The five include John Henson from Tampa, Fla.; Leslie McDonald from Memphis,
Tenn.; Dexter Strickland from Rahway, N.J.; David Wear from Huntington
Beach, Calif.; and Travis Wear from Huntington Beach, Calif.
"We are very excited about this class," says Williams. "All five do a great
job both in the classroom and on the basketball court. They all have been
well coached in high school and they are all interested in their team
winning. These are characteristics that are at the top of the list when we
look at young players."
Henson is a 6-10 forward who plays for coach Renaldo Garcia at Sickles High
School in Tampa, Fla. He previously attended Round Rock High School in Round
Rock, Texas.
"John is an outstanding student-athlete with unlimited potential," Williams
says. "We will ask him to try and develop more perimeter skills and hope
he¹ll be able to play on the perimeter as well as inside. He has long arms
and his size enables him to block shots like a big guy but I believe he will
be a perimeter player for us. John's potential is only exceeded by the
quality of his character."
McDonald is a 6-4 perimeter player who plays for coach John Harrington at
Briarcrest Christian High School in Eads, Tenn. He helped Briarcrest win a
state title last year.
"Leslie is a perimeter player with tremendous flexibility," says Williams.
"His greatest skill is his versatility and the complete package that he
brings both offensively and defensively. He can do so many different
things. He is one of the favorite students at his school, which speaks well
to his character."
Strickland is a 6-3 guard who plays for coach Kevin Boyle at St. Patrick
High School in Elizabeth, N.J.
"Dexter has tremendous athleticism," Williams says. "His speed, quickness
and explosiveness enable him to play either guard spot. It will be difficult
for people to match up athletically against him. He is a wonderful young
man who continues to improve every time we see him play."
David Wear and Travis Wear are 6-10 forwards who play for coach Gary
McKnight at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif.
"David and Travis Wear are both extremely sound fundamentally," says
Williams. "They play for a great high school coach and their father being on
Mater Dei¹s coaching staff has helped them individually. Both David and
Travis can score inside and outside and handle the ball very well. They are
used to winning. They've won two consecutive state championships in what we
know is a very competitive California high school playoff system."