Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming freshmen of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a look at the Rider Broncs.
Rider finished 19-15 (12 MAAC wins) in 2012-13. Kevin Baggett welcomes five freshmen to campus: Brandon Channer , Davis Graham, Xavier Lundy, Jimmie Taylor and Kahlil Thomas.
Brandon Channer G 6-3, 215 Clarendon, Jamaica (Strawberry Crest)
Earned Second Team All-State (6A) honors, averaging 18.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as a senior at Strawberry Crest in Tampa…also attended Faith Baptist Christian High School in Brandon, Florida.
Davis Graham G 6-1, 170 Cinnaminson, NJ/ Doane Academy
Twice his team MVP was a three-time All-Star…led his team in scoring three straight years…compiled over 1,000 points…once made seven three-point field goals in a single game…also played varsity soccer as a sweeper and was twice an All-Star.
Xavier Lundy F 6-7, 220 Paulsboro, NJ/ Paulsboro
Scored 2,135 career points in his scholastic career…was twice named the South Jersey Player of the Year…led his team to a 57-4 record over his last two years and a pair of South Jersey Group 1 Championships…averaged 22 points per game as a junior and 18 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior.
What they’re saying about Xavier Lundy – Jay Gomes/NJHoops.com: “He’s a real good athlete, a four-three. He was a big scorer in high school. His team had a phenomenal record during his career but didn’t play a lot of great competition, though. He’s used to winning games. He really gets upstairs, good hops. He can shoot the three and score inside. He’s a versatile scorer. Defensively, he can guard bigs and three men. He will have to tighten up his handle a little bit to be a full-time three.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He was probably the best player in all of south Jersey. They got themselves a good one with Lundy. He’s a big kid that can shoot. He’s got a chance to be one of the better players in the league.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Sccop: “He’s a tweener. He’s between a three and a four. He was always a four. Then somebody put a bug in his ear and told him if you want to be recruited at a good level you have to be a three. He’s somewhere in between. He was the South Jersey Player of the Year, and his team did very well. Once he defines whatever position he is, I can see him helping them down the road.”
Jimmie Taylor G 6-3, 180 Suwanee, FL/ Suwanee
Earned First Team All-State (5A) and All-Suwannee County honors, averaging 24 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game…his scoring average was second highest in all of Florida 5A…was the top scholastic free throw shooter in the State of Florida last year, making 211 of 268 attempts for a .787 percentage.
What they’re saying about Jimmie Taylor – Jamie Shaw/Hoop Phenom Report: “Taylor is a wing who has great athleticism, length, and motor. At his best in transition, but has a nice handle and leads the break. Attacks the basket with purpose and is a leader in the way that he plays hard from start to finish. His shot is developing but a guy you can hang your hat on knowing he will bring it each time out.”
Kahlil Thomas F 6-7, 204 Lauderhill, FL/ Blanche Ely
Earned First Team All-Broward County and Second Team All-State (7A) honors…ranked among the top 20 players in Florida by FloridaHoops.com…as a power forward took part in the ESPN High School National Invitational his junior and senior years.
What they’re saying about Kahlil Thomas – Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “Thomas is long athletic and very bouncy. He is raw in the halfcourt setting, but you get into an up and down game and Thomas is comfortable. Thomas’s defensive versatility will be a great asset. He can defend in the post as well as off the ball. Blocks, boards, fills the lanes, and finishes above the rim.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s got size and can help them right away.”
go broncs…. doug smith, class of ’56