JJ signs a Juco 2nd Team All American

UNT96 · May 14, 2003

Mean Green Inks NJCAA All-America Guard

DENTON (5/14/03) -- North Texas head basketball coach Johnny Jones has announced that Highland Community College's (Freeport, Ill.) Mark Wilson, a NJCAA Second Team All-America selection, has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Mean Green.

The junior college transfer will have two years of eligibility left with North Texas after playing for nationally-ranked Highland CC as freshman and sophomore. A 6-3, 210-pound guard, Wilson led the Cougars to a 28-5 record his freshman season and to a 27-6 mark in 2002-03. As a sophomore, he averaged 22.2 points per game while shooting 57 percent from the field. Wilson also averaged 3.6 assists per game, 9.4 rebounds per game, collected 76 steals, scored 30 or more points six times and 20 or more points on 18 occasions. His 22.2 points per game were the 12th most in the country and his 9.4 rebounding average ranked 23rd in the nation.

"Mark is the complete package," said Highland CC head coach Pete Norman. "He was a Second Team All-America, which speaks for itself. He is a tremendous scorer that plays with a big heart, and he was a guy that refused to let us lose."

Wilson's long list of achievements are crowned by his NJCAA Second Team All-America status. The leading scorer in Highland CC history, Wilson has been a Unanimous All-Region IV Team selection, Unanimous Most Valuable Player of the Arrowhead Conference, a Region IV All-Tournament pick and a three-time Region IV Player of the Week.

"Mark will be a great addition to our basketball program with the loss of our perimeter players from last year's team," said Jones. "He will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact. I feel very good that with the returning players and the inclusion of our signees we have taken the necessary steps to improve our team for next season."

Zeke · May 14, 2003

I like that 22.2 ppg to go with the 57 percent from the floor. Thats a great percentage for a guard. Sounds like a good compliment to Hopkins.

TheColonyEagle · May 15, 2003

wow, I like the combination of a 57% shooter with 6-3 size. He can either really post up and score with the big boys or shoot lights out.

sounds like a good pickup.

GMG,

Jason

NT80 · May 15, 2003

He sounds like a good find. I still think we need more height. A couple 6-11 guys that can do those same things would be very nice!

NT80 · May 15, 2003

UNT notebook

Wilson signs to play basketball for Mean Green

05/15/2003

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

Highland (Ill.) Community College guard Mark Wilson signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to play basketball at North Texas.

The 6-3, 215-pound Wilson averaged 22.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for a 27-6 team last season. He was a second-team NJCAA All-American selection and was named MVP of the Region IV and the Arrowhead Conference.

Wilson said he chose UNT over offers from Arkansas State, Milwaukee-Wisconsin and Maryland-Eastern Shore. He said he was also recruited by Auburn and Fresno State.

"I can do just about everything on the floor," Wilson said when asked to describe his game. "I just want to come in and do a nice job and help them get a lot of wins."

Mean Green coach Johnny Jones said Wilson is very similar to UNT guard Leonard Hopkins, who was the team’s second-leading scorer as a sophomore last season before breaking his foot near the end of non-conference play.

"Both of them [Hopkins and Wilson] will have the opportunity to play a lot of minutes," Jones said. "But at the same time, if Leonard’s progress is slowed in any way, Mark has the ability to accept that role. He can really score in a lot of different ways — shooting it or putting it on the floor and taking it to the basket — and I think he has the ability to be a stopper on defense."

Jones said signing Wilson is not an indication that Hopkins’ recovery has been slowed. According to Jones, Hopkins is participating in full-speed pickup games.

UNT does not have any scholarships left to give for next season unless one of its previous signees does not qualify academically.