Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcat Men's Basketball Lands Three Prep Standouts
11/8/2017 4:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU returns to successful recruiting grounds of Arizona and Oregon
BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Montana State men's basketball team received an infusion of talent and versatility Wednesday, signing three high school players to National Letters-of-Intent on the first day of the November signing period.
Bobcat coach Brian Fish announced the addition of two players from Arizona – 6-5 wing Quentin Guliford from Peoria, and Jared Martin, a 6-5 wing from Scottsdale – along with 6-7 forward Zeke Quinlan from Portland, Oregon. All three begin their Bobcat careers next season as freshmen.
"We're certainly excited about adding three talented high school kids to the program," Fish said. "Quentin is a young man that is like a (growth) stock. You're buying low after he averaged eight points a game as a junior, but he blew up the summer circuit and has continued to play that well in fall ball. Jared gives us a very versatile player as we continue to build a talented guard group. He's very highly recruited and we're glad to have him. Zeke comes in from a little different situation, he's a fifth-year guy at a prep school who is a little older, more mature, and at 6-7 he's very versatile. Zeke is getting challenged and pushed every day."
Guliford is a three-year letterwinner at Liberty High School in Peoria, where he averaged 8.4 points and five rebounds a game last season. He shot 48% as a junior to lead his team, which won its region and finished in the state semifinals with a 21-8 record. "Quentin is incredibly tough," said Liberty coach Mark Wood, "leads by example and through servanthood, has exceptionally high character and intelligence. He has a hunger for constant improvement and strives to be the best he can be as an individual and as a teammate."
Martin earned 1st Team All-Region and All-Scottsdale honors at Saguaro High last year. Known as a shooter as well as a scorer, he averaged 21.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game. He also blocked 1.8 shots with 1.0 steals per game. He is playing his senior season at Prolific Prep in Napa, California. "Jared had offers as high as the Pac 12," said Powerhouse Hoops AAU coach John Ortega, who also coached MSU senior Zach Green, "but he really formed a strong relationship with Coach Fish. I think he's really going to flourish at Montana State. He has a college-ready body and a college-ready game. He shoots the ball well, defends well, can do a lot of things to help a team."
Ortega said he was most impressed with what Martin adds that can't be measured. "I think his strongest point is really his leadership," Ortega said. "He came in this year on a team that had already been together for a year as the new guy. He was known as a big-time scorer, I think he led the state in triple-doubles, and that makes a lot of people nervous, a scorer joining a team that's been together. He didn't ask to start, he earned that the first week, and he did a great job."
Quinlan brings skill and versatility to the Bobcats, a solid shooter with the ability to play in the low post, finish around the basket, and run the floor. As a senior at Life Christian in the Portland area last season he averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds a game, with single-game highs of 45 points and 18 boards. He was Class 2A All-State, conference MVP, and 2A State Tournament Co-MVP. He attends Hillcrest Prep School in Phoenix this season. "His strongest attribute is the ability to play multiple positions," said Hillcrest coach Nick Weaver, "two through four. I'm a very big believer that you are who you can guard, and he's a five (offensively) but can guard two-through-four. He's a great three-point shooter and also a tremendous athlete. He's one of our team captains so he's a leader, and he plays hard all the time. He never takes plays off."
According ot Fish, one of the common denominators shared by these three newcomers is excellent coaching. "I'm very impressed with the coaching all three will get this upcoming year to prepare them (for college basketball)," he said. "We've got multiple players from Powerhouse Hoops and Coach Ortega and his group do a fantastic job. I've known Billy McKnight from Prolific for a long time, and I'm very excited to add one of his players. Hillcrest has a rich tradition of high-level players. Coach Wood, Quentin's coach in Arizona, is a fantastic coach, one of the leaders of the coaches association there, a fine human being, and someone I've enjoyed getting to know."
Bobcat coach Brian Fish announced the addition of two players from Arizona – 6-5 wing Quentin Guliford from Peoria, and Jared Martin, a 6-5 wing from Scottsdale – along with 6-7 forward Zeke Quinlan from Portland, Oregon. All three begin their Bobcat careers next season as freshmen.
"We're certainly excited about adding three talented high school kids to the program," Fish said. "Quentin is a young man that is like a (growth) stock. You're buying low after he averaged eight points a game as a junior, but he blew up the summer circuit and has continued to play that well in fall ball. Jared gives us a very versatile player as we continue to build a talented guard group. He's very highly recruited and we're glad to have him. Zeke comes in from a little different situation, he's a fifth-year guy at a prep school who is a little older, more mature, and at 6-7 he's very versatile. Zeke is getting challenged and pushed every day."
Guliford is a three-year letterwinner at Liberty High School in Peoria, where he averaged 8.4 points and five rebounds a game last season. He shot 48% as a junior to lead his team, which won its region and finished in the state semifinals with a 21-8 record. "Quentin is incredibly tough," said Liberty coach Mark Wood, "leads by example and through servanthood, has exceptionally high character and intelligence. He has a hunger for constant improvement and strives to be the best he can be as an individual and as a teammate."
Martin earned 1st Team All-Region and All-Scottsdale honors at Saguaro High last year. Known as a shooter as well as a scorer, he averaged 21.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game. He also blocked 1.8 shots with 1.0 steals per game. He is playing his senior season at Prolific Prep in Napa, California. "Jared had offers as high as the Pac 12," said Powerhouse Hoops AAU coach John Ortega, who also coached MSU senior Zach Green, "but he really formed a strong relationship with Coach Fish. I think he's really going to flourish at Montana State. He has a college-ready body and a college-ready game. He shoots the ball well, defends well, can do a lot of things to help a team."
Ortega said he was most impressed with what Martin adds that can't be measured. "I think his strongest point is really his leadership," Ortega said. "He came in this year on a team that had already been together for a year as the new guy. He was known as a big-time scorer, I think he led the state in triple-doubles, and that makes a lot of people nervous, a scorer joining a team that's been together. He didn't ask to start, he earned that the first week, and he did a great job."
Quinlan brings skill and versatility to the Bobcats, a solid shooter with the ability to play in the low post, finish around the basket, and run the floor. As a senior at Life Christian in the Portland area last season he averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds a game, with single-game highs of 45 points and 18 boards. He was Class 2A All-State, conference MVP, and 2A State Tournament Co-MVP. He attends Hillcrest Prep School in Phoenix this season. "His strongest attribute is the ability to play multiple positions," said Hillcrest coach Nick Weaver, "two through four. I'm a very big believer that you are who you can guard, and he's a five (offensively) but can guard two-through-four. He's a great three-point shooter and also a tremendous athlete. He's one of our team captains so he's a leader, and he plays hard all the time. He never takes plays off."
According ot Fish, one of the common denominators shared by these three newcomers is excellent coaching. "I'm very impressed with the coaching all three will get this upcoming year to prepare them (for college basketball)," he said. "We've got multiple players from Powerhouse Hoops and Coach Ortega and his group do a fantastic job. I've known Billy McKnight from Prolific for a long time, and I'm very excited to add one of his players. Hillcrest has a rich tradition of high-level players. Coach Wood, Quentin's coach in Arizona, is a fantastic coach, one of the leaders of the coaches association there, a fine human being, and someone I've enjoyed getting to know."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballThursday, March 03
Friday, November 05
Monday, November 01
Sunday, October 31
