Houston Haul

[50's PONY]

Sergio de Randamie signs with Houston
Cougars sign third player from Midland College


May 4, 2004

Houston, Texas - University of Houston men's basketball coach Tom Penders announced that Sergio de Randamie, a 6-7, 240-pound center from Midland College, has signed to play with the Cougars in 2004-05.

"We are extremely excited to have signed Sergio," Penders said. "He is a strong, athletic and mature player who likes to play the center position. With Elijah Miller the only center returning from last year, that was a spot we needed to add some help there. Sergio matches up well against most of the players we will be playing against and fills that role."

"He is tough, smart and a team player," Penders added. "He excels on defense and adds some depth and experience in the front court."

de Randamie comes to Houston after averaging 3.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a starting center at Midland. He started 34 of the 35 games in which he played while helping the Chaparrals finish the season with a 30-7 overall record. Midland also posted a third-place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan. The Chaparrals won the Western Junior College Athletic Conference with a 13-1 league record and were NJCAA Region V champions.





A native of Paramaribo, Suriname in Latin America, de Randamie was an honorable mention All-WJCAC selection after averaging 6.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in 26 games as a freshman. He was named Midland's "Most Improved Player" that year.

He is the third player from Midland and fifth junior college player Penders has signed since he was named head coach at Houston. The other two former Chaparrals to sign with the Cougars are Englebert Cherrington and Brian Latham. Penders also inked Rodney Hannah of Yuba College and Chris Lawson of Southwest Los Angeles Junior College.

By signing these five players, we have accomplished everything we set out to do with this recruiting class, and that is highly unusual considering this is our first year," Penders said. "That is a tribute to Melvin Haralson and the rest of the staff. We felt our greatest need was to add some physical strength and athleticism to our front line. We have certainly done that with the additions of Sergio, Englebert Cherrington and Rodney Hannah. We also added some strength and athleticism in our backcourt with the additions of Brian Latham and Chris Lawson."

[ponyboy]

50's Pony, I almost replied "who cares about Houston," but I'd forgotten that we'll be joining them next season! I am looking forward to resuming that rivalry. Glad to hear they've gotten some good recruits.

[The Wizard]

He is the third player from Midland and fifth junior college player Penders has signed since he was named head coach at Houston.

5 JC's - wouldn't that be nice to be able to do!! Or maybe just 1 big dude perhaps?

[LA_Mustang]

Penders will try to win now. He will do it the same way Gillispie took UTEP from a 6 win season to the NCAAs in one year, by bringing in JUCO talent. C-USA will be no different than the WAC, we will be severely at a disadvantage when it comes to JUCOs.

BTW, Gillispie signed his first player at A&M last week, Adjuan Green from Temple College. He was highly recruited out of high school but went to JUCO. Last year, he averaged 20 pts and was second in the nation with 15 boards per game.

[gostangs]

Why will we be at a disadvantage? - if we need to take a JUCO we will take one - lets hope the high and mighty era is over - let the winning commence.

[Stallion]

the difference is that as far as my research reveals SMU has never admitted a JUCO who was not a full-qualier out of High School including this new Okfoebu kid-therefore that slim slice of the JUCO pie is filled with leftover recruits who may have physically or mentally developed or college transfers. It leaves SMU out of the chase for the Superstar Recruits who may have not qualified out of high school because for example he had a problem with a required core class. The creme of the crop talent in JUCO are generally not the full-qualifiers out of high school.

[LA_Mustang]

Exactly what Stallion said. If you look at UTEP's roster they have three players ((2) 3 stars, and a 4 star on Rivals) who were non-qualifiers out of high school and transfered to UTEP from junior colleges. Result: they go from 6 wins in '02 to the NCAAs in '03. This is the same thing Penders will attempt to do at UH. Drew at Baylor is doing this as well.