With Kavell Bigby-Williams likely heading to Oregon and Treyvon Andres committed to Loyola Chicago, Brian Fish and his staff at Montana State continue to look for frontcourt players from the junior college level.
Bigby-Williams, the top junior college player in the country, signed with MSU out of high school but has since become a blue chip prospect in two stellar seasons at Gillette (Wyoming) College. Andres is a standout at Trinidad (Colorado) College who committed to Loyola earlier this week.
[restrict paid=”true”]Fish signed prep players Devin Kirby and Harald Frey during the early period. He has received verbal commitments from Miami Dade College forward Joe Mvuezolo and Saddleback Community College guard Devonte Klines.
The Bobcats have offered five junior college big men as the late signing period approaches. Prospects can sign National Letters of Intent starting on April 13.
On Tuesday, Skyline Sports confirmed through multiple sources offers to three more junior college players.
NEW OFFERS
Tyrell Williams, Western Nebraska College, power forward, 6-8, 225 — Williams started for three straight Florida 6A championship teams at Northland High in Miami. His senior season, Williams averaged 7.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, while shooting 59 percent from the field. He tallied five double-doubles during the season, including 11 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks in the state title game. The three-year starter earned offers from Iona, Florida Atlantic, Stephen F. Austin and Wyoming, eventually signing with the Cowboys.
“Tyrell is a terrific young player that fits what we have been trying to build this program on for the past three seasons,” Wyoming head coach Larry Shyatt said. “He is someone who has a strong desire to be part of a winning culture and is willing to be a part of that process.”
After a season in Laramie, Williams left the program for undisclosed reasons and landed at Western Nebraska.
Last season at Western Nebraska (in Scottsbluff), Williams averaged 12 points and eight rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game. He shot 63.3 percent from the floor and 67 percent from the foul line. He scored in double figures 21 times, including 14 games with at least 15 points and 19 as a high despite not taking more than 12 shots in a single game.
Williams is a redshirt freshman. He would come to Montana State with three years to play three.
Emanual Shepherd, Chochise (Arizona) College, power forward, 6-8, 215 — Shepherd is a long, lean player who can play facing the basket. He has earned All-Region I honors each of the last two seasons with his efficient play.
As a freshman, Shepherd averaged 9.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 63.7 percent from the field for the Region I champs.
Last season, he averaged 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 63 percent from the floor. Shepherd scored in double figures 22 times with a season-high of 21 points. He converted 9-of-11 shots that night against Tohono O’Odham College, MSU point guard Nahjee Matlock’s former school.
Shepherd is originally from Toronto, a recent hot bed for basketball recruiting. His high school statistics were unavailable.
Abraham Dalen Traore, Miami Dade, center, 6-9, 230 — The native of Abidjan, Ivory Coast is currently a teammate of Mvuezolo’s at Miami Dade. Traore was a second-team All-Southern Conference selection last season while starting 20 games and playing 22 minutes a game.
As a sophomore, Traore averaged 5.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in 24 starts. He scored in double figures five times with a high of 22 and his snared more than 10 rebounds three times with a season-high of 12.
As a prep senior, he played for the Ivory Coast national team in the U19 World Championships. His final year at Northwood Temple Academy, Traore averaged 12 points and 14 rebounds to earn first-team All-State in North Carolina. He was the MVP of the North Carolina Christian Conference and finished second in the league in rebounding in a conference that included Jahlil Okafor, Aaron Gordon and Marcus Small.
BasketballElite.com wrote of Traore as a prep senior: very strong player inside, does not back down from any challenge. Has made strides offensively throughout the season, and has impressed college coaches with his defense and rebounding ability. Still unsigned, recently worked out for Hofstra University.
Traore also has an offer from Evansville.
[/restrict]Photos courtesy of noted Junior College. All Rights Reserved.
