Redhawks tap JUCO ranks for fifth player

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program added to its junior college recruiting haul Tuesday.

Coach Gary Garner announced that Tyrell White, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound center from Wayne County Community College in Detroit, has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Redhawks next season.

White, the fifth junior college player to sign with Southeast, averaged 13.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game as a sophomore at Wayne County last season. He shot 58 percent from the field.

"He's a true post player who can really play with his back to the basket," Garner said. "He's got soft hands, and he's a good scorer with his back to the basket."

Other junior college players signed by Southeast are 6-8 center Andrais Thornton from SMS-West Plains Community College, 6-6 forward John Chappell from Highland (Ill.) Community College, 6-4 guard/forward David Johnson from Meramec Community College in St. Louis; and 6-4 guard Eric Burtin from Iowa Central Community College.

Southeast's only high school signee that has been announced so far is 6-4 guard Eric Jones from Webster Groves High School in St. Louis.

Vashon's Hill signs

While Southeast has not announced his signing because he has not yet qualified academically, the Redhawks have landed one of the premier high school players in the St. Louis area.

The St. Louis American newspaper recently reported that Johnny Hill, the senior leader of Vashon's team that spent much of the season ranked No. 1 nationally, has signed with Southeast.

The 6-4 Hill averaged 12.5 points and 5.4 rebounds for a squad that ended up ranked No. 7 nationally by USA Today after suffering its only loss of the season to Poplar Bluff in the Class 5 state championship game.

Hill, a first-team St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro selection as well as a first-team Class 5 all-stater, averaged 17 points over Vashon's final five games, including a team-high 23 against Poplar Bluff. He was also a key starter on Vashon's undefeated Class 4 state title team in 2004.

Hill has not yet reached the minimum test score for NCAA eligibility. If he fails to qualify, he can still attend Southeast without a scholarship -- he would not be able to practice with the team -- and join the squad the following year, or he could elect to attend a junior college.