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By BRAD KEITH
STEPHENVILLE (June 6, 2015) — Tarleton State added three high school prospects Friday to its men’s basketball recruiting class that now includes eight new Texans.
Tarleton, which reached the 2015 NCAA Division II national semifinals, has five high school products and three college transfers. The latest high school prospects to sign their letters of intent include 3A all-state guard Lance Ewell of Brock and Cedar Hill teammates Kealon Clayborne, a 6-2 guard, and Da’Rhon Mitchell, a 6-8 center.
“We are excited about this trio of freshmen joining our program. All three come from highly successful high school programs and great coaching staffs. They understand high expectations and the work it takes to on a daily basis to compete at a high level,” said Tarleton associate head coach Chris Reisman. “We feel they will be great ambassadors both on and off the court and represent Tarleton State University in a first-class manner.”
Ewell led Brock to the 3A state title with a record of 37-2. He averaged 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds, earning 11-3A District MVP, all-region and all-state honors. As a junior, Ewell was ranked as the No. 63 prospect in the state by TexasHoops.com.
The reigning Lone Star Conference and South Central Region champion Texans list Clayborne as a combo guard. He was a HoopDFW Metroplex 24 High School All-Star and a 6A all-region pick. He also earned first-team all-district honors in 8-6A, averaging 18 points per game as a senior, when he was ranked the No. 90 prospect by TexasHoops.com.
Clayborne scored 16 per game and earned second team all-district honors in 7-5A (now 6A) as a junior.
Mitchell has played only two years of basketball, but Chris Reisman says size and athleticism mean a high ceiling for the 6-8 center. Teaming up with Clayborne and company for a 28-4 record and a trip to the Region II-6A semifinals, Mitchell came on late to rise to No. 115 in the state according to TexasHoops.com.
Tarleton has recruited the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex heavily this year, also signing Lewisville 6A all-state forward Anthony Davis, who turned down an offer from Stephen F. Austin, and Irving MacArthur forward Josh Hawley, a 6A all-region pick.
The transfers are all guards – Charles Hill Jr. of TCU, junior college All-American Louis Baltazar of Burlington County College (NJ) and Chantz Chambers of Bossier-Parrish Community College (La.).
Like four of the high school prospects, Hill, who has one season of eligibility remaining, hails from the Metroplex. Hill first caught Chris Reisman’s attention four years ago as a junior at Fort Worth Trimble Tech.
Tarleton returns three starters – senior point guard Michael Harge, sophomore small forward Nosa Ebomwonyi and senior power forward EJ Reed – after recording a senior-era school-record 31 wins last season. Sophomore point guard Deshawn Riddick and junior forward Malcolm Hamilton were key reserves who will be back.
Head coach Lonn Reisman, who has 589 wins and three regional titles in 27 seasons at Tarleton, says the Texans are looking to sign one additional newcomer, likely a transfer playing forward or center.
Highlight videos:
Kealon Clayborne, 6-2 Guard, Cedar Hill
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