Miami Basketball's 2009 Signing Class Ranked Among Top 25
June 4, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head coach Frank Haith’s 2009 men’s basketball signing class has been nationally ranked No. 19 by Scout and No. 24 by ESPN.
The Hurricanes’ heralded 2009 class is comprised of ESPNU 100 picks Durand Scott (New York, N.Y.), Garrius Adams (Apex, N.C.) and Donnavan Kirk (Detroit, Mich.), in addition to May signee Antoine Allen (Baltimore, Md.).
Scott’s signing in November marked the second-straight season Haith has secured a five-star player rated among Scout’s top-25 overall recruits and the third time for the Hurricanes this decade. Sophomore DeQuan Jones was a five-star recruit in 2008 and was the most lauded signee for Miami since McDonald’s All-American Darius Rice committed to the Hurricanes in 2000.
The 2009 class is also Haith’s second Top 25 recruiting class in five years at the helm of the Miami program. In 2005, he signed four four-star recruits – including recent graduates Jimmy Graham, Brian Asbury and Adrian Thomas (who returns for the Hurricanes in 2009-10) – for a class that was ranked No. 12 in the nation by Scout.
“Strong recruiting is the cornerstone for any successful program,” said Haith – named the Recruiter of the Year by Rivals in 2002. “I’m very excited with the quality of both talent and character we have coming in with the 2009 class. These are four outstanding young men, and I’m looking forward to seeing their development and contributions to this team.”
Also eligible for Miami in 2009-10 will be sophomore transfer Malcolm Grant (Brooklyn, N.Y.), a 6-1 point guard who sat out this season per NCAA rules after appearing in 29 games for Villanova in 2007-08, and Reggie Johnson (Winson-Salem, N.C.), a 6-9 redshirt freshman who grabbed a North Carolina 1A state championship record 23 rebounds en route to the team title and MVP honors.
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2009 Miami Men’s Basketball Signing Class
Garrius Adams (Apex, N.C.): 6-5 guard… ranked among the top 20 shooting guards by ESPN and among top 30 by Scout… averaged 21.8 points per game as a senior en route to setting a new Middle Creek High School scoring record in career points… in 2009, named to N.C. Basketball Coaches Association District 5 All-District First Team and NCPreps.com All-State Boys Basketball Team… competed in the North Carolina/South Carolina All-Star Classic… as a junior, averaged 18.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game en route to NCHSAA 4A All-State honors… averaged 20.1 points per game with his AAU team – Garner Road – and was named to the all-tournament team at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in May 2008… also recruited by Wake Forest, NC State, Virginia Tech and South Carolina.
Antoine Allen (Baltimore, Md.): 6-2 combo guard… a strong perimeter shooter, also known for his speed and ball-handling skills… averaged 20 points, six assists and five rebounds per game playing prep basketball at Mississippi Elite Christian Academy in 2008-09… Baltimore Sun First Team All-Metro honoree, leading Lake Clifton High School to a 25-2 record and to both the Baltimore City and Class 3A North regional championships as a high school senior, averaging 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals per game… also played AAU basketball for Cecil Kirk – the same Baltimore-based program that produced two-time First Team All-ACC selection Jack McClinton… also recruited by Providence, Maryland, Virginia and Florida State.
Donnavan Kirk (Detroit, Mich.): 6-8 forward… ranked among the top 30 power forwards by both ESPN and Scout… strong rebounder and shot blocker… as a senior, averaged 13.2 points at a 54.0 percent clip, nine rebounds and two blocks per game en route to a 24-2 record and Detroit News All-North honors… Detroit Country Day – who counts Chris Webber and Shane Battier among its alumni – was ranked No. 1 among Greater Detroit area schools by ESPN RISE heading into the 2008-09 season… as a junior, averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and two blocks per game… a four-star recruit by Scout.com… played AAU basketball for The Family and was also recruited by Michigan State, Southern California, Iowa and USF.
Durand Scott (New York, N.Y.): 6-5 guard… Ranked fifth in the nation among shooting guards by Scout, eighth by Rivals and 11th by ESPN… a five-star recruit, also ranked among the top-25 overall players by Scout… selected to play in the 2009 Jordan Brand Classic… as a senior, led Rice High School to the State Federation Class AA championship, earning tournament MVP honors after scoring 23 points in the title game – including a three-pointer with 14.5 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime… as a junior, averaged 12.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game en route to a 19-5 record and playoff run… shot .897 from long range (26-29), .636 from the field and .756 from the charity stripe… played AAU basketball for the New York Gauchos who finished the 2008 season as the No. 1 ranked AAU program in the New York metropolitan area… also recruited by UConn, Pittsburgh, St. John’s and Memphis.
