Missouri State University announced today the receipt of National Letters of Intent from a pair of high school seniors to play basketball for the Bears, beginning in 2009-10.
Lane Adams, a 6-4 shooting guard from Red Oak, Okla., and Michael Porter, a 6-6 forward from Sikeston, Mo., have both committed to MSU on the first day of the spring signing period for men’s basketball.
Lane Adams (6-4, 195, G, Red Oak, Okla., Red Oak High) averaged 32 points per game this season for Coach Trey Booth's Oklahoma Class B state champions at Red Oak High School. The Eagles went 30-1 in 2009 en route to the state title, while Adams earned State Tournament MVP, Small School Player of the Year, and OBCA All-Star honors. He completed his prep career with 3,251 points, which ranks No. 5 in Oklahoma history. He was all-state and district player of the year the past two seasons and a three-time all-state tournament team pick in the Oklahaoma state playoffs. As a junior, he led the state in scoring and was also the top free throw shooter in Oklahoma at 93.7 percent. He is also a four-year starter on the Red Oak baseball squad, helping his team to the 2008 state title.
Michael Porter (6-6, 205, F, Sikeston, Mo., Sikeston High) is a four-time Missouri all-state performer at Sikeston (Mo.) High where he led Coach Gregg Holifield's team to a 24-4 season and Class 4 quarterfinal run in 2009. He averaged 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks per game his senior season. As a junior, he blocked 112 shots and collected 61 steals while scoring 19.6 points and grabbing 10.0 rebounds per game for a 22-4 Bulldogs’ squad. He was named Standard-Democrat Boys Player of the Year twice and completed his prep career with 1,994 points and more than 1,000 rebounds.
“The addition of Lane and Michael means a lot for the future of our program,” said Bears’ head coach Cuonzo Martin. “Both are quality young men who are proven winners on the court and in the classroom. We are excited that they have selected Missouri State, and we are honored to have them as part of the Bears family.”
On November 12, Missouri State announced the receipt of National Letters of Intent from prospects Jerome Jones and Keith Pickens during the early signing period.
Jerome Jones (6-5, 201, F, St. Louis, Mo., Miller Career Academy) averaged 24.0 points and 3.8 rebounds for Miller Career Academy while leading the Phoenix to a 17-13 season and fourth place finish in Missouri's Class 4 state tournament. He made 55 three-pointers his senior season and made good on 74.8 percent of his free throws. He was a consensus Missouri first-team all-state player this year and finished second among all St. Louis players in scoring average. He had a 65-point outing in a five-overtime game on January 9, 2009 and a 35-point game on February 3, 2009 on 12-of-14 shooting. As a junior, he averaged 17.9 points and 5.3 rebounds and was an all-conference and second team all-state performer, earning Post-Dispatch All-Metro honorable mention. As a sophomore, he averaged 13.9 points and 8.1 rebounds and was invited to the Nike Top 100 Hoop Jamboree.
Keith Pickens (6-4, 190, SG, St. Louis, Mo., Oakville High) averaged 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game this season for Oakville High School in St. Louis and also guided his team to a 23-9 season and Class 5 fourth-place finish in Missouri. He blocked 114 shots, which ranked seventh among all St. Louis players, and scored a season-high 29 points on January 19, 2009 against University City. He was a first-team Class 5 all-state selection by both the AP and MBCA. In 2007-08, he averaged 13.0 points and 5.9 rebounds, with 2.3 blocks and 1.7 assists. As a sophomore, he scored 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest.
Martin indicated that additional commitments for the 2009-10 season are possible in the coming days.
The Bears were 11-20 in 2008-09, Martin’s first season as Missouri State head coach. The Bears were 3-15 in the Missouri Valley Conference and fell to Wichita State in the opening round of the 2009 State Farm MVC Tournament in St. Louis.
Lane Adams, a 6-4 shooting guard from Red Oak, Okla., and Michael Porter, a 6-6 forward from Sikeston, Mo., have both committed to MSU on the first day of the spring signing period for men’s basketball.
Lane Adams (6-4, 195, G, Red Oak, Okla., Red Oak High) averaged 32 points per game this season for Coach Trey Booth's Oklahoma Class B state champions at Red Oak High School. The Eagles went 30-1 in 2009 en route to the state title, while Adams earned State Tournament MVP, Small School Player of the Year, and OBCA All-Star honors. He completed his prep career with 3,251 points, which ranks No. 5 in Oklahoma history. He was all-state and district player of the year the past two seasons and a three-time all-state tournament team pick in the Oklahaoma state playoffs. As a junior, he led the state in scoring and was also the top free throw shooter in Oklahoma at 93.7 percent. He is also a four-year starter on the Red Oak baseball squad, helping his team to the 2008 state title.
Michael Porter (6-6, 205, F, Sikeston, Mo., Sikeston High) is a four-time Missouri all-state performer at Sikeston (Mo.) High where he led Coach Gregg Holifield's team to a 24-4 season and Class 4 quarterfinal run in 2009. He averaged 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks per game his senior season. As a junior, he blocked 112 shots and collected 61 steals while scoring 19.6 points and grabbing 10.0 rebounds per game for a 22-4 Bulldogs’ squad. He was named Standard-Democrat Boys Player of the Year twice and completed his prep career with 1,994 points and more than 1,000 rebounds.
“The addition of Lane and Michael means a lot for the future of our program,” said Bears’ head coach Cuonzo Martin. “Both are quality young men who are proven winners on the court and in the classroom. We are excited that they have selected Missouri State, and we are honored to have them as part of the Bears family.”
On November 12, Missouri State announced the receipt of National Letters of Intent from prospects Jerome Jones and Keith Pickens during the early signing period.
Jerome Jones (6-5, 201, F, St. Louis, Mo., Miller Career Academy) averaged 24.0 points and 3.8 rebounds for Miller Career Academy while leading the Phoenix to a 17-13 season and fourth place finish in Missouri's Class 4 state tournament. He made 55 three-pointers his senior season and made good on 74.8 percent of his free throws. He was a consensus Missouri first-team all-state player this year and finished second among all St. Louis players in scoring average. He had a 65-point outing in a five-overtime game on January 9, 2009 and a 35-point game on February 3, 2009 on 12-of-14 shooting. As a junior, he averaged 17.9 points and 5.3 rebounds and was an all-conference and second team all-state performer, earning Post-Dispatch All-Metro honorable mention. As a sophomore, he averaged 13.9 points and 8.1 rebounds and was invited to the Nike Top 100 Hoop Jamboree.
Keith Pickens (6-4, 190, SG, St. Louis, Mo., Oakville High) averaged 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game this season for Oakville High School in St. Louis and also guided his team to a 23-9 season and Class 5 fourth-place finish in Missouri. He blocked 114 shots, which ranked seventh among all St. Louis players, and scored a season-high 29 points on January 19, 2009 against University City. He was a first-team Class 5 all-state selection by both the AP and MBCA. In 2007-08, he averaged 13.0 points and 5.9 rebounds, with 2.3 blocks and 1.7 assists. As a sophomore, he scored 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest.
Martin indicated that additional commitments for the 2009-10 season are possible in the coming days.
The Bears were 11-20 in 2008-09, Martin’s first season as Missouri State head coach. The Bears were 3-15 in the Missouri Valley Conference and fell to Wichita State in the opening round of the 2009 State Farm MVC Tournament in St. Louis.
