Men?s Basketball Signs Three Preps To Letters-of-Intent
11/10/2011 12:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Creighton University men's basketball program has signed three players to letters-of-intent during fall signing period, which began yesterday. Head coach Greg McDermott's second fall class at Creighton consists of Tevin Calhoun, Andre Yates and Isaiah Zierden. Calhoun will be a junior with two seasons of eligibility remaining, while Yates and Zierden will be freshmen with four seasons of eligibility.
“We are very excited to announce our second recruiting class,” said McDermott. “We feel that we have signed three very special people and basketball players that will represent Creighton University in a first class manner on and off the playing floor. Each of these young men come from tremendous families and successful basketball programs. They have all proven to be winners and will fit in well with the mission at Creighton University and our quest to continue to be one of the premier basketball programs in the country.”
Below are profiles of each individual, listed alphabetically:
Tevin Calhoun – 6'6”, Guard/Forward, Linden, N.J. (Linden HS / Hill College)
Tevin Calhoun is a 6'6” wing who currently plays for coach Swede Trenkle at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. He was named Newcomer of the Year and second-team all-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference after averaging 13.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2009-10 at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio. Calhoun graduated from Linden High School in New Jersey, where he averaged 12.8 points per game. As a prep, he made the Union County All-Star Team and was honored on the All-Windex and All-Long Distance teams.
Quoting Creighton head coach Greg McDermott: “Tevin Calhoun is a skilled wing that should be able to come in and stretch the defense and score the basketball. He will compete in a very tough junior college conference that should prepare him for his career at Creighton. His athletic ability will be a huge plus for our program.”
Quoting Cameron Belden (Mullen's Roundball Review): ““Tevin is a very long combo forward type with a very big upside, as more than likely will end up being a true #3 with great size at that position. He shoots the ball well from '3' and possesses solid ball skills, as he is able to make plays with the ball in the open court.”
Andre Yates – 6'0”, Guard, Dayton, Ohio (Dunbar HS)
Andre Yates has been ranked the No. 2 point guard and No. 7 player overall from Ohio in this year's class by Prep Spotlight Ohio. Yates played at Trotwood-Madison High School the past three years before transferring to Dunbar for his senior campaign, where he'll play for Peter Pullen. While at Trotwood-Madison last year he averaged 14.5 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 steals per game while shooting 48 percent from three-point range, earning Greater Western Ohio Conference Player of the Year honors and first-team all-District 15 recognition. He owns single-game highs of 34 points, 10 assists and eight steals, and recorded three or more steals in each of his final 15 games last winter.
Quoting Creighton head coach Greg McDermott: “Andre Yates is a multi-dimensional guard who has a knack for making plays. He is a pass-first guard but also has the ability to knock down open shots. He will have a opportunity to win a state championship this season in Ohio. His toughness and feel for the game has us very excited about his future at Creighton.”
Quoting Dunbar head coach Peter Pullen: “"He just has a great team attitude and is a natural leader. Going into this year, it's going to be really good to coach him because he loves to learn and develop his game."
Isaiah Zierden – 6'2, Guard, St. Louis Park, Minn. (Benilde-St. Margaret HS)
Tabbed the top player in the state by Minnesota Preps, Isaiah has been called one of the top 10 shooters in the 2012 class by Rivals.com and a top-25 shooter by ESPN.com. He is the son of Washington Wizards assistant coach Don Zierden, and averaged 18.8 points per game last winter. He also averaged 16.1 points per game as a sophomore. Zierden gained national notoriety at the Nike Peach Jam in July when he led all players with 20 three-point baskets in five games, while also making 18-of-19 free throws. Zierden enters his senior season as a career 48 percent shooter from three-point range and 90 percent free throw shooter, and has already surpassed 1,000 career points. Zierden also excels in the classroom, where he's been on Benilde-St. Margaret's Academic B Honor Roll.
Quoting Creighton head coach Greg McDermott: “Isaiah is one of the best shooters in the country. He is a very heady player who has the ability to knock shots down from deep and is a solid ball handler and passer. His progress the last few years has been remarkable. It became obvious to us that his work ethic and desire to improve are second to none.”
Quoting Howard Pulley AAU head coach Rene Pulley: “Isaiah is one of the best shooters I've had in my program the last 17-18 years. He ranks right up there with Jake Sullivan (Iowa State) and Jeff Boschee (Kansas).”
“We are very excited to announce our second recruiting class,” said McDermott. “We feel that we have signed three very special people and basketball players that will represent Creighton University in a first class manner on and off the playing floor. Each of these young men come from tremendous families and successful basketball programs. They have all proven to be winners and will fit in well with the mission at Creighton University and our quest to continue to be one of the premier basketball programs in the country.”
Below are profiles of each individual, listed alphabetically:
Tevin Calhoun – 6'6”, Guard/Forward, Linden, N.J. (Linden HS / Hill College)
Tevin Calhoun is a 6'6” wing who currently plays for coach Swede Trenkle at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. He was named Newcomer of the Year and second-team all-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference after averaging 13.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2009-10 at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio. Calhoun graduated from Linden High School in New Jersey, where he averaged 12.8 points per game. As a prep, he made the Union County All-Star Team and was honored on the All-Windex and All-Long Distance teams.
Quoting Creighton head coach Greg McDermott: “Tevin Calhoun is a skilled wing that should be able to come in and stretch the defense and score the basketball. He will compete in a very tough junior college conference that should prepare him for his career at Creighton. His athletic ability will be a huge plus for our program.”
Quoting Cameron Belden (Mullen's Roundball Review): ““Tevin is a very long combo forward type with a very big upside, as more than likely will end up being a true #3 with great size at that position. He shoots the ball well from '3' and possesses solid ball skills, as he is able to make plays with the ball in the open court.”
Andre Yates – 6'0”, Guard, Dayton, Ohio (Dunbar HS)
Andre Yates has been ranked the No. 2 point guard and No. 7 player overall from Ohio in this year's class by Prep Spotlight Ohio. Yates played at Trotwood-Madison High School the past three years before transferring to Dunbar for his senior campaign, where he'll play for Peter Pullen. While at Trotwood-Madison last year he averaged 14.5 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 steals per game while shooting 48 percent from three-point range, earning Greater Western Ohio Conference Player of the Year honors and first-team all-District 15 recognition. He owns single-game highs of 34 points, 10 assists and eight steals, and recorded three or more steals in each of his final 15 games last winter.
Quoting Creighton head coach Greg McDermott: “Andre Yates is a multi-dimensional guard who has a knack for making plays. He is a pass-first guard but also has the ability to knock down open shots. He will have a opportunity to win a state championship this season in Ohio. His toughness and feel for the game has us very excited about his future at Creighton.”
Quoting Dunbar head coach Peter Pullen: “"He just has a great team attitude and is a natural leader. Going into this year, it's going to be really good to coach him because he loves to learn and develop his game."
Isaiah Zierden – 6'2, Guard, St. Louis Park, Minn. (Benilde-St. Margaret HS)
Tabbed the top player in the state by Minnesota Preps, Isaiah has been called one of the top 10 shooters in the 2012 class by Rivals.com and a top-25 shooter by ESPN.com. He is the son of Washington Wizards assistant coach Don Zierden, and averaged 18.8 points per game last winter. He also averaged 16.1 points per game as a sophomore. Zierden gained national notoriety at the Nike Peach Jam in July when he led all players with 20 three-point baskets in five games, while also making 18-of-19 free throws. Zierden enters his senior season as a career 48 percent shooter from three-point range and 90 percent free throw shooter, and has already surpassed 1,000 career points. Zierden also excels in the classroom, where he's been on Benilde-St. Margaret's Academic B Honor Roll.
Quoting Creighton head coach Greg McDermott: “Isaiah is one of the best shooters in the country. He is a very heady player who has the ability to knock shots down from deep and is a solid ball handler and passer. His progress the last few years has been remarkable. It became obvious to us that his work ethic and desire to improve are second to none.”
Quoting Howard Pulley AAU head coach Rene Pulley: “Isaiah is one of the best shooters I've had in my program the last 17-18 years. He ranks right up there with Jake Sullivan (Iowa State) and Jeff Boschee (Kansas).”
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