Compiled by PAUL GOTHAM
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming players of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a look at the first-year players of the Canisius Golden Griffins.
Canisius finished 14-19 (8-12 in MAAC play) last season and fell to Iona in the MAAC quarter-finals.
First-year head coach Reggie Witherspoon and his staff welcome to the lineup Jibreel Faulkner, Spencer Foley, Martin Dixon-Green, Malik Johnson, Selvedin Planincic, Isaiah Reese and Dantai St. Louis.
Jibreel Faulkner F 6-8, 200 Washington D.C./San Jacinto JC
Joined the Canisius program in August 2016. Spent the 2015-16 academic year at San Jacinto Junior College in Pasadena, Texas. Played 28 games at San Jac, where he was good for 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Helped lead San Jac to a 22-10 overall record and a trip to the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament. Originally signed his NLI to play at Cal State Northridge. A two-year starter at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C. In his senior year in high school, he was good for 9.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Helped Theodore Roosevelt win the DCIAA and DCSAA championships in 2014. Named the 2014 D.C. Male Athlete of the Year.
What they’re saying about Jibreel Faulkner – Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He is pretty good size with some hop. He will run the floor. He has raw talent. Coming out of San Jac, he could be pretty good for Canisius.”
Spencer Foley F 6-7, 190 Chicago, ILL/Commonwealth Academy (MA)
Signed his National Letter of Intent during the early signing period in November 2015. Spent the 2015-16 season at Commonwealth Academy in Springfield, Mass. Is the first player from Commonwealth Academy to sign a Division I NLI. Graduated from Uplift Community High School in Chicago, in 2015. Averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2 assists per game at Uplift. Helped lead Uplift to the Illinois state Class 2A championship in 2015. Played three years at Northside Prep in Chicago, where he scored more than 1,000 career points. Averaged 29 points per game in his junior season and was named all-city. Named to the academic honor roll at Commonwealth Academy for his work in the classroom.
What they’re saying about Spencer Foley – Adam Finkelstein/ESPN: “He’s a 3-point shooter. The thing for him is they were going to need a little bit of a volume shooter, and that’s going to be his niche at the next level. The challenge is going to be the way Commonwealth plays their shooters. They play very up-tempo, a lot of pressing defense, and they shoot a lot of threes. If you’re a shooter that’s an ideal situation because you get a lot of reps on a nightly basis. It’s a little bit more difficult in college because the shots have to be quicker and you don’t have the same volume or the same amount of time to set up your shot. It’s going to be interesting for me to see if he can play that role at that level. Certainly, that’s where his best attributes are. He going to be able to stretch defenses from behind the three-point line and provide that additional court spacing.”
Martin Dixon-Green G 6-3, 205 Toronto, ONT/Indian Hills CC
Malik Johnson G 5-10, 155 Richmond, VA/ Blue Ridge School
Was a two-year letterwinner at the Blue Ridge School. Averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game in 28 contests during his senior season. Helped lead the Barons to a 24-4 overall record and a No. 3 ranking in the state of Virginia in his senior season. Earned All-Virginia Independent Conference Division I first-team honors after his senior campaign. Named the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division 2 Player of the Year in 2014-15. As a junior, he averaged 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. Was a key piece in helping the Barons win the 2014-15 VISAA Division 2 state championship. Also played high school football at Blue Ridge. Earned Headmaster’s List honors for his work in the classroom.
What they’re saying about Malik Johnson – Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “Johnson will immediately become a fan favorite. He will demand the respect of his team mates from day 1. Through numerous Phenom Hoops events he showed the ability to flat out win. He’s gutsy and he’s talented.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Reporting: “He’s small, but he is good – a quick guard who knows how to play. He can make plays and knows ho to find the open man.”
Selvedin Planincic C 6-11, 210 Sherbrooke, QUE/Indian Hills CC
Has two years of eligibility remaining, starting in 2016-17. Played for one season at Indian Hill Community College in Centerville, Iowa. Saw action in 28 games in a reserve roll for Indian Hills. Helped the team to a 29-5 overall record and the team advanced to the first round of the NJCAA Championship. Was a Dean’s List student at Indian Hills.
Isaiah Reese G 6-5, 185 Miami, FL/ DME Academy
The first recruit to sign on under new head coach Reggie Witherspoon. Spent the 2015-16 season at DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla. Averaged 10 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game for the Lakers.
Graduated from Miami Christian High School in 2015. Served as a team captain and earned All-Dade County first-team honors as a senior. Was honored as Junior Orange Bowl Tournament MVP in 2014.
What they’re saying about Isaiah Reese – Rick Staudt/SourceHoops.com: “Reese has done a great job of becoming as much of a point guard as he is a guy who can score the basketball. He is pretty crafty on the court and has an improving outside shot. He’s a savvy, well-rounded player.”
Dantai St. Louis F 6-8, 235 Bramton, ONT/ Orangeville Prep
Joined the Canisius program in June 2016. Graduated from Orangeville Prep, where he played for current Canisius assistant coach Larry Blunt. Had the chance to play with 2016 NBA Lottery pick Thon Maker at Orangeville. Played on the AAU curcuit with the famed CIA Bounce out of Ontario. Was awarded with the Orangeville Prep “Most Dedicated Player” award in 2016.
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