Men's basketball signs two

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com

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Ponies Add Pair Of Hardwood Standouts
Craft, Biggers Join Mustangs

DALLAS (SMU) -- SMU Head Basketball Coach Mike Dement announced the addition of two players to SMU's 2002-03 roster on Friday, May 10, as Alex Craft and Duke Biggers both joined the Mustangs' squad.

Craft, a 6-9, 205-pound big man from Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi, led his high school squad to an undefeated District 31-4A title and a 20-9 record as a senior. He averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks in 2001-02 despite being double-teamed defensively.

Craft was named second-team All-State by the Texas Association of Basketball
Coaches and Texas Basketball Magazine. He was also tabbed District MVP and
All-Metro MVP by the Corpus Christi Caller Times. He scored close to 1,800 points over his varsity career and had 546 blocks.

Craft chose SMU over interest from several schools, including Texas Tech, TCU, Fresno State and Yale, where he was accepted in the fall.

"Alex is an outstanding young man and a very good basketball player," said Flour Bluff head coach Glenn Rotzler. "He'll bring a lot of versatility to SMU. He has good post moves and a strong inside game, but he can also step outside and shoot the ball well. It's his ability to shoot well consistently that so unusual for 6-9 player."

SMU was able to offer Craft a scholarship when junior Billy Pharis decided to transfer from the Hilltop to be closer to home.

Dement also announced that 6-2 guard Duke Biggers has chosen to walk-on for
the Mustangs.

The Mercer Island, Wash., native chose SMU for its well-regarded business program, the opportunity to play in the Western Atlantic Conference and to be closer to family. Biggers' mother, Ruth Ann, is an SMU alumna and has a home in Dallas.

"It's just a family tradition so it wasn't a very hard choice," said Biggers, who led his high school squad to a Washington state runner-up finish. "It also has one of the nation's top 10 business programs."

"This is a good situation for Duke," said Mercer Island basketball coach Ed Pepple. "It's home and he has relatives there. He should also be able to compete for playing time."

"We are pleased to have these two young men join our team," said Dement. "Alex improved throughout the season and was selected as an All-State performer based on his solid play. With added strength and experience, he has a chance to be a good player in our league. He has long arms and can really shoot the ball well. We feel really good about this pair of additions."

[ClassOf81]

Unless you're a star athlete (and if he's walking on, that doesn't seem to be the case here), how tough do you have to be to get through high school with the name "Duke"?

[SMUguy]

I saw some report that said Craft is a tall shooter who plays the same style of game as Dirk Nowitzki. If he even slightly resembles the Dirkster, we've found a major player for years to come.

[This message has been edited by SMUguy (edited 05-15-2002).]