With October comes the official start of the college basketball season as teams begin practices. Follow along as Pickin’ Splinters highlights the incoming classes of the MAAC that are “signed, sealed and delivered.”
On the docket for today: the Niagara Purple Eagles.
Niagara’s 2010-11 season ended with a 73-61 loss to Marist in the opening round of MAAC tournament. Anthony Nelson graduated, and Kashief Edwards transferred. Joe Mihalich and his staff will welcome three freshmen to Monteagle Ridge – Juan’ya Green Ameen Tanksley and Josh Turner and one junior college transfer – Ali Langford.
“This might be the best class in the MAAC.” Steve Keller/ The National Recruiting Report
Juan’ya Green 6’3″ 195lbs. G Archbishop Carroll – Philadelphia, Pa.
Green earned All-State, All-Catholic, All-Delco and won a couple of player of the year awards while attending Archbishop Carroll High School. He was instrumental to the Patriots’ 2009 PIAA Class AAA State championship and their 2010 quarterfinal run, which were the first two seasons that the Catholic League was eligibility to compete in the state tournament.
He averaged 21.0 ppg, 5.5 apg and 4.0 rpg as a senior en route to being named the 2010-11 Catholic League Co-Player of the Year and earning all-state, all-Catholic and all-Delco team recognition.
As a junior, Green earned Junior All-American Honorable Mention honors from Max Preps and was named Main Line Media News Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year. The combo guard led the Patriots in nearly every statistical category, averaging 16.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.2 spg and 1.0 bpg, while leading the team in 3-point field goal percentage (38.0 percent) and free-throw percentage (82.0 percent).
He left Carroll as the program’s all-time scoring leader with 1,492 points.
What they’re saying about Green – Steve Keller/The National Recruiting Report: “He’s good. He’s strong and physical. He can really shoot and he can get his own shot and finish. An outstanding get for Niagara. He has a big body for two-guard.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “This is a steal for Niagara. His stock dropped because he was hampered by injuries. He can play both guard positions. He makes his teammates better. He has a good mid-range game.”
Ameen Tanksley 6’6″ 200lbs. G Imhotep Charter – Philadelphia, Pa.
Tanksley was a part of two Pennsylvania state championship teams at Imhotep Charter. The Panthers wont the PIAAA Class AA title in 2009 with a 33-1 record and won the 2011 title with a 31-3 mark. Tanksley helped the Panthers to three straight public league championships, including earning the MVP in the championship game, to become the first team to compete the feat since the mid 1970s.
The swingman averaged 14.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 spg and 2.0 bpg during his senior year en route to being named to the First Team All-State. Tanksley was a 1,000-point scorer at Imhotep.
Biographical information and photos courtesy of Niagara athletics.
What they’re saying about Tanksley – Steve Keller/The National Recruiting Report: “He’s long, athletic and aggressive. He ‘s a scorer. He gets on the boards and runs the floor. He’s more of a three-man. He clearly gets the stamp of approval.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s a very good slasher who gets to the foul line. His outside shot is improving.”
Josh Turner 6’5″ 185lbs. G Sacred Heart – Hamden, Conn.
The former top-ranked rising freshman in Connecticut (2007), Turner’s 6-foot-5, 200-lb frame along with his ability to create favorable scoring situations will be an added dimension to the Purple Eagles offense this season. Turner’s dynamic play in camps through the East and West Coast made him one of the most sought after recruit in his class.
Turner played high school basketball at Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, Conn. where he started all four seasons under head coach Jon Carroll. As a junior, Turner helped lead Sacred Heart to a 23-9 record en route to winning the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAA) Class M State Championship and was named to the 2009 New Haven Register All-State Boys’ Team. As a senior, he averaged over 27 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 5 rpg as the Hearts advanced to the semifinals of the CIAC Division LL Tournament. He was one of 20 players from the state of Connecticut nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game. He finished his high school career scoring over 1,600 points.
What they’re saying about Turner – Steve Keller/The National Recruiting Report: “He’s pretty good. He’s a three-man who is a good athlete. He’s more of a scorer than a shooter. He should be able to contribute right away.”
Ali Langford 6’6″ 200lbs. F Cottonwood Height Utah/ Allan Hancock College
Langford was named the Western State Conference Player of the Year and helped the Allan Hancock (Calif.) Bulldogs to their first conference title since 1974. Langford was the centerpiece on the squad where he played center using his athletic 6-foot-7 frame. He led the conference in scoring and was sixth in the state with 21.6 points per game and led the state in rebounding with 12.8 boards per game. Langford, who became the first player in four years to move to a Division I program, chose Niagara from over 40 programs.
Prior to attending Allen Hancock Community College, Langford spent one season at Western Wyoming Community College after a successful high school career at Brighton High School in Salt Lake City, Utah where he was named to the all-state first team (junior) and all-state second team (senior).
“Ali is a high energy, fill up the stats sheet kind of guy,” Mihalich said. “He is undersized, but is all over the floor.”
Biographical material and photos courtesy of Niagara athletics.
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