DRC on signed BB players men and womens

[OldTimer]

Basketball: Jones, Slinker find promise in recruits

All five have led their high schools to better things

08:20 AM CST on Friday, April 2, 2004

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas women’s basketball coach Tina Slinker was looking for more than just good players when she set out to sign a series of recruits for the 2004-05 season. She wanted winners as well.

Judging by the performance of three players who are set to join the team next season, she met her goal.

Forward Amber Jackson and point guard Amanda Quattrocchi helped lead Brebeuf to the Indiana Class 3A state title as seniors after committing to UNT. The Lady Eagles also signed Erica Howard, a 6-3 forward, who led Morrilton High to the Arkansas Class 4A championship as a junior.

"Any time players come from winning programs, it helps," Slinker said. "They have all been with a team that has won a championship and know what it takes to get there."

Both of the players who signed with the UNT men’s team also had solid senior seasons.

Michael Sturns, a 6-4 guard from North Crowley, helped lead his team to the Region I Class 4A quarterfinals. Quincy Williams, a 6-8 forward from Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Okla., also led his team deep into the playoffs.

Both the UNT men’s and women’s teams fell in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament last season.

"We are very excited about both of our recruits," UNT men’s coach Johnny Jones said. "They accomplished a lot and were instrumental in their team’s success."

Williams blossomed during his senior year at Carl Albert when he averaged 17.8 points and 9.5 rebounds a game.

"I don’t think he has reached his potential yet," Carl Albert coach Jay Price said. "He could end up being a good player. He has a good work ethic. If he matures physically and mentally, he will do well."

Williams can play both forward positions and has the ability to play away from the basket.

Price said one of the most impressive plays Williams made during his senior year came in the closing moments of a playoff game.

Williams threw the ball in under Carl Albert’s basket with less than five seconds left and raced down the floor to tip in a missed shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

Williams has spent the last few weeks traveling to watch his brother Shelden Williams of Duke play in the NCAA Tournament.

Quincy Williams could have a chance to contribute right away for UNT, which saw forwards Shawnson Johnson, Michael DeGrate and Will Smith complete their careers last season.

"Quincy had a real good year with his high school team," Jones said. "He will help fill the void left by those three seniors."

Sturns averaged 18.2 points and 3.7 assists a game for North Crowley.

"Sturns has excellent ball-handling skills and is very creative off the dribble," Jones said. "He will bring an added dimension as a bigger guard who can finish."

Jones said he will give Sturns an opportunity to play point guard at UNT. Scott Roniger was UNT’s starting point guard to begin the season, but left the team due to personal reasons. Jerome Rogers took over and led UNT to the Sun Belt Conference tournament before graduating.

Slinker’s recruits could also fill immediate needs.

Howard was among the top recruits in the state of Ark-ansas as a senior. Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Memphis and Kentucky were among the teams that recruited Howard.

Morrilton coach Shelley Davis said Howard is a remarkably smooth player for her size and was among the best 3-point shooters on the team. Howard was the state Class 4A State Tournament Most Valuable Player as a junior.

"It was a surprise to some of the coaches in the South-eastern Conference that Erica decided to go to UNT," Davis said. "She loved the coaches at UNT and the school."

Howard averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots a game as a senior.

Jackson could provide UNT another scoring presence under the basket. The 6-2 forward averaged 14.2 points and 9.4 rebounds as a senior at Brebeuf.

Kim Blanton, a 6-1 forward, completed her UNT career last season after leading the team in both points and rebounds as a senior.

Quattrocchi started at point guard and contributed in a variety of ways for Brebeuf. The 5-7 senior averaged 9.6 points, 4.3 assists, 3.2 re-bounds and 2.1 steals a game.

Both Jackson and Quat-trocchi were named to Hoosier Basketball Magazine’s all-state team.

Quattrocchi could provide UNT another option at point guard.

UNT was forced at times to move starting shooting guard Jill Medlock to the point when Erika Bobo was out of the game last season.

"All three of them can make an immediate impact," Slinker said of her recruits. "They all bring something different to the team. They are all great kids and are solid academically."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870.