Lander Men's Basketball Signs Six for 2009-10

GREENWOOD – First-year Lander men’s basketball coach Jeff Burkhamer announced the signing of six players – five transfers and a freshman – for the 2009-10 season.

The signees are:
• Walter Fortson, a 6-7, 210-pound, sophomore wing from St. Petersburg Junior College
• Roy Hinson III, a 6-7, 210-pound, senior post from Gardner-Webb University
• Casey Love, a 6-9, 185-pound, freshman wing from Wellston (Ohio) High School
• Antonio Pope, a 6-8, 220-pound, senior post player from Southeastern Louisiana University
• Deangelo Spruill, a 6-2, 190-pound, junior point guard/wing from St. Petersburg Junior College
• Antonio Young, a 6-7, 230-pound, junior post from Clinton Junior College

Fortson, a native of Covington, Ga., averaged 4.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game for Coach Ernest Crumbley at St. Petersburg last season while shooting 31 percent from the field, 52 percent from the free throw line and averaging 1.8 steals per game. He scored a career-high 22 points against IMG. Following his high school career at Stone Mountain and Redan high schools, he red-shirted for one year at Jacksonville University.

“Walter gives us that big wing that has always been so productive in our system,” said Burkhamer. “He will give us some flexibility with how we can play and I’m really excited about having him for three years.”

Hinson, of Sanford, Fla., played in only seven games last season at GWU after suffering an injury early in the season. Prior to GWU, he played two seasons at Palm Beach Community College where he averaged 8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game while shooting 51 percent from the floor as a sophomore. He was named second team All-Southern Conference as a sophomore and team MVP as a freshman after leading his team to the Southern Conference tournament finals. He transferred to PBCC after redshirting at Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

He averaged 10.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game at Lake Mary (Fla.) High School.

“Roy is a versatile player who can play the post or the wing,” said Burkhamer. “He shoots the ball well out to the three-point line, but can also score with his back to the basket.”

Love, who did not play his senior year of high school due to Ohio transfer regulations, averaged 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 58 percent from the field, including 47 percent from the three-point line, and 88 percent from the free throw line during his junior year at Oak Hill High School.

“Casey is a unique and intriguing player,” said Burkhamer of a player he’s watched for many years traveling around basketball camps doing ball-handling shows with his father. “It’s ironic I now get to coach him. Casey brings a different dimension to our team because there are not many 6-9 perimeter players in the Peach Belt or in NCAA Division II.”

Pope, a native of Savannah, Ga., played limited minutes in 28 games at Southeastern Louisiana State last season. He averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 57 percent from the field. He played at national power Okaloosa Walton Community College for head coach Bruce Stewart and helped the Raiders to a No. 15 national ranking as a sophomore, averaging 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. As a prep, he played at Sol C. Johnson High School and averaged 17 points and 13 rebounds per game as a senior.

“Antonio gives us a low post presence on both ends of the floor,” he said. “We expect Antonio to run the floor, score in the paint and rebound the ball on both ends of the court. We also expect Antonio to be a defensive stopper by blocking and changing shots.”

Spruill, a native of Raleigh, N.C., was at St. Petersburg Junior College the past two season, but did not play. He originally signed to serve his freshman season at N.C. Central University after playing at Hargrave Prep School.

“DeAngelo is a very talented player,” said Burkhamer. “He has the ability to play the point guard or the two guard spot. He can really handle the ball, is an excellent passer, can create his own shot, and can shoot it deep. DeAngelo’s biggest challenge will be conditioning and getting his game back into shape after sitting out the past two years.”

Young, Detroit, Mich., averaged 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and one blocked shot per game while shooting 59 percent from the floor in leading Clinton Junior College to 20 wins in 2008-09.

“Antonio gives us a big, strong, powerful athlete to play in the post,” said Burkhamer. “He runs well, scores faced up or with his back to the basket, and is relentless on the boards.”