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 the Saint Louis Billikens.
SLU finished 24-7 including 13-3 in A-10 play during 2013-14. The Billikens lost to Louisville in the third round of the NCAA tournament. Jim Crews and his staff welcome six freshmen to campus: Marcus Bartley, Austin Gillmann, Brett Jolly, Miles Reynolds, Davell Roby and Milik Yarbrough.
Marcus Bartley Fr. G 6-4, 170 Decatur, Ill/ MacArthur
Four-year point guard out of MacArthur High School in Decatur, Ill. … also played AAU for the Peoria (Ill.) Irish … Associated Press Class 3A All-State honorable mention selection … earned a special mention All-State nod from the Chicago Tribune … averaged 18.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 3.3 steals his senior year … led the Generals to a 16-11 record and his team nearly upset top-ranked Lincoln in a regional final matchup.
Austin Gillmann Fr. C 6-10, 210 St. Louis, MO/ Oakville
Four-year starting center from Oakville High School, which is located in a suburb of St. Louis … as a senior, led the Tigers with 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds … averaged 3.7 blocks and shot 65 percent from the field … earned All-Conference honors as a junior after averaging 12.7 points and 8.9 rebounds … turned in 13.2 points and 9.9 rebounds as a sophomore and 8.1 points and 6.4 boards as a freshman … four-time All-Conference selection at Oakville … played for the St. Louis Gateway AAU club.
Brett Jolly Fr. F 6-9, 230 Southlake, TX/ Blair Academy (N.J.)
Played one year at Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J., after graduating from Southlake Carroll High School in Texas … also played AAU ball for the Dallas Seawolves … averaged 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds as a senior at Southlake Carroll … finished in double figures in leading Blair Academy past St. Benedict’s for the Prep A state championship.
What they’re saying about Brett Jolly – Jamie Shaw/ Phenom Hoop Report: “Jolly is a burly strong hard hat and lunch-pail type big. He has touch and moves in the paint and likes contact while rebounding.”
Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He is a big body, a strong kid. He has consistent post-up moves with good hands. He is going to be an anchor for them as time goes on.”
Miles Reynolds Fr. G 6-2, 170 Chicago, Ill/ Whitney Young
Prepped at Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago, one of the top prep teams in the country … earned honorable mention All-State honors from the Associated Press … collected a special mention All-State nod from the Chicago Tribune … led the Dolphins (29-5) to the Class 4A state title with a team-high 19 points against Benet … was prep teammates with fellow NCAA Division I signees Jahlil Okafor (Duke) and Paul White (Georgetown).
What they’re saying about Miles Reynolds – Jamie Shaw/ Phenom Hoop Report: “Reynolds is a long 1-2 combo. He can handle the ball well in half-court pick and roll read situations. He is a good on ball defender and has room left to his ceiling as his body develops.”
Davell Roby Fr. G 6-4, 200 Memphis, TN/ White Station
Product of White Station High School in Memphis, Tenn. … also played for the Team Penny AAU program where he averaged nearly 10 points in helping the squad qualify for the Peach Jam.
Milik Yarbrough Fr. F 6-6, 230 Zion, Ill/Zion-Benton Township
Four-year starter at Zion-Benton Township High School in Zion, Ill., a northern suburb of Chicago … collected more than 2,600 points, making him the all-time leading boys’ basketball scorer in Lake County history … averaged 25.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 rebounds for the Zee-Bees, who posted a 26-4 record … first-team All-State selection by the News-Gazette … collected second-team All-State plaudits from the Associated Press and Chicago Tribune … three-time Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) All-State selection … registered All-Conference honors all four years of high school.
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