Mustangs sign three hoops prospects

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com

Ponies Add Trio Of Hardwood Standouts
Bennett, Pearson and Reay Join Mustangs

DALLAS (SMU) -- SMU Head Basketball Coach Mike Dement announced the addition of three players to SMU's 2003-04 roster on Wednesday, November 13, the first day of the NCAA Early Signing Period. The players, in alphabetical order, are Demetric Bennett, Devon Pearson and Chris Reay.

Bennett, a 6-4, 190-lb. guard from Albany, Ga., was a first-team All-State selection as a junior, averaging 24.5 points and 8.9 rebounds while connecting on 44 percent of his three-point attempts. Bennett scored a season-high 46 points in a single-game and has led Monroe High School to a 60-27 record during his three years on Coach James Little's squad. He also attended the Nike All-American Camp and Supershowcase and was tabbed All-Tournament and one of the camp's top shooters for his stellar play. Bennett is ranked #147 nationally in the senior class by Clark Francis' Hoop Scoop, with Francis noting that Bennett is "an athletic 2-guard who should provide the perfect complement in the backcourt to the extremely talented and very athletic Bryan Hopkins."

"Demetric possesses the size and athletic ability to become and outstanding guard at SMU and has already proved himself as one of the top shooters in the country," said Dement.

The 6-7, 225-lb. Pearson will give the Mustangs another talented inside-out threat after a standout career at Miami (Fla.) Northwestern. Pearson averaged 17.6 points and six rebounds as a junior while shooting 53 percent from the floor. He attended the Nike All-American Camp and Supershowcase and was tabbed All-Tournament and one of the camp's top forwards for his work. Under Coach Barry Terry, Pearson and his Northwestern teammates have gone 79-30 over the past three seasons. Pearson is ranked #194 nationally in the senior class by Clark Francis' Hoop Scoop.

"Devon has the potential to become an outstanding versatile small forward/power forward," said Dement. "He is one of the top rebounding forwards in the country and possesses a toughness and very good shooting touch."

Reay is a local product, having lettered for former SMU great David Piehler at Plano West. The 6-8, 245-lb. post player is rated as a three-star recruit and the nation's No. 23 center prospect by Rivals.com and No. 181 overall by Clark Francis' Hoop Scoop. Reay was an All-District pick as sophomore and helped Plano West to a 21-9 record and District 9-5A co-championship in 2001-02. He averaged 12.5 points, eight boards and two blocks per game and shot 50 percent from the field.

"Chris has a big, strong body and has been improving his perimeter game," said Dement. "He will give us an excellent screener and size to battle inside."

"We're excited that these outstanding young men will be joining our program," concluded Dement. "They each come from good, strong families and play for outstanding high school coaches. They will come in fundamentally sound and with the strength and physiques it takes to be successful at the Division I level."

SMU may sign one additional player for its 2003-04 class.

SMU returns to the court Nov. 20 for its final exhibition of the season, a 7:05 p.m. contest versus the EA Sports All-Stars at Moody Coliseum.

[Johnny Rock]

How is SMU going to make the NCAA tournament, a tournament that 64 other teams make, when we sign three players that are not even ranked in the top 100?

[Hoop Fan]

Its not a stellar class but being ranked in the 100-200 range is not bad. Figure that there are 300 D-1 programs. Each take 3 or 4 players a year on average, call it 3.5. Simple math says that you are easily in the Top 60 if you recruit guys in the 180 range like we have. Not great, I like these guys especially Pearson because they are big bodies and we have needed some bangers forever.

[Dawg04]

It's a good class for a WAC school if all your players are in the top 200 in the country.

For example Kansas signed a player ranked #221, Georgia one ranked #241, and so on.