Photo by: Frank Fortune - Georgia Southern Athletics
Men’s Basketball Adds Four More to Close Class of 2015
5/15/2015 12:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Two freshmen and two transfers complete the signing class
STATESBORO, GA. – Georgia Southern Men's Basketball added four more players to the Class of 2015 in an announcement by Head Coach Mark Byington. Freshmen Tookie Brown (Madison, Ga.) and Jason Burnell (Jacksonville, Fla.) join transfers Wyatt Sikora (Stetson) and DeVince Boykins (Marshall). The four players join previously announced signees Ike Smith (Gainesville, Fla.) and Montae Glenn (Carrolton, Ga.).
Tookie Brown
5-11 | 180 | PG
Morgan County H.S. | Madison, Ga.
Tookie Brown Highlights
This year's GHSAA 3-A State Player of the Year, Tookie Brown, joins the Eagles after a prep career at Morgan County High School in Madison, Ga. Scoring more than 3,000 career points, Brown is rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN. As a junior, he led his team to a state championship and was voted Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia. In November, Brown signed with Mississippi State, but decommitted following a coaching change in Starkville.
"Tookie is going to be a great player for us and I am extremely happy that he chose to join our family," said coach Byington. "He had an accomplished high school career, and left a great legacy at Morgan County High School. He is a perfect fit for the type of point guards that have been successful under my system. Tookie can score in every way, uses ballscreens well, and has great vision. Most impressive is that he is a winner who plays with a chip on his shoulder. We expect Tookie to have a major impact on our program next year and our Coaching Staff is very excited to coach him."
Jason Burnell
6-7 | F
Jacksonville Providence H.S. | Jacksonville, Fla.
Jason Burnell Highlights
Following his senior season in Jacksonville at the Providence School where he helped win the FHSAA 3-A State Championship, 6-7 forward Jason Burnell will apply his trade at Georgia Southern beginning in 2015. Burnell scored 26 points in the state championship win over Weston Sagemont and was voted Most Valuable player of the tournament. As a junior, he was voted 8A 1st team all-state at Deland High School and was voted 2nd team All-State his senior year at the Providence School. Jason is the son of Frank Burnell, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville.
"I am very happy to get Jason in the late signing period," said Byington. "Jason is a versatile player who can score inside and outside. He will give us a player who can stretch the floor with his shooting ability, but also has a great feel and instincts to score other ways. I love Jason's toughness and competiveness. He is very aggressive and plays well in big games. Being a coach's son, he has been raised in a gym, and has a great basketball IQ. He will have the ability to get on the floor quickly because of his versatility and skill."
Wyatt Sikora
6-11 | 210 | F/C
Stetson University
Florida Christian School | Key Largo, Fla.
Wyatt Sikora Highlights
Wyatt Sikora will transfer to Georgia Southern after playing his freshman season at Stetson where he played 31 games alongside his older brother Kyle Sikora. Wyatt scored four points with four rebounds against the Eagles when the teams played in December of 2014. For the year, Sikora averaged 2.9 ppg. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Wyatt will sit out the 2015-16 season.
"Wyatt is a great fit for our basketball team and University," said Byington. "He was on the top of our list for recruits two years ago, and we are really happy his journey ended at Georgia Southern. Wyatt will have to sit out this year, but it will be very productive. He can use the year to get stronger, work on his game, and then be ready to have three great years. At 6'11, he will give us great size, but I love the fact that he can score inside as well as shooting 3-pointers. He has a great work ethic, loves the game of basketball, and that is why I am confident he will have a tremendous basketball career. Wyatt will be one of the top students on campus and is extremely accomplished in the classroom."
DeVince Boykins
6-4 | 210 | G
Marshall University
East Rutherford H.S. | Forest City, N.C.
DaVince Boykins Highlights
With his degree already in hand from Marshall University, DeVince Boykins will join the Eagles for 2015 and is immediately eligible to play. Boykins has played 85 career games and shot 44% from downtown last year with The Herd while averaging 15.4 minutes per game. DeVince is the older brother of Georgia Southern sophomore guard DeVonte Boykins.
"Devince will be asked to do a lot for us this year, and I am sure he is up to the challenge," said Byington. "He will be the only upperclassman on the team and has the most experience on our team. Devince is a versatile player that can play four different positions. He is very athletic, he can score, and he is a good defensive player. His maturity and leadership will be needed to help some of our young players progress. His skill set will give us a lot of options, and I look forward to coaching him."
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED PLAYERS
Ike Smith
6-4 | 195 | G
Gainesville H.S. | Gainesville, Fla.
As a senior, Ike helped lead Gainesville High School to the FHSAA 6-A State Championship Game this season. A 6-4 combo guard, he scored 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Adept at shooting from spots around the floor, he hit 40% of his shots from downtown in 2014-15. He was voted 1st Team All-state after a great senior season.
"We are very excited to add Ike," said Head Coach Mark Byington. "He fits perfect in our style of play, and I was very impressed with his versatility. He can play four different positions and has a very good combination of skill and athleticism. Ike should make an immediate impact because of his strength, basketball intelligence, and toughness."
Montae Glenn
6-8 | 250 | PF
Carrolton H.S. | Carrolton, Ga.
Glenn was a first-team 4A- All-State Selection and 4A Senior of the year. Lead his team to the state championship game and was GACA 4A North Georgia Player of the year.
Glenn was a second-team 4A All-State selection as a junior by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in addition to All-State nods from the sportswriters and coaches associations. HoopSeen.com ranked Glenn as the No. 14 overall player out of the state and the second-ranked center.
"I am really excited to have Montae join our basketball family," said Head Coach Mark Byington. "Montae was the first player in the 2015 class that I offered a scholarship to and, is very important for our future. He has great size and tremendous hands. Montae is one of the few high school players in the country that can score with his back to basket and also step out and shoot jump shots. He has been well coached in high school and AAU basketball so I feel he can make an immediate impact. In addition to his basketball skill and ability, I was very impressed with him as a person, his dedication in the classroom, and his family."
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, call 1-800-GSU-WINS or visit GSEagles.com.
Tookie Brown
5-11 | 180 | PG
Morgan County H.S. | Madison, Ga.
Tookie Brown Highlights
This year's GHSAA 3-A State Player of the Year, Tookie Brown, joins the Eagles after a prep career at Morgan County High School in Madison, Ga. Scoring more than 3,000 career points, Brown is rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN. As a junior, he led his team to a state championship and was voted Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia. In November, Brown signed with Mississippi State, but decommitted following a coaching change in Starkville.
"Tookie is going to be a great player for us and I am extremely happy that he chose to join our family," said coach Byington. "He had an accomplished high school career, and left a great legacy at Morgan County High School. He is a perfect fit for the type of point guards that have been successful under my system. Tookie can score in every way, uses ballscreens well, and has great vision. Most impressive is that he is a winner who plays with a chip on his shoulder. We expect Tookie to have a major impact on our program next year and our Coaching Staff is very excited to coach him."
Jason Burnell
6-7 | F
Jacksonville Providence H.S. | Jacksonville, Fla.
Jason Burnell Highlights
Following his senior season in Jacksonville at the Providence School where he helped win the FHSAA 3-A State Championship, 6-7 forward Jason Burnell will apply his trade at Georgia Southern beginning in 2015. Burnell scored 26 points in the state championship win over Weston Sagemont and was voted Most Valuable player of the tournament. As a junior, he was voted 8A 1st team all-state at Deland High School and was voted 2nd team All-State his senior year at the Providence School. Jason is the son of Frank Burnell, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville.
"I am very happy to get Jason in the late signing period," said Byington. "Jason is a versatile player who can score inside and outside. He will give us a player who can stretch the floor with his shooting ability, but also has a great feel and instincts to score other ways. I love Jason's toughness and competiveness. He is very aggressive and plays well in big games. Being a coach's son, he has been raised in a gym, and has a great basketball IQ. He will have the ability to get on the floor quickly because of his versatility and skill."
Wyatt Sikora
6-11 | 210 | F/C
Stetson University
Florida Christian School | Key Largo, Fla.
Wyatt Sikora Highlights
Wyatt Sikora will transfer to Georgia Southern after playing his freshman season at Stetson where he played 31 games alongside his older brother Kyle Sikora. Wyatt scored four points with four rebounds against the Eagles when the teams played in December of 2014. For the year, Sikora averaged 2.9 ppg. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Wyatt will sit out the 2015-16 season.
"Wyatt is a great fit for our basketball team and University," said Byington. "He was on the top of our list for recruits two years ago, and we are really happy his journey ended at Georgia Southern. Wyatt will have to sit out this year, but it will be very productive. He can use the year to get stronger, work on his game, and then be ready to have three great years. At 6'11, he will give us great size, but I love the fact that he can score inside as well as shooting 3-pointers. He has a great work ethic, loves the game of basketball, and that is why I am confident he will have a tremendous basketball career. Wyatt will be one of the top students on campus and is extremely accomplished in the classroom."
DeVince Boykins
6-4 | 210 | G
Marshall University
East Rutherford H.S. | Forest City, N.C.
DaVince Boykins Highlights
With his degree already in hand from Marshall University, DeVince Boykins will join the Eagles for 2015 and is immediately eligible to play. Boykins has played 85 career games and shot 44% from downtown last year with The Herd while averaging 15.4 minutes per game. DeVince is the older brother of Georgia Southern sophomore guard DeVonte Boykins.
"Devince will be asked to do a lot for us this year, and I am sure he is up to the challenge," said Byington. "He will be the only upperclassman on the team and has the most experience on our team. Devince is a versatile player that can play four different positions. He is very athletic, he can score, and he is a good defensive player. His maturity and leadership will be needed to help some of our young players progress. His skill set will give us a lot of options, and I look forward to coaching him."
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED PLAYERS
Ike Smith
6-4 | 195 | G
Gainesville H.S. | Gainesville, Fla.
As a senior, Ike helped lead Gainesville High School to the FHSAA 6-A State Championship Game this season. A 6-4 combo guard, he scored 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Adept at shooting from spots around the floor, he hit 40% of his shots from downtown in 2014-15. He was voted 1st Team All-state after a great senior season.
"We are very excited to add Ike," said Head Coach Mark Byington. "He fits perfect in our style of play, and I was very impressed with his versatility. He can play four different positions and has a very good combination of skill and athleticism. Ike should make an immediate impact because of his strength, basketball intelligence, and toughness."
Montae Glenn
6-8 | 250 | PF
Carrolton H.S. | Carrolton, Ga.
Glenn was a first-team 4A- All-State Selection and 4A Senior of the year. Lead his team to the state championship game and was GACA 4A North Georgia Player of the year.
Glenn was a second-team 4A All-State selection as a junior by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in addition to All-State nods from the sportswriters and coaches associations. HoopSeen.com ranked Glenn as the No. 14 overall player out of the state and the second-ranked center.
"I am really excited to have Montae join our basketball family," said Head Coach Mark Byington. "Montae was the first player in the 2015 class that I offered a scholarship to and, is very important for our future. He has great size and tremendous hands. Montae is one of the few high school players in the country that can score with his back to basket and also step out and shoot jump shots. He has been well coached in high school and AAU basketball so I feel he can make an immediate impact. In addition to his basketball skill and ability, I was very impressed with him as a person, his dedication in the classroom, and his family."
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, call 1-800-GSU-WINS or visit GSEagles.com.
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