Alexander Finishes Recruiting Class With Addition of Final Two Recruits
AIKEN, S.C. –
University of South Carolina Aiken head men’s basketball
coach Vince Alexander announced his final two incoming players for
his 2009-10 signing class on Tuesday with the addition of Sammy
Obetoh and Ronald Zimmerman.
Obetoh will be transferring to play for the Pacers from Maryland
Eastern Shore, while Zimmerman will be the second true incoming
freshman out of Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S.C. Obetoh
will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Obetoh and Zimmerman become the fifth and sixth players who have
signed up to suit up for USC Aiken in the 2009-10 season. Obetoh is
the fourth NCAA Division I transfer for the Pacers, joining former
Winthrop guard Byron Faison, Oklahoma forward Kyle Cannon and
American forward/center Mike Technow. Zimmerman will be joined by
another true freshman in Re’Mon Nelson out of Canal
Winchester High School in Canal Winchester, Ohio.
“Sammy is a very athletic kid who can score both inside and
out,” said Alexander. “He can also rebound and defend
very well. He will give us depth and more importantly will fit in
nicely within our system.”
A 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward, Obetoh played in 17 games for the
Hawks in the 2008-09 season as a freshman. He started one of the 17
games.
Obetoh averaged 3.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 9.7
minutes per outing with the Hawks in the 2008-09 campaign.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y.,
Obetoh graduated from Washington Irving High School.
Obetoh, who won numerous most valuable player and sportsmanship
awards in tournaments he played in preparation for college
basketball, averaged 27 points per game in high school.
Obetoh also averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per
game playing for the Boy’s Club of New York.
A three-year varsity player, Zimmerman scored over 1,000 points
for Spring Valley en route to making the South Carolina all-state
team as a senior. A 6-foot guard, Zimmerman averaged 22.8 points
per game as a senior.
A North/South All-Star team member, Zimmerman was chosen as his
high school region Player of the Year and most valuable player for
Spring Valley in the 2008-09 season. He also made the region
all-area team.
“Ronald is a very
explosive offensive player,” noted Alexander. “He is a
natural scorer that can really shoot the basketball. He will help
us tremendously over the coming years.”
Obetoh and Zimmerman join a USC Aiken men’s basketball
program that under the guidance of Alexander has become a national
force in NCAA Division II over the past couple of seasons.
The Pacers have won a school record 52 games over the last two years with the 2007-08 USC Aiken men’s basketball team winning the Peach Belt Conference Regular Season Championship and the 2008-09 Pacer men’s basketball team advancing farther than any other squad in program history to the NCAA Division II “Sweet Sixteen.”
The Pacers have been especially strong in the friendly confines of the Convocation Center where they are currently 27-1 during the regular season over the past two seasons.
USC Aiken is 19-1 against PBC opposition during the regular season inside the Convocation Center since it opened its doors prior to the start of the 2007-08 season.
Photo Credit: UMES Sports Information
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