Marshall University Athletics
Jones Announces NLI Signings by Pair of Florida Standouts
4/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 16, 2008
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University head men's basketball coach Donnie Jones announced today that Shaquille Johnson and Kore White, both Florida natives, have each signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Thundering Herd basketball program this fall.
Johnson, from Jacksonville, Fla., is the reigning two-time Class 5A Florida Player of the Year out of Robert E. Lee High School. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound combo guard averaged 22 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 3.5 steals per game as a senior in leading the Generals to a 21-5 mark.
"Shaquille brings great versatility and great passion to our basketball program," Jones said. "He is a player whom we feel has a chance to play several different positions in our style of play."
Johnson netted 2,205 points during his illustrious prep career and shot 46 percent from the 3-point line as a senior. He was ranked as the 32nd best point guard in the nation by Scout.com, a prominent scouting service, and chose Marshall over several other schools, including Minnesota, VCU, Tulane, UCF and Jacksonville.
Dave Telep, Scout.com's National Recruiting Director says of Johnson: "Shaq gives Coach Jones a versatile backcourt player. Johnson will be able to fluxuate back and forth from the wing and play some point in a pinch. A prideful kid, he'll find his way on the floor early at Marshall."
White, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was a three-year starter for Dillard High School and led the Panthers to a 29-2 record and the Class 5A Florida state title as a senior. He averaged a double-double last season (12 points, 11 rebounds per game) along with six blocks per game. White also posted four straight games with at least 10 blocks.
"Kore is a terrific athlete that will be great in the up-tempo style we play with his ability to block shots and run the floor," Jones said. "He comes from a traditional powerhouse high school program that is coming off a state championship, experience that will pay dividends during his career."
A first team All-State and All-County selection, White recorded six points, nine rebounds, eight blocks and three steals in Dillard's come-from-behind win in the state championship game. He was named to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel "Fab Five" team
White also received interest from programs such as UNLV, Miami (Fla.) and South Florida.
Johnson and White join point guard Damier Pitts as the Herd's signees from the class of 2008. Pitts, from Charlotte, N.C., inked with Marshall during the early signing period. Also joining the incoming class is Marcus Goode, a 6-foot-10, 300-pound power forward/center from The Patterson School (N.C.), who enrolled at MU last year and will be eligible to compete in the fall.
"We're excited to have signed these three young men this year and have them and Marcus in our lineup for the upcoming season," Jones said.
