Men's basketball signs four

[PonyPride]

FOUR PLAYERS SIGN WITH SMU TO BEGIN 2008-09 SEASON
Doherty’s Second Straight Outstanding Recruiting Class

DALLAS (SMU) --- SMU Head Coach Matt Doherty announced that four players have signed National Letters-of-Intent to play for the Mustangs beginning with the 2008-09 season. Doherty’s second recruiting class at SMU comes on the heels of a current freshman class that was ranked 24th by Hoop Scoop Online.

"I am very excited about this group," says Doherty. "We are bringing in a group of skilled players that come from winning programs. This group will bring more toughness to our program and that is something that we need. This makes for good back-to-back recruiting classes. The future of Mustang basketball is very bright."

Three members of the class hail from California; Jarred DuBois is a guard from Westchester High School in Los Angeles, Justin Haynes is a wing from Palmdale High School in Palmdale, and Frank Otis is a forward from McClymonds High School in Oakland. Christopher Clarke is a forward from St. Mary's Preparatory in Orchard Lake, Michigan.

2008-09 SMU Men’s Basketball Signees

Christopher Clarke F 6-8 220 Orchard Lake, Mich. (St. Mary’s Preparatory)

Jarred DuBois G 6-3 170 Los Angeles, Calif. (Westchester HS)

Justin Haynes G/F 6-4 190 Palmdale, Calif. (Palmdale HS)

Frank Otis F 6-6 230 Oakland, Calif. (McClymonds HS)

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Christopher Clarke (6-8, 220) is a forward for coach George Porritt at St. Mary's Preparatory in Orchard Lake, Mich. He helped his team to a Class A Regional Championship as a junior while earning All-Catholic League honors. This season, he is preseason All-State second-team and preseason All-Catholic League. His team also advanced to the Class A Final Four in his freshman and sophomore seasons. He plays AAU basketball for The Family and coach Durand Walker.

"Chris is a forward with good length and athleticism," Doherty states. "He is a young senior in high school as he is only 17 years old at this time. As he grows and matures, his abilities as a player will continue to expand and develop."

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Jarred DuBois (6-3, 170) is a guard from Westchester High School in Los Angeles, Calif. He helped lead Westchester to a 26-7 record as a junior. The team advanced to the Southern California Regional Finals, where they fell to eventual state champion Fairfax High School. DuBois averaged 16.7 points, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 4.0 rebounds while earning accolades as All-Western Team 1st team, Daily Breeze Newspaper All-Area Team, MVP of the Redondo Union Beach Classic, first-team All-Underclassmen All-State Team, and second-team Los Angeles All-City.

"J.D. is a long and athletic guard," states Doherty. "He has the ability to get to the basket and finish. He is a tremendous leader on the court and comes from a winning high school program. He knows the commitment needed to win, and isn't afraid to work."

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Justin Haynes (6-4, 190) is a wing from Palmdale High School in Palmdale, Calif. He averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists as a junior while helping his team to a 21-6 record. He was named All-Golden League and Honorable Mention all C.I.F.

"Justin is an athletic wing player with great size", said Doherty. “He has the ability to pass, handle, and shoot as well as attack the basket and make the perimeter jump shot. His versatility makes him a difficult defensive matchup. It is exciting to see a player such as Justin with so much upside to his game."

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Frank Otis, Jr. (6-6, 230) is a forward for coach Dwight Nathaniel at McClymonds High School in Oakland, Calif. He plays for the same high school that produced Bill Russell, Frank Robinson, and Antonio Davis. As a junior in 2006-07, Otis helped lead his team to the Oakland Athletic League title and the Division I state championship game. He averaged 14.5 points, 13 boards, and two assists as the team finished 28-4. He was named All-State, All-Northern California, first-team All-Oakland Athletic League, Team Co-MVP, and All-tournament at the Modesto Holiday Classic and the Valley Christian Classic. He also played AAU basketball for the Oakland Soldiers. Otis is ranked 22nd overall in California by GoldenStatePreps.com.

"Frank is a wing player with good size and strength,â€

[mustangbill67]

The question remains as to why no metroplex or Texas players. These four guys look good on paper but were there players around here with equal talent, potential and academic eligibility who were interested in SMU? I guess we have to trust Doh that this was the best we could do.

[Mexmustang]

I really believe that our reputation outside of Texas is better than inside Texas. California is now the largest group of students at SMU outside of Texas (no longer Illinois). Sometimes familiarity breeds contempt. Until we win, we won't get the looks from the local kids.
How many beauty queens and movie starlets were "ugly ducklings" in high school?...same thing!

[EastStang]

I love it, we sign some very good players from good conferences, including a solid shooting guard, and we get the old saw, why aren't we signing Texas players? We've recruited Texas players in the past and what did that get us? Nothing! Let's let Doh go to the programs where he is known and where he gets a good reception and recruit the best players he can to come to SMU. The past two recruiting classes are two steps above any two that Dement or Tubbs brought us. Frankly, if Doh brought us 10 players from Sengal, Gabon or even Burkina Faso, I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

Frankly, if Doh brought us 10 players from Sengal, Gabon or even Burkina Faso, I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.

I heard he's going to Nepal to recruit a Sherpa with a wicked crossover dribble and a sweet stroke from 3 point range.

[mustangxc]

I don't care where the recruits come from! If you want to complain about the recruits' talent level, go ahead! I might even agree (I don't know very much about them), however who cares where they are from? If we can get the Sasser's, Davis, Ross, Hopkins bring them on! Patrick Simpson came from Colorado and Eric Castro from Oklahoma and they were pretty good for us. Too bad we didn't have more depth back then.

[mustangbill67]

I love it, we sign some very good players from good conferences, including a solid shooting guard, and we get the old saw, why aren't we signing Texas players? We've recruited Texas players in the past and what did that get us? Nothing! Let's let Doh go to the programs where he is known and where he gets a good reception and recruit the best players he can to come to SMU. The past two recruiting classes are two steps above any two that Dement or Tubbs brought us. Frankly, if Doh brought us 10 players from Sengal, Gabon or even Burkina Faso, I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.

Well as I said, I am giving Doh the benefit of the doubt. However, for those of us who live around here and attend the games, it is nice to see SMU mentioned favorably in the extensive newspaper discussions of area players as well as having family and friends of area players at games. I just believe that having some area players in each class is a part of a solid foundation for the program. Nonetheless, I agree we should sign the best possible players available regardless of where they are from. We just need to continue to work very hard to re-establish a receptive identity with area players.

[SoCal_Pony]

Patrick Simpson came from Colorado and Eric Castro from Oklahoma and they were pretty good for us.

By our standards they were pretty good for us, but a team full of Simpson's and Castro's will not get us to the NCAAs.

Doh needs to do better.

[mustangxc]

Patrick Simpson came from Colorado and Eric Castro from Oklahoma and they were pretty good for us.

By our standards they were pretty good for us, but a team full of Simpson's and Castro's will not get us to the NCAAs.

Doh needs to do better.

You might be right, but they are probably the best 2 big men we have had in the last 15 years.

[Stallion]

"current freshman class that was ranked 24th by Hoop Scoop Online."

Why would the SMU Athletic Department continue to publish information that is patently untrue or at least a deceptive misrepresentation of the facts?

[mustangxc]

"current freshman class that was ranked 24th by Hoop Scoop Online."

Why would the SMU Athletic Department continue to publish information that is patently untrue or at least a deceptive misrepresentation of the facts?

Who knows? It certainly doesn't help Coach Doherty's cause. In a few years many people will be calling for his head saying that he doesn't know anything about coaching. It must be so that SMU and the athletic department can wash its hands and blame Doherty if we don't start winning the next couple of seasons. The reasoning being, the system in place enabled him to attract a top 25 class, he simply did not know how to develop and coach them.

[mustangxc]

This is almost more depressing than actually losing games because it leads me to believe that SMU will get back to consistently winning 15-18 games a season and consistently missing out on NCAA's, the NIT, and even the new post-season tournament that will start this year.

[Hilltopper]

"current freshman class that was ranked 24th by Hoop Scoop Online."

Why would the SMU Athletic Department continue to publish information that is patently untrue or at least a deceptive misrepresentation of the facts?

That's not untrue at all, nor is it a deceptive misrepresentation of the facts. Hoop Scool Online did, in fact, rank this year's class as the No. 24 class in the nation.

Your issue is with HSO's assessment of talent, or class ranking system, and if you're going to use three games as a test sample, your objection has some merit. The athletic department did nothing wrong or inaccurate here. The class earned a ranking, and the athletic department's PR wonks simply quoted that. Rest assured that if some guy writes on the wall of the bathroom at a local bar says the class is the No. 1 class in the nation, they would tout that, too. That's what PR people do - put a positive spin on EVERYTHING. The good ones can find a way to spin damn-near anything, and since that was the first time an SMU class (in football or men's basketball) has been nationally ranked since the start of time, it makes sense that they would report that. If they didn't, they wouldn't be doing their jobs.

[Stallion]

No it is not-the rankings were updated from the original ranking on signing date. Recruiting continues after the original signing date. If the Rangers are in first at the All-Star Break can Ranger fans claim they won the Pennant? We did not finish with a HoopScoop Top 25 Recruiting Class PERIOD.

[ponydawg]

If it was printed in the Dallas Morning News it is good enough for me.
There is nothing else to sell. If it could help persuade some recruits, some fans, or some energy into this dead beat program for the past decade, then I am all for it. And Counselor, I am sure you never mislead or constrew the facts at Red River right around last call to what ever little filly you are persuading.