After losing five senior players, the Sam Houston State men’s basketball team finished out its recruiting process on Tuesday, signing three recruits from high school and two from college.
“All five guys are good students, good players and good people and I think they will fit in with our group well,” Bob Marlin, SHSU head basketball coach said.
Kelvin Williams, 6’4 and 205 pounds, of Cedar Hill High School rounded out the last late signing player for the Bearkats on Tuesday.
Marlin said Williams comes from a good basketball program that is one of the best in the state.
Williams was the first team All-District selection and district “Defensive Player of the Year” for Cedar Hill’s 30-3 team in 2003.
“Kelvin comes from an outstanding program and his team’s record during the past three years shows he certainly knows how to win,” Marlin said. “A left-handed player, Kelvin is a great defensive player with a good body. He can play either the three or the four position and will make an impact as a freshman.”
Cedar Hill’s basketball team made the regional finals, and during Williams’ three years on the varsity they were 94-9, Marlin said.
Joe Thompson from Lee College averaged 21.5 points a game, 8.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Thompson is 6’4, 200 pounds and he was a first team all college and All-Region 14 selection for 2003.
Wilder Auguste, from Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kan. averaged 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds, for a team that finished 23-9. Wilder is 6’6 and 200 pounds and had a season game high of 25 points.
“We have two signing periods, you have an early signing period and then this is normal period,” Marlin said. “Most people sign late so that is nothing new, but we had five to get so it obviously helped us to sign a couple early and get them out of the way because trying to sign five in this period would have been pretty hard so we tried to split it up and it worked pretty good.”
Ryan Griffin from Reagan High School in San Antonio was signed early. Griffin is 6’7 and during his senior season averaged 21.4 points per game and 13.2 rebounds.
Griffin was also All-District and named the greater San Antonio area “Player of the Year”. Griffin’s game high this season was a 48 point effort against then No. 10 Dallas Lake Highlands.
Aaron Wade from Plano East High School was also signed early. Wade is 6’6 and was a second team All-District player. He led his team in scoring for 13.3 per game and rebounding at seven per game.
“We are expecting (these recruits) to step right in and help us,” Marlin said. “We do need someone to step in and pick up Donald (Cole’s) scoring and we feel like we can do that with these guys.”
Cole averaged 17.4 points per game and eight rebounds this past season for the Kats.
“We are excited to get these guys and they were excited to be joining us, and I think it is a good fit for everybody,” said Marlin.