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 Lehigh’s Mountain Hawks.
The Mountain Hawks finished 14-18 (7-11) and fell to Holy Cross in the PL quarter-finals to end their 2013-14 campaign.
Dr. Brett Reed and his staff welcome three freshmen to campus: Brandon Alston, Tyler Jenkins and Kahron Ross.
Brandon Alston Fr. G 6-5, 195 Vienna, VA/ Herndon
Wrapped up high school career at Herndon High School … Scored 25 points in the Capital Classic All-Star Game, which consists of the best players from the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area. That effort earned him Game MVP honors … Also voted to play in the ASSISTS Tri-State All-American Game … Scored 23 points in the District Championship to earn Player of the Game honors … Voted onto the 6A North All-Tournament Team and eclipsed 1,000 career points … Was the leading scorer for Middleburg Academy as a junior, averaging 16 points per game to lead a team of five averaging double figures … Shot 47 percent from three-point range, recording 478 points, 151 rebounds and 49 steals … Led his squad to the Sleep Thompson Tournament where Middleburg beat Indiana commit Robert Johnson in the championship … Middleburg ended up advancing to the semifinals of states … After the season, Alston was voted onto the DMV Elite All-Northern Virginia Team, playing for Boo Williams for a second straight summer and starting at shooting guard … As a sophomore, Alston was the third leading scorer for Middleburg Academy … Posted 372 points and advanced to the third round of the state tournament … Was the starting small forward for Boo Williams Summer League out of Hampton, Virginia … As a freshman, Alston played junior varsity and varsity at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Virginia … Set the school record for most points scored in a JV game (32) … Squad won the JV WCAC Conference.
What they’re saying about Brandon Alston – Steve Keller/ National Recruiting Report: “He’s a physical guard-forward. He’s got a shot to be decent in the league because he can handle, and he has good mid-range ability. He’s physical and can make plays.”
Marcus Helton/ DMV Elite: “He’s a really versatile kid. He’s 6-5, but he can bring the ball up the floor. Handles like a point, but he’s able to play out on the wing. He can go in the post. He’s got nice range. Defensively, he has some stuff to work on especially at the college level. He might have some trouble with quicker guys on the perimeter. He’s a nice piece for Lehigh and should be able to do a little bit of everything for them and fill in where they need him.”
Tyler Jenkins Fr. G 6-1, 175 Fishers, IN/ Hamilton Southeastern
Three-year varsity player and two-year starter and captain for Hamilton Southeastern High School, the first school in Indiana to ever feature back-to-back Mr. Basketball winners in Gary Harris (Michigan State) and Zak Irvin (Michigan) … Jenkins earned first team All-Conference, honorable mention All-County and All-State as both a junior and senior … Three-year Scholar-Athlete Award winner … Also earned first team Academic All-State as a senior … That year, Jenkins led squad to a Sectional Championship over two-time defending state champion Carmel High School, and only the second Regional Championship Game in school history … Led the team in two-point field goals (75), steals (41) and was second in assists (88) … Also recognized among the state’s leaders in free throw percentage (88 percent) … Voted Mr. Team and played in the Hoosier Reunion All-Star Classic held at the venue where the movie “Hoosiers” was made … Played in the Indiana Class Basketball Senior Classic as well along with the Indiana All-Metro All-Star Classic … Was also invited, but chose not to play in the Indiana Elite North-South All-Star Challenge … Recognized by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association as a Top 60 Senior … As a junior, Jenkins was recognized among the state leaders for assists (91) and conference leaders for three-point field goal percentage (50 percent) … Named an Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Top 100 Underclassman … Participated in the Indiana Elite North-South All-Star Basketball Challenge and the fourth annual Indiana Class Basketball Junior All-Star Classic … Selected as MaxPreps Player of the Game vs. Lake Central High School on Nov. 24, 2012 … As a sophomore, Jenkins tallied 11 points, four assists and two rebounds in first-career varsity start … Led his high school to a 62-11 record during his career while never losing a conference game, which currently stands at 44 games … As a senior, Jenkins led his team to the most wins in school history (23) while losing four game by a total of six points … Won the prestigious Hall of Fame Classic as a sophomore … Finished that season ranked No. 1 in the state and as high as No. 14 nationally with a 22-3 record … During senior year, team reached No. 3 in the state and No. 15 in the nation after beating eventual Indiana state champion and No. 5 nationally-ranked Arsenal Tech on its home floor … Played freshman year of AAU at 16U and last three years at 17U with Men of the Family.
Kahron Ross Fr. G 5-11, 155 Jonesboro, ARK/ Jonesboro
Standout at Jonesboro High School … Led Jonesboro to a state championship as a senior, being named MVP of the tournament … In the title game, Ross scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the game’s final 8:23 as Jonesboro stunned top-ranked Little Rock Parkview 66-54 … Was named All-State as a junior, leading the team in points (14.5 per game), assists (5.7) and steals (2.7)… Two-time All-Conference performer, Ross led Jonesboro to three straight appearances in the 6A State Finals, earning All-State Tournament Team laurels as a sophomore and junior … Earned Arkansas Preps All-Arkansas first team laurels in 2012-13 … Named to the Arkansas Preps Super Sophomore Team in 2011-12 … Jonesboro Sun’s Best Under the Sun Player of the Year in 2012-13 and Best Under the Sun first team in 2012 … Took part in Pangos All-American Camp in 2012 and 2013 and Under Armour Camp in Philadelphia as well … Also enjoyed tremendous success for his AAU team, the Arkansas Hawks.
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