branden believing in himself. We’ll work hard to develop him as a power forward with the ability to play center in certain situations. We’re excited about his basketball future and his 3.8 GPA shouldn’t be overlooked.”
Eisenhower coach Pat Fitterer agrees with Durham’s assessment. “I think (Montana State is) getting a great kid,” said Fitterer, whose 26-4 squad won league, district and regional titles this year on its way to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament. “He’s a diamond in the rough. He’s come on like gang-busters, and if he keeps improving at that rate he could be a real special player. He likes to shoot the three. In the All-State game in Key Arena last week he scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and four of his baskets were on three-pointers. We needed him to be an inside-oriented player because of his size. He did that, and that made him that much a better player. Now he has the full game offensively. I know the Montana State coaches were impressed that he went inside and got physical with the big guys, and was still able to step outside and shoot the three.”
Chawn Johnson is a 6-8 center from Antelope Valley Christian in Lancaster, Calif. He averaged 19.2 points, 10.4 boards, and 4.2 blocks last year, earning All-CIF Southern Section Division V-A First Team honors.
“We really like Chawn’s potential,” Durham said of Johnson, who doesn’t turn 18 until October, “and the direction he’s headed. He’s very young and we feel he has the potential to grow. We felt we needed a high school center to bring balance to our program, and he’ll be able to learn and develop behind Al Beye and Ted Morris. Chawn is just realizing the potential he has on the basketball court, and he’s excited about his opportunity at Montana State. Chawn’s a big, strong kid with a huge upside. We were really looking for a young center to develop in our program, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to work with and develop Chawn’s potential.”
“As a player, Chawn is one of the harders workers we’ve had,” said his prep coach David Nurse. “He really wants to get better, and he has been focused on playing on the Division I level. He is a great player to have because of his character. He’s a very coachable young man.”
Jacques Wilson is a 6-1, 190 lb guard from Century High School in Pocatello, Idaho. He earned Southeast Idaho and Great Basin Conference Player of the Year honors and was a First Team All-State choice. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 4.0 assists as a senior.
“We’re excited to bring Jacques into our program,” Durham said. “He’s someone we followed all season, and we are impressed by his growth as a player. Jacques is explosive and brings a lot of energy to the game. He’s a quality person who understands our league and what it takes to play at this level. He’ll have a great experience playing against our veteran guards next season. We’re projecting him as a point guard with a scoring mentality. Jacques has played both guard positions in high school, and is very capable at either.”
“Jacques had to be one of the most difficult players in Idaho to guard,” said Century High Coach Cody Shelley. "He played the point for me this year, and played a wing last year. He can really finish at the basket, and shoots very well. He has ballhandling ability and great quickness, and I think he’ll fit in nicely at Montana State.”
Pronouncer
Chawn: like shawn
Jacques: jock-wezz
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