Compiled by Paul Gotham
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming freshmen of the Atlantic 10 with a look at the first-year players of Saint Bonaventure’s Bonnies. The Bonnies finished 18-15 including 6-10 in A-10 play during 2013-14 . Saint Bonaventure lost to eventual conference champion St. Joseph’s in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 conference tournament.
Mark Schmidt and his staff welcome five players to campus: Jaylen Adams, Iakeem Alston, Marcus Posley, Idris Taqqee and Jordan Tyson.
Jaylen Adams Fr. G 6-0, 175 Baltimore, MD/ Mount St. Joseph
Played four seasons and was a three-year starter at Mount St. Joseph High School … as a senior in 2013-14, averaged 15 points, four assists and three rebounds to help lead the Gaels to a record of 34-5, the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League championships … Mount St. Joseph also won the MIAA his sophomore and junior seasons … the Gaels went 32-8 his junior year and 28-9 his sophomore season … averaged 10.7 points, 3.0 rebounds per game as a junior … scored over 900 career points … was coached by Pat Clatchey, who has been head coach at Mount St. Joseph for 21 years and has over 500 career wins … three of Adams’ former high school classmates also play for Division I schools – Cameron Williams at Ohio State, Phil Booth at Villanova, and Jordan McNeil at Towson… played AAU for Nike Baltimore Elite … committed to the Bonnies in the spring of 2014.
What they’re saying about Jaylen Adams – Allen Rubin/ Hoop Scoop: “He is a combination guard. Very good shooter. He is a very intelligent player. Just knows how to play. He comes from a terrific program, a well-coached program.”
Marcus Helton/ DMV Elite: “He can fill it up from outside, a really good three-point shooter – one of the best three-point shooters in the area. He can shoot off the catch. He can spot up. He is a college-ready shooter and will have a nice college career.”
James Lee/ Mid Atlantic Select: “He’s a little under-sized at the point but very heady. He was well-coached. Played in a good league. He knows how to run a team and how to make an open shot. Very smart. High IQ. He will be a steady player with a good upside and get better as he puts on strength.”
Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He’s heady and steady, a good solid guard. There’s nothing flashy. He has good speed. He’s going to be able to compete in the league as time goes on. He will need to raise his level to that of the Atlantic 10.”
Iakeem Alston Jr. G 6-2, 180 Baltimore, MD/ Sheridan Junior College
At Sheridan Junior College (2012-14)
Attended Sheridan J.C. in Sheridan, Wyoming, for two years … the Generals were 51-13 over his two seasons there … last year as a sophomore (2013-14), he averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, while playing just over 22 minutes on a very deep team … shot 46 percent from the field and 63 percent at the free throw line … helped Sheridan average 87 points per game for the season as the Generals finished 27-6 … as a freshman, averaged 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field over 31 games … scored a season high 24 points against Casper College … also had a 20 point performance in the Region IX Tournament against Northeastern … helped Sheridan to a share of the 2012-13 Region IX North title and a record of 24-7.
High School
Graduated from renowned Dunbar High School in Baltimore, where he played for head coach Cyrus Jones and helped the Poets win two Class 1A state championships … averaged 16 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game as a senior and was selected to the Baltimore All-City team … named the MVP of the Mayor’s Academy Tournament.
What they’re saying about Iakeem Alston – Allen Rubin/ Hoop Scoop: “He is a real good point guard. I think they’re counting on him to come right in and start. He’s a smart, tough Baltimore kid. Knows how to play. He is able to combine his intellect and quickness to get past opponents. He is a decent shooter, not a great shooter.”
Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “When he came out of Baltimore, he had good size for the off-guard spot. He is a good athlete who can muscle people. He’s got talent.”
Marcus Posley Jr. G 6-1, 185 Rockford, Ill/ Indian Hills CC
At Indian Hills C.C. (2013-14)
Played in all 35 games and averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in just under 18 minutes per outing … led Indian Hills to a No. 1 ranking in the National Junior College Athletic Association Div. I poll and a spot the national championship game … Indian Hills finished 34-3 on the season … Posley shot 44 percent from the field overall, including 38 percent from three-point range … his 91 three-pointers for the season ranked 16th-best in NJCAA Div. I … made 72 percent of his free throws … scored a season-high 30 points in a win over Three Rivers … scored in double figures 24 times, including six games of 20 points or more … nailed the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to beat Northwest Florida on Nov. 30.
At Ball State (2012-13)
Played in 30 games and earned eight starts … averaged 6.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game … scored in double figures eight times with a season high of 20 points in a win over South Dakota … shot 33 percent from the field, including 28 percent (32-113) from three-point range … scored 15 points in wins over Western Michigan and Southeast Missouri … handed out a career-high eight assists Feb. 23 at Southeast Missouri, matching the most by a Ball State player all season …scored 12 points and handed out six assists without a turnover in his collegiate debut Nov. 11 against Grambling.
High School: Was a three-year letterwinner at Winnebago High School for coach Joe Murphy … earned Illinois High School Association All-State honors as a junior as he averaged 19.4 points per game and 4.5 assists per contest … named to the All-Northern Illinois Conference and All-Area teams as a junior … transferred to Rockford Auburn High School for his senior season, but he was unable to play there due to state rules … played AAU basketball for Pryme Tyme and coach Anthony Cornell, leading his team to the Orlando Super Showcase championship and to the Best Buy Summer Classic championship in Minneapolis.
What they’re saying about Marcus Posley – Allen Rubin/ Hoop Scoop: “He is more of two-guard than a point guard. He is a very good outside shooter, might be the best shooter on the team.”
Idris Taqqee Fr. G 6-4, 195 Snellville, GA/ Cushing (Mass.)
Prep School
Played four seasons at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts … helped Cushing win back-to-back New England Prep School Athletic Conference Class AA championships his junior and senior years … his senior season, was named to the NEPSAC Class AA second team … averaged 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game … scored 20 points in 76-68 win over Kimball Union (N.H.) in the 2014 NEPSAC Class AA championship game … was named a “late stock riser” by New England Recruiting Report … as a junior, averaged 11.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29 games, helping Cushing win the New England Prep School Athletic Conference championship … was coached by Barry Connors … signed with St. Bonaventure in November 2013 … his roommate at Cushing was point guard Kaleb Joseph, who will play at Syracuse.
What they’re saying about Idris Taqqee – Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He’s got athleticism and hop. He’s going to have to work on his skills.”
Jordan Tyson Fr. F 6-10, 210 Columbus OH/ Fishburne Academy (Va.)
Prep School (2013-14)
Attended Fishburne Military Academy in Waynesboro, Va., for a year of post-high school studies and basketball … averaged 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game … made a remarkable 68 percent of his shots from the field, and 79 percent at the free throw line … the Caissons finished 25-7 in the 2013-14 season and were ranked #4 in the nation in the NextUp Recruits Top 10 poll … helped Fishburne make its second consecutive trip to the National Prep Championships … Tyson was one of six Fishburne players to accept NCAA Division I scholarship offers in 2013-14 … coached by Ed Huckaby.
High School
Graduated from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended for the 2012-13 season … as a senior, he was named an Eastern Cincinnati Conference honorable mention selection for a team that finished 27-2 and reached the Division I state semifinals … coached by Ricardo Hill … had three teammates who also went on to Division I schools – Isiah Johnson and Ricardo Hill Jr. at Akron and D.J. Wingfield to Ohio University … attended DeSales High in Columbus prior to Walnut Hills … played AAU for the Cincinnati Lakers.
What they’re saying about Jordan Tyson – Ryan Lazo/ Hopewell News: “Jordan Tyson is every bit of his 6-foot-10 frame and should be an impact player for the Bonnies over the next four years. While Tyson may have been overshadowed at Fishburne Academy by teammate Jabari Craig, coach Ed Huckaby Jr. said he is the more polished player. In fact, Tyson’s foot work around the basket, coupled with his long arms, makes him an ideal recruit for Mark Schmidt and his staff to develop into a quality Atlantic 10 player.”
Chris Johnson/ Hoop Scoop: “He went to prep school, and the light went on for him. He’s a kid who can play both the high post and low post. He runs the court pretty well for his size. Very athletic. He doesn’t have a lot of low post skills. He’s probably better at the high post. If he continues to improve the way he did the last two years, he could be a factor.”
Biographical information courtesy of St. Bonaventure athletics
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