Compiled by Paul Gotham
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming freshmen of the MAAC with a look at the first-year players of the Niagara Purple Eagles.
The Purple Eagles finished 7-26 (3-17 MAAC) in 2013-14 and fell to Quinnipiac in the MAAC quarter-finals. Chris Casey and his staff welcome five freshmen to campus: DayJar Dickson, Anders Skou Hansen, Julian Richardson, Matt Scott and James Suber.
DayJar Dickson Fr. F 6-9, 205 Washington, DC/ Potomac
Dickson attended Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, Md. where the Wolverines went a combined 42-9 during his junior and senior seasons…After finishing as state runners-up in 2013, Dickson helped guide Potomac, which featured a team with a possible seven Division I players, to the 2014 Maryland 2A State Title…Dickson, who averaged seven points and five rebounds per game during the regular season, brought in 10.2 boards per game and averaged 3.5 blocks per game during the playoff run en route to the title…He had a double-double (12 points and 15 rebounds) in the semifinal win over Patterson…Dickson played in the 2014 Buffalo Wild Wings Roundball Classic, the largest high school basketball all-star showcase on the east coast, in Hagerstown, Md. Dickson scored 11 points to help the Mason Dixon All-Stars defeat the Chesapeake Stars in the Battle for the Piedmont Elite Game…Dickson had interests from Army, High Point, Howard and Temple.
What they’re saying about DayJar Dickson – Jamie Shaw/ Phenom Hoop Report: “Dickson is long and explosive. He defends off the ball well and you don’t have to worry about him in pick and roll situations. On offense, he gets out in transition and finishes lobs in a crowd pleasing manner.”
Marcus Helton/ DMV Elite: “He is a kid who was a real late bloomer. He didn’t have any D1 offers going into his senior year. He had a couple of D2’s. He’s really raw but really athletic. He blocks shots, flies around, plays above the rim. He’s got really good hands. Offensively, he just needs to work on stepping out and being able to knock down some jumpers. He’s really a high-motor guy. He’s going to be able to contribute with that amount of energy off the bench.”
James Lee/ Mid Atlantic Select: “He’s a kid who developed late. He got better throughout high school. I look for him to get better throughout college. He’s more of a face-up forward. He can put it on the floor a little bit. He plays hard and will fit in with the MAAC, a good four-year player.”
Anders Skou Hansen Fr. G 6-3, 180 Brondby, Denmark/ Horsholm 79ers
Skou Hansen played two seasons as a member of the Hoersholm 79ers in his hometown of Broendby, Denmark where he averaged 4.2 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game and 1.9 assists per game in 53 league games from 2012-14…Skou Hansen represented Denmark in the Eurobasket Under-18 Tournament in 2012. He averaged 2.6 points per game, 1.4 rebounds per game and 1.9 assists per game in seven appearances. He also represented Denmark in the Eurobasket Under-18 B Division Tournament in 2011.
Julian Richardson Fr. G 6-3, 180 Woodland Hills, CA/ El Camino Real High School
Richardson, labelled as one of the top available shooting guards in southern California, will bring his shooting prowess to Niagara…Richardson played at El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, Calif…As a senior, Richardson helped the Conquistadors to a 25-7 overall record and an unblemished 10-0 league record en route to claiming the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Los Angeles City Championship and advancing to the CIF State Playoffs…Richardson, who averaged 20 points per game, was named to the 2013-14 California All-State honorable mention team, the Los Angeles City Section All-City Team and the Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Team…A three-time all-league first team, three-time all-city first team, and a two-time all-state first team selection…Richardson had offers from Villanova, Fresno State, San Francisco, Long Beach State and Minnesota heading into his senior season.
Matt Scott Fr. 6-4, 170 Brooklyn, NY/ Brooklyn Law and Tech
Scott, a 6-foot-4 southpaw guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., was a three-year member at Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology where he increased his average in points, rebounds, assists, field goals and free throw percentage each season…As a senior, Scott was a significant contributor as he helped guide the Jets to a 16-5 overall record including the program’s first-ever Public School Athletic League (PSAL) Class A Semifinal appearance…Scott averaged 28.4 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game and 6.2 assists per game in 15 leagues games as the Jets earned a five seed with a 12-3 league record…Scott had big scoring games against top high school programs during the season. He scored 32 points against eventual NY Federation Champion Christ the King, 28 against powerhouse Lincoln and 42 against Monsignor Scanlan…Scott, who was highlighted in the Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd” section on March 31, participated in the NYC Mayor’s Cup All-Star Game, a game that pits the best seniors from the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) and PSAL, in March 2014.//Scott earned New York State Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) Class A Second Team honors for the 2013-14 season…Scott had interests from Quinnipiac, St. Francis, Canisius, Manhattan, Stephen F. Austin, UT-Arlington and LIU Brooklyn before deciding to become a Purple Eagle.
What they’re saying about Matt Scott – Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He will be a role player for them now. He may become more down the road for Niagara.”
James Suber Fr. F 6-6, 210 Philadelphia, PA/ Philadelphia Electric and Technology Charter
Suber averaged 11.5 points per game during his senior season at Philadelphia Electrical & Technology as he helped the Chargers advance to the Philadelphia Public School and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class AAA semifinals…Suber was named to the Daily News All-City Third Team and All-Public Second Team at the end of the season…Suber chose Niagara over Maryland-Eastern Shore, Elon, LIU Brooklyn, Hartford and Farleigh Dickinson.
What they’re saying about James Suber – Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He’s got good length. He can score some. He can handle.”
Allen Rubin/ Hoop Scoop: “He’s a smart power forward who is not really athletic but is a very good decision rebounder. He scores around the basket and plays very hard. He can step out to about 16′.”
Biographical information courtesy of Niagara University Athletics
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