Patriots ranked among best non-BCS class by Slam Magazine
July 29, 2009
The George Mason men's basketball team's recruiting class continued to draw accolades this week as Slam Magazine named it one of the top six class among non-BCS conferences. The Patriots were previously named the top non-BCS class by ESPN.com.
Head Coach Jim Larranaga and his assistants coaches worked diligently to put together a six-player class that is well-rounded and has the opportunity to be impactful. The other programs Slam Magazine compared to Mason's are UMass and UNLV (both schools that like Mason has appeared in the Final Four) as well as San Diego State, Gonzaga and BYU.
Paris Bennett, a 6-foot, 6-inch forward from St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, N.J., Luke Hancock, a 6'5" forward from Hargrave Military Academy and a native of Roanoke, Va., Vertrail Vaughns, a 6'2" guard from Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas, Rashad Whack, a 6'2" guard from Bishop McNamara High School and a native of Hyattsville, Md., Johnny Williams, a 6'8" forward from Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Tenn., and Sherrod Wright, a 6'4" guard from Mount Vernon High School inNew York make up a six-player class that ESPN ranks ahead of Umass, Rice, San Diego State, UNLV, Gonzaga, Central Florida, BYU, Miami (Ohio) and Long Beach State.
Bennett was named the top small forward recruit in the CAA by Rivals.com and he was rated three stars by both Scout.com and Rivals.com. Playing for Kevin Boyle, he averaged better than 10 points per game for St. Patrick as a junior. He is rated as the #123 small forward in the nation by ESPN.com.
Hancock averaged 14 points and seven rebounds last season as a senior at Hidden Valley High School. He spent last season enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy and played for Kevin Keatts.
Vaughns played for Brian Curts at Mesquite High School and as a junior, he averaged 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. He was rated #71 in the nation at his position by ESPN.com.
Whack, who was also recruited by VCU, and JMU, scored 17 points per game as a junior playing for Marty Keithline at Bishop McNamara. He was named the top shooting guard prospect in the CAA by Rivals.com and ESPN.com rates him as the #72 shooting guard in the nation.
Williams played for John Harrington at Briarcrest Christian School and as a junior he averaged a double-double. He is rated the top power forward prospect in the CAA by Rivals.com and he earned three stars from both Rivals.com and Scout.com. He is rated #39 in the nation at power forward by ESPN.com.
http://gomason.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/...09aaa.html