Indians, Otahkians both sign a recruit

Both teams add a junior-college player; Indian baseball team lands two more pitchers.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State University's men's and women's basketball teams both closed out the week-long early signing period by landing players Tuesday.

The Indians received a national letter of intent from James White, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound sophomore forward at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Ill.

White averaged eight points and eight rebounds per game as a freshman last year playing behind a junior-college All-American but he is expected to be one of Southwestern's top players this season.

"He's kind of a late bloomer who started behind a first-team All-American last season but is starting this year," Southeast coach Gary Garner said. "He can shoot the three and score inside, and he's a good athlete.

"He's not the kind of kid that will get 20 points a game for us, but he's the kind of kid you win with. We feel fortunate to sign him."

Signing last week was Vianney High School senior point guard Paul Paradoski, a 6-footer who averaged 16 points, four rebounds, five assists and four steals per game last season.

"I'm pleased with the two early signings," said Garner, who will likely sign two more players in the spring.

On the women's side, Southeast signed Katrisha "Red" Dunn, a 5-5 sophomore point guard at Eastern Oklahoma Junior College. Dunn missed most of last season with an injury but is expected to be a major player for Eastern Oklahoma this season.

"She's very athletic and she can shoot. She's a point guard who can score," Southeast coach B.J. Smith said. "She very much fits our style of play."

Last week, the Otahkians signed Tatiana Conceicao, a 6-2 sophomore forward at Western Nebraska Community College. She averaged 18 points per game as a freshman last season, including 25 points per game during the national tournament as Western Nebraska placed second.

"These are two very good signings for us," said Smith, who will probably sign five more players in the spring.

Baseball lands two

Southeast's baseball program has signed two more players early after landing one last week. All are pitchers.

Signing this week were Joey Evans, a right-hander from Whitehouse, Texas; and left-hander Eric Everly, a sophomore at Olney Central Community College in Illinois.

As a high school junior last year, Evans went 10-1 with an 0.30 earned-run average, 126 strikeouts and nine walks in 69 innings. Evans also batted .522 with two home runs and 31 RBIs as a third baseman.

Everly has been drafted by the White Sox the past two years.

"We fully expect Eric to come in and push for the top spot in our rotation in 2005," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "And Joey is the type of kid who can post great career numbers because he will get the ball often in the early part of his career."

Signing last week was right-hander Jason Phillips, a sophomore at Meridian (Miss.) Community College. As a freshman, he helped lead Meridian to a berth in the junior college World Series.