Jackson To UTEP

[50's PONY]

Sports Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Standout basketball recruits commit to UTEP

Bill Knight
El Paso Times
Stefon Jackson, a 6-foot-4 sharpshooting guard, and Maurice Thomas, a 6-8 athletic forward -- both out of Philadelphia's Lutheran Christian Academy -- said Monday night that they will sign basketball scholarships with UTEP on the early signing date, Nov. 10.

Jackson, who averaged 35 points a game in a summer league, also was recruited by USC, Providence, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Thomas, who averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks a game last season as a high school junior, was recruited by USC, Rutgers and James Madison.

"I just liked the coaching staff at UTEP," Jackson said. "I'm friends with Stanley Branch (a 6-8 freshman at UTEP), and I'm close friends with (UTEP director of basketball operations) David Anwar. Most of all, I just felt comfortable there."

Jackson is nicknamed D.J. Laughing, he said, "That stands for Drainin' Jumpers."

Thomas said, "I just felt like UTEP was the best place for me. I like Doc, the way they run their program, the way they run their offense, and I know David Anwar. My style of play is to just go hard. I try my best to do everything."

Lutheran Christian coach Darryl Schofield said, "Stefon is a combo guard. He can play the one, two or three, and he can score in bunches. He averaged about 16 for me last year, but I'm looking for a lot more this year. He averaged 35 this summer and was recruited by a lot of big schools.

"Maurice is like a poor man's Dennis Rodman. He can really rebound, but he can also shoot the three and put the ball on the floor and take it to the basket. He's very athletic."

Bill Knight may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6171.



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