Francis Marion Adds Two Guards

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced that 6-1 guard Philip Jenkins of Goose Creek, S.C., and 6-2 guard Michael Highsmith of Sanford, Fla., have signed national letters of intent to attend FMU and play for Patriots this season.

Jenkins is a graduate of Goose Creek High School, where he played for coach Brad Dobbels.

This past season, he averaged 21.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while leading the Gators to a 27-2 record and the AAAA state championship. He scored 33 points in the title game win.

A two-time All-State selection, he was named the High School Sports Reports’ AAAA Statewide Player of the Year for 2008-09, and he was selected to play in the 2009 Carolinas All-Star Classic.

He was also an honor roll student at Goose Creek.

Highsmith is a product of Lake Brantley High School, where he played for coach Michael Cuff.

As a senior, he averaged 20 points, 7.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game. He was a first-team All-Conference pick, earned his team’s most valuable player award, and was named to the Orlando Sentinel’s Top 30 Seniors List.

He holds Lake Brantley’s single season record for points (587).

“Philip was an important member of Goose Creek’s state championship team and he knows how to win,” said Edwards. “He can score in a variety of ways and is also a good defender. He is a good, young guard who will grow with our program.

“Mike is a big guard who was under recruited in Florida and we feel very fortunate to have him join our program. He is a diamond-in-the rough who may be ready to compete in the Peach Belt earlier than a typical freshman.”

The two signees bring to nine the number of newcomers on the Patriot roster for 2009-2010.

Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.