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18
Mar
Hoops Signee/Commitment Update
South Alabama basketball will move into the 2012-2013 with high hopes. With a solid 17-12 season behind them and a strong nucleus returning, the Jags are well positioned to challenge for the conference title. To help them with that goal, two fall signees and a commitment that intends to sign in April will be added to the mix in hopes that they can push the team over the top. Here is an update on those players and how they fared this past season.
Antoine Allen - Fall signee Allen is a junior college 6'1" guard who began his career at Miami (FL) and was academic All-ACC as a freshman. He decided to forgo his scholarship there and spent a year pursuing his dream as a recording artist before realizing that basketball was his future. He spent this past season at Palm Beach State College where he was an impact player for the 26-5 Panthers. Allen ended up the second-leading scorer with 13.5 per game, along with 2.75 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2 steals. He shot 78% from the foul line, 42% from the field and 38% on his threes. When you take into account the rust he had to shake off from a year's inactivity (as proof, look no further than the 25% he shot on threes for his first eight games), Allen should fit right into the backcourt as a solid contributor with perimeter offensive and defensive skills similar to the returning Xavier Roberson.
Delvin Dickerson - In Dickerson, the other fall signee, the coaches hope that they will have another freshman contributor in the mold of Mychal Ammons. Like Ammons, Dickerson is a player that spent a lot of time inside in high school but has guard skills. He led his Westbury Christian (TX) team to the state championship game with his 21.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He shot 77.5% on his free throws and 33.1% on his three point attempts. What makes him even more intriguing is that these perimeter abilities come in an ever-growing package. Since signing in November, Dickerson has grown another inch and half and now stands at 6' and 6 1/2" tall and weighs 220lbs. He could be a serious matchup problem for Sun Belt opponents next year.
Barrington Stevens III - Stevens is a player that committed this past December and intends to sign with USA on April 11th. The 6' point guard first caught the attention of South Alabama coaches when they were scouting a teammate of his at his Texas high school. The kept track of him as he went on to prep school at St. Thomas More and they are very glad they did. Playing for the defending national champions, Stevens helped them to a 28-8 record, a spot in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council championship game and a quarterfinal appearance in the national tournament. With his dazzling crossover dribble, quick first step and deft shooting touch, Stevens averaged 12.5 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting an amazing 55% on his threes and 80% on his free throws. With the lead guard position being one of need, it is likely that Jag fans will see a lot Stevens on the court this next season.
The Jaguar coaches are possibly looking for more players to bring in this next recruiting class, but this trio added to the returning players gives USA fans a lot of reasons for optimism.
Antoine Allen - Fall signee Allen is a junior college 6'1" guard who began his career at Miami (FL) and was academic All-ACC as a freshman. He decided to forgo his scholarship there and spent a year pursuing his dream as a recording artist before realizing that basketball was his future. He spent this past season at Palm Beach State College where he was an impact player for the 26-5 Panthers. Allen ended up the second-leading scorer with 13.5 per game, along with 2.75 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2 steals. He shot 78% from the foul line, 42% from the field and 38% on his threes. When you take into account the rust he had to shake off from a year's inactivity (as proof, look no further than the 25% he shot on threes for his first eight games), Allen should fit right into the backcourt as a solid contributor with perimeter offensive and defensive skills similar to the returning Xavier Roberson.
Delvin Dickerson - In Dickerson, the other fall signee, the coaches hope that they will have another freshman contributor in the mold of Mychal Ammons. Like Ammons, Dickerson is a player that spent a lot of time inside in high school but has guard skills. He led his Westbury Christian (TX) team to the state championship game with his 21.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He shot 77.5% on his free throws and 33.1% on his three point attempts. What makes him even more intriguing is that these perimeter abilities come in an ever-growing package. Since signing in November, Dickerson has grown another inch and half and now stands at 6' and 6 1/2" tall and weighs 220lbs. He could be a serious matchup problem for Sun Belt opponents next year.
Barrington Stevens III - Stevens is a player that committed this past December and intends to sign with USA on April 11th. The 6' point guard first caught the attention of South Alabama coaches when they were scouting a teammate of his at his Texas high school. The kept track of him as he went on to prep school at St. Thomas More and they are very glad they did. Playing for the defending national champions, Stevens helped them to a 28-8 record, a spot in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council championship game and a quarterfinal appearance in the national tournament. With his dazzling crossover dribble, quick first step and deft shooting touch, Stevens averaged 12.5 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting an amazing 55% on his threes and 80% on his free throws. With the lead guard position being one of need, it is likely that Jag fans will see a lot Stevens on the court this next season.
The Jaguar coaches are possibly looking for more players to bring in this next recruiting class, but this trio added to the returning players gives USA fans a lot of reasons for optimism.
