Post subject: Griz hoops recruits have standout senior seasons
Grizbacker1 eGriz Elite
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 21266
18112 eGriz Bucks
Griz hoops recruits have standout senior seasons
Posted on March 18
MISSOULA - Both University of Montana early basketball signees from the state of Washington had outstanding senior seasons and received numerous accolades.
Shawn Stockton, from Ferris High School in Spokane, and Mathias Ward, from Gig Harbor High School, signed to play at UM last November.
Both were named first team all-state at the 4A level following the 2007-08 season.
A 6-1, 185-pound point guard, Stockton was voted Mr. Basketball for the state of Washington by the Washington State Coaches Association. He also was named co-MVP of the Greater Spokane League with teammate Jared Karstetter and was selected as a McDonald's All-American.
Stockton's prep team had back-to-back 29-0 records, winning two consecutive 4A state titles. Ferris' 58 wins in a row are a state record.
In 2007-08 Stockton played in just half of Ferris' games during the regular season, averaging 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals a game while shooting 58 percent from the field.
As a junior Stockton helped Ferris to a 29-0 mark enroute to the state 4A crown. That year he was named first team all-state, 4A state tournament MVP and region MVP. He also plays football and baseball.
A 6-7, 215-pound forward, Ward averaged 23.5 points and 10.1 rebounds a game, shot 52 percent from the field and 71 percent from the free throw line, and was team captain.
Ward set 23 school records as a four-year starter, nine career records, eight single-game records and six season marks. Last season he set single-game standards with 56 points and 21 rebounds against Central Kitsap High School. His 610 points and 23.5-point average last year are also school records.
Ward was a four-time All-Narrrows League selection and voted league MVP as a senior. He set career records with 1,532 points, 806 rebounds and 102 games played.
Ward was the MVP of the state WIBCA 4A All-State Game played earlier this month. He also was a McDonald's All-American nominee and a Tacoma News Tribune All-Area pick. Ward is a four-time honor roll student and will earn his two-year AA degree this spring.
I was thinkin' the same thing. Aren't those dudes usually 5 star blue chips? There must be some kind of tier system of some sorts for that. I wouldn't know for sure...wasn't quite an All-American ball player back in my day.
Just click on 2008 roster when you get to the page...
And check out some of those guys...like Samardo Samuels, is he in his 40's? Also, I really hope Chris Singleton and Tyler Zeller are roomies, they look like they'd get along great And hats off to Demar DeRozan, he wins the "Dr. Dre Look-A-Like Award" this year.
Just click on 2008 roster when you get to the page...
And check out some of those guys...like Samardo Samuels, is he in his 40's? Also, I really hope Chris Singleton and Tyler Zeller are roomies, they look like they'd get along great And hats off to Demar DeRozan, he wins the "Dr. Dre Look-A-Like Award" this year.
Yeah, that's where I went and checked... also not sure where either was first-team 4a. I'm not trying to knock these guys as both are obviously beasts but just curious what the sources are.
In case anyone missed it. This is related so I am posting it here as well:
Three players to leave Griz hoops
Posted on March 18
MISSOULA - Three players will not be returning to the University of Montana men's basketball team next season.
Head coach Wayne Tinkle announced Tuesday that redshirt freshman Zach Graves and sophomores Cameron Rundles and Dave Vanderjagt have asked to be released from their scholarships following the spring semester.
Graves, a 6-2 guard from Sacramento, Calif., played in 10 games this season and scored 15 points. He redshirted at Montana in 2006-07.
A 6-1 guard from Minneapolis, Minn., Rundles played in 30 games and started in 13 and was UM's fifth-leading scorer, averaging 6.6 points a game. Rundles played in 62 career games and was the Big Sky Conference freshman of the year two seasons ago.
Vanderjagt is a 7-0 center from Townsville, Australia, who played in 13 games this season and has played in 17 career contests.
Montana, which tied for third in the Big Sky this season with an 8-8 league record and was 14-16 overall, lost two seniors to graduation in forward Andrew Strait and guard Matt Martin, both three-year starters and four-year letterman.
"The future of Grizzly basketball is bright, and we will do our best this spring to replace the three players who have decided to pursue other options," Tinkle said.
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And hats off to Demar DeRozan, he wins the "Dr. Dre Look-A-Like Award" this year.
