By DOUG COOK
The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT - A slew of injuries decimated the Yavapai College men's basketball team's chances of qualifying for the postseason in 2005-06, but third-year YC coach Howard Brown has not dwelled on trying times.
Instead, he's moving forward with a newer crop of players that he believes will remain healthy and return the Roughriders to the Region I, Division I playoffs - where Yavapai made eight straight appearances until this past season.
Brown, whose 2005-06 squad finished a respectable 13-17 overall in light of its circumstances, looks to improve with the signings of seven players, three of whom are from Arizona.
Here's a breakdown of Yavapai's 2006-07 recruiting class:
• Jon Black, 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward/center, sophomore transfer - Black, a transfer from the United States Air Force Academy, averaged 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks as a senior a few years ago at Greenway High School in Phoenix. He was named a First Team All-Region pick and a Second Team All-State selection in a Demons uniform that year.
"He's athletic, he can shoot the ball, he can run the floor, and he has Division I skills," Brown said of Black, the coach's top recruit.
• Dennis Booth, 6-7, 210-pound forward/center, Grand Canyon High School (Ariz.) - The post player averaged 22 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks for Grand Canyon H.S. this past season. Booth, a First Team All-Region and All-State choice in 2005-06, helped guide the Phantoms to a pair of Final Four appearances at the Class 1A State Tournament.
• Brandon Gentry, 6-4, 185-pound guard, Grandview High School (Aurora, Colo.) - Gentry, a legitimate outside shooting threat, scored 12 points per game and pulled down 5 rebounds per contest this past winter at Grandview. He shot 43 percent from 3-point range as well, guiding Grandview to the State Final Four.
• Jamel McGuire, 6-4, 190-pound guard, Gompers High School (San Diego, Calif.) - Brown said that the Gerry Frietas West Coast Scouting Service rated McGuire among its Top 10 unsigned high school seniors. McGuire, who can play any of the guard positions, has two brothers who compete in NCAA Division I basketball.
• Roger Sharp, 6-5, 200-pound wing, Buena High School (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) - An Honorable Mention All-State selection at the 5A level in 2005-06, Sharp averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds per game. He led the Colts to a Top 10 ranking and a second-round appearance at State.
• Marcus Johnson, 6-1, 180-pound guard, Aurora Central High School (Aurora, Colo.) - Johnson's Aurora Central team was ranked No. 1 for the entire season before falling in the State tournament semifinals.
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