Thursday, November 15, 2012
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
With senior Blake Allen graduating, Youngstown State coach Jerry Slocum knew he would need another point guard next season.
In Marcus Keene, he believes he’s found an outstanding one.
Keene, a 5-foot-9 guard from San Antonio, Texas, signed a national letter-of-intent with the Penguins during the early signing period. The Warren High senior was an all-state selection last season after averaging 14.7 points, 5.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
“Marcus has the whole package in terms of being a complete point guard,” Slocum said. “He shoots and handles the ball well; he has leadership qualities and is a lock-down defender.”
Keene said the coaching staff showed interest in him right away and felt like he was with family on his recruiting visit.
“I hope to bring leadership and toughness and a will to win to the program,” he said. “I have a do-whatever-it-takes attitude to help my team win.”
Keene recently scored 37 points, including the final 19, in an 82-80 victory over Brennan High School in Warren’s season opener. He’s scored 781 points over the past two years.
YSU women add two
The YSU women’s basketball team added two high school seniors during the early signing period: Hannah Boesinger, a 5-11 forward from Hudson, and Jenna Hirsch, a 5-7 guard from Decker, Mich.
“My staff and I are very excited to add two quality young ladies to our program who will fit very well in our system,” Boldon said. “They are both versatile and tough physically, and they both do very well in the classroom. They embody the things we’ve been trying to develop in this program.”
Boesinger averaged 14.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.1 assists and 1.6 blocks per game as a junior for the Explorers. She was a first team all-conference pick last season and has earned all-district honors each of the past two years.
“Hannah is a post player who can be effective all over the floor,” Boldon said. “She has a knack for finishing around the basket, and she’s comfortable facing the rim as well.”
Hirsch was a second-team all-state pick while earning first-team honors at the conference, county and area levels as a junior. She averaged 16.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 5.0 steals as a junior for the Red Raiders.
Hirsch is ranked 16th on the Michigan Girls Basketball Report’s Fab 50 Senior list.
“Jenna is a guard who handles and passes the ball well enough to play the point, but she also shoots it well enough to be a wing,” Boldon said.