New basketball recruits brighten future at YSU

By Pete Mollica

The Penguin women signed five, the men two and both added a local standout.

YOUNGSTOWN — Wednesday was the official day that Youngstown State basketball coaches Jerry Slocum and Cindy Martin took major steps in improving their programs.

Martin, who won just three of 30 games in her first season as the women’s coach (including 1-17 in the Horizon League), received letters of intent from five players, including one from the Valley.

“We had 21‚Ñ2 months to recruit three players [before] last season,” said Martin. “This time we’ve had a whole year and we’ve got eight players signed with one more scholarship available.”

Martin was excited about this year’s class that includes a Youngstown native and a former high school standout at The Rayen School.

Tieara Jones will be a junior with the Penguins next season after she transfers from Foothill College in San Jose, Calif. Jones was recruited and signed by the University at Buffalo out of high school and played there as a freshman before leaving for junior college.

“At the time Tieara just didn’t think Buffalo was the place for her and she decided to try a year at junior college,” said Martin.

Martin spent a lot of time in the West this recruiting season and ended up signing four other players, including two high school seniors and two other junior college players.

Joining the Penguins for their junior seasons will be J.C. transfers Brooke Conley (6-foot guard) from Barton Community College in Wichita, Kan., and Bojana Dimitrov (5-7 guard) from Carl Albert State College in Oklahoma and a native of Peracin, Serbia.

Martin also added high school seniors Brandi Brown (5-11 forward) from Claremont, Calif., and Maryum Jenkins (5-8 guard) from Monrovia High in Duarte, Calif.

Those five players will join the three players who signed during the early period in November. They were Casey Jackson, Kaitlin Rohrs and Melissa Thompson.

Martin has six players returning from last season, including two of her original recruiting class. A third player, junior Jaquetta Westley, decided not to return to the team next season.

Slocum also was happy with his two recruits for next season although neither was a surprise. Six-five forward Lamar McKnight of Bedford Chanel signed with the Penguins during the early signing period last November.

Warren Harding’s outstanding guard, Sheldon Brogdon, officially became a Penguin when he signed his national letter of intent on Wednesday. But Brogdon had verbally committed to the Penguins last December.

The 6-0 scoring guard suffered a torn ACL right after he committed and missed the remainder of the season, but still averaged 18.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

“We are excited to have one of the best area players sign with us and stay home and play in the Horizon League,” said Slocum. “Sheldon has the athleticism to play multiple positions.”

Slocum also said that because the Penguins lost only two players through graduation and has several talented guards returning, there is no immediate pressure on Brogdon to rush his rehabilitation to play next season.

Slocum also said McKnight is a big-time athlete and that he hopes to use him similar to the way he used freshman Ashen Ward this season.

“We’re going in the right direction and remember we also have redshirt freshman Eddie D’Haiti, who will give us a 6-8, 6-9 body that can play the inside positions.

mollica@vindy.com