Compiled by Paul Gotham
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming freshmen of the Patriot League with a look at the first-year players of the Bucknell Bison.
The Bison finished 16-14 (11-7 Patriot) and fell to Army in the 2014 conference quarter-finals. Dave Paulsen and his staff welcome four freshmen to campus: Stephen Brown, Nana Foulland, J.C. Show and Zach Thomas.
Stephen Brown Fr. G 5-10, 165 Manassas, VA/ Christ Chapel
Captain and team MVP all four years at Christ Chapel Academy in Woodbridge, Va. … three-time Christ Chapel Male Athlete of the Year … broke the school’s all-time scoring record with 2,512 points … also had 533 assists, 483 steals, 578 rebounds and 240 made 3-pointers … became the first first athlete at Christ Chapel to have his jersey retired … was also the school’s first athlete to receive a Division I scholarship … three-time VISAA Division III First Team All-State selection and the 2014 Player of the Year … led team to state finals in 2011 and 2014 … ranked No. 8 among D.C., Maryland and Virginia point guards by DMVelite … DMVelite All-Northern Virginia First Team and All-Metro Fourth Team in 2014 … two-time winner of the Prince William County High School Hoopfest 3-point competition … graduated with a 3.97 GPA.
What they’re saying about Stephen Brown – Marcus Helton/ DMV Elite: “He’s one of the better scorers in our area for the last two years. He is not only a good scorer, he runs the point pretty well. The high school he was on needed him to score, so that’s what he did. He distributes and sets guys up. He should be able to step right in and do that at the college level.”
James Lee/ Mid Atlantic Select: “He can run a team but also has the capability to score. He should also be a solid defender.”
Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He’s a good, heady, solid point guard. He can penetrate and distribute.”
Nana Foulland Fr. C 6-9, 220 Reading, PA/ Berks Catholic
Two-year captain in basketball … did not start until his junior year, but became a two-time all-state selection (first team in 2014, second team in 2013) and 1,000-point scorer … averaged 20.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game as a senior and 14/8/2.5 as a junior … two-time conference player of the year … two-time all-district choice … helped lead team to four sectional championships, three District 3-AAA championships and Berks Conference titles … led his Philadelphia-area AAU team, Team Final, to the semifinals at the AAU Nationals in Orlando and the Peach Jam in South Carolina.
What they’re saying about Nana Foulland – Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He’s a big kid. He’s very skilled. He gets things done. He improved a lot his last two years at Berks Catholic. He has a chance to be an all-league center.”
Allen Rubin/ Hoop Scoop: “He is an old-time center – loves to play inside. He has a really good baby hook with either hand. He’s not athletic but gets position to rebound. He is a good get. A lot of kids don’t like to play inside, but he does.”
J.C. Show Fr. G 6-2, 185 Clarks Summit, PA/ Abington Heights
Four-year letterman and an all-state selection in both basketball and football … three-year captain in basketball and two-year captain in football … as a senior was named Pennsylvania “Mr. Basketball” and Gatorade PA Player of the Year … three-time all-state pick (twice first team, once third team) … earned four all-league citations, including three first team honors … school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,950 career points … scored 42 points against Scranton Prep as a senior … averaged 18.9 points, 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds as a junior and 17.7/4.6/4.8 as a senior … recorded 27 points and 10 rebounds in the 2014 district final … team posted a 93-23 record during his career, won three district titles and twice advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals … played wide receiver, quarterback and defensive back in football and was a two-time third team all-state pick … three-time all-league selection … helped lead team to a 35-13 record and district titles in 2010 and 2012 … selected for 2014 PA East-West All-Star Game … in 2013 was featured as a MaxPreps/Reebok Top-25 Most Dynamic Athletes.
What they’re saying about J.C. Show – Jay Gomes/ NJHoops.com: “He can really score, a guard with good strength. He has great range, prolific scorer. He will definitely find a role. He can put points on the board.”
Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He is a real competitor and a real good shooter. He knows how to play. He has a chance to be all-league in the off-guard spot.”
Allen Rubin/ Hoop Scoop: “He just gets it done. He plays well without the ball, always gets to the right spot. He has a knack for getting to the basket. He’s very good and is probably going to get a good amount of playing time as a freshman, might start as a sophomore.”
Zach Thomas Fr. F 6-6, 185 Ijamsville, MD/ Oakdale
Broke Oakdale records for points (2,281) and rebounds (864) during an outstanding basketball career … graduated as the No. 2 all-time scoring leader in Maryland public school history and as the all-time scoring leader in Frederick County … averaged 25.0 points per game as a senior and 22.6 for his career … single-game high was 45 points … also averaged 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks as a senior, when he led Oakdale to a 22-5 record and a berth in the state championship game … team made the state semifinals with a 22-4 record in 2013 … four-year team captain … three-time Frederick News Post Player of the Year … first team all-state in 2014 and fourth team all-state in 2013 … named to DMVelite All-Star Team … Maryland Crab Ball Classic State All-Star … Round Ball Classic All-Star … named school’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year … played AAU ball for Mid-Atlantic Select … also played two years of varsity soccer and was an honorable mention all-area selection in 2011.
What they’re saying about Zach Thomas – Marcus Helton/ DMV Elite: “He is one of the top scorers in the history of the state of Maryland. He is a guy who will be able to contribute offensively. He can step outside, hit the three. He puts it on the floor. He’s not the most physical kid, but he doesn’t get rattled. Nobody is really able to knock him off his spot. He rebounds pretty well.”
James Lee/ Mid Atlantic Select: “He finished as the No.2 scorer all-time in the state of Maryland. He can score in a variety of ways: back to the basket, mid-range, threes. He has a high IQ, knows how to play, knows how to get to spots. He is an okay athlete but is really a cerebral player and big-time scorer. He should do really well in the Patriot League. By the middle or end of his career should be all-conference.”
Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: He is a thin wing who can put it on the floor and hit some mid-range jump shots.”
Biographical information courtesy of Bucknell athletics.
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