Larranaga Signs Johnson and Jekiri to NLIs
Dec. 1, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – High school seniors Melvin Johnson and Tonye Jekiri have each signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Miami men’s basketball program, head coach Jim Larranaga has announced.
“We feel very fortunate to add two outstanding student-athletes to our program,” said Coach Larranaga.
Jekiri, a 6-11, 220-pound center from Nigeria, is a local product from Hialeah’s Champagnat Catholic School. Johnson is a 6-3, 188-pound guard from the Bronx, N.Y., who plays high school ball at St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.).
“We are very excited about Tonye Jekiri joining our program,” added Larranaga. We have made local prospects a high priority and Tonye is from nearby Champagnat Catholic School in Hialeah, Fla. At 6-11 he possesses the qualities that we look for in a front court player – he runs the floor very well, chases rebounds on both ends of the court, is a presence defensively, and most importantly is extremely intelligent.”
Jekiri is rated the 17th-best center in the country by ESPN.com and No. 13 by Scout.com. The big man can play with his back to the basket or step out for a 10-12-foot shot, and he can run the floor like a guard. A native of Nigeria, Jekiri moved to South Florida in September 2010 to begin his basketball career. He averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game last season with Champagnat, his first year of organized hoops. On the AAU circuit, he played with Team Breakdown over the summer, where he dominated at the Source Hoops Elite Camp and led Team Breakdown to championships in the Breakdown Hoops Festival and the Big Shots Myrtle Beach I. Jekiri chose Miami over considerations from Virginia Tech, Clemson, Florida State, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Alabama.
“He is still fairly new to the game and has shown rapid improvement because of his desire to learn and strong work ethic,” said Larranaga. “We expect Tonye to be an impact player during his time here as well as a positive member of the University of Miami student body and community.”
Jekiri is Larranaga’s second recruit from the state of Florida, joining current Canes freshman Shane Larkin from Orlando, Fla.
Also complementing Miami for the 2012-13 season will be Melvin Johnson, a senior guard at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J. Johnson is rated by ESPN.com as the 44th-best shooting guard in the country in 2012 and ESPNU ranks him No. 51 nationally, and ninth in New York, at the point guard position. He is a deadly spot-up shooter who can stretch opposing defenses and will contribute to Miami’s uptempo offensive attack as a combo guard. Johnson traveled the AAU circuit with the Long Island Lightning, earning the MVP of the Hoop Group Elite Camp Session I. Johnson began his prep career with current Cane Durand Scott at Rice High in Harlem, but when the school closed last year, Johnson moved to St. Benedict’s. Johnson chose Miami over Virginia Tech, Georgetown, South Florida, Dayton and College of Charleston.
“A priority for our recruiting this year was finding a terrific perimeter scorer and we found him in Melvin Johnson,” said Larranaga. “Mel has a nice shooting touch, strong feel for the game, and has done it against tremendous high school competition while at Rice High School and now St. Benedict’s Prep. Melvin is a worker and with Malcolm Grant graduating after this year, we trust he will help us fill that void. We expect him to make an outstanding contribution here at the University of Miami both on and off the court.”
