MEN'S BASKETBALL: Three sign with Thompson
High school senior, junior college player fills holes in roster
Ryan Wood
Along with its 9-22 record, the two glaring weaknesses for Ball State University's men's basketball team last season were a lack of perimeter shooters and size in the low post.
Cardinals coach Ronny Thompson received national letters of intent Thursday from guard Rob Giles, forward Kevin Ford and forward/center Robert Martina. Thompson said the three players fill multiple holes in his team's roster.
"I think these guys are more pieces of the puzzle that I'm trying to put together here," Thompson said. "I was trying to do as best I could to kill a lot of birds with one stone. I was trying to get size with people who have the ability offensively to do some things and I think we've done that."
Giles averaged 8.3 points per game as a sophomore for Mott Community College in Detroit, which recorded a 35-3 record and won the NJCAA Tournament National Championship. The 6-foot-4 guard said Ball State was a perfect fit for him.
"I really feel like this is a great team with a great coaching staff," Giles said. "I got along with the guys [on the team] when I played with them during my visit. It was like instant chemistry."
Thompson said Giles gives his team good size at the guard position and a much needed consistent shooter on the perimeter. Ball State shot 38.5 percent from the field as a team and 27.2 percent from behind the 3-point arc last season. As a sophomore, Giles connected on 43 percent of his field goal attempts and shot 34.3 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
"He's a kid who can really stretch the defense with his range when he's on the floor," Thompson said. "Defenses really have to pay attention to him because he can shoot from the outside."
Steve Schmidt, who coached Giles the last two years, said the sophomore will fit nicely with the Cardinals on the defensive end as well. Though Giles was a shaky defender when he came to Mott, he has improved drastically during the past two seasons, Schmidt said.
Cardinals coach Ronny Thompson received national letters of intent Thursday from guard Rob Giles, forward Kevin Ford and forward/center Robert Martina. Thompson said the three players fill multiple holes in his team's roster.
"I think these guys are more pieces of the puzzle that I'm trying to put together here," Thompson said. "I was trying to do as best I could to kill a lot of birds with one stone. I was trying to get size with people who have the ability offensively to do some things and I think we've done that."
Giles averaged 8.3 points per game as a sophomore for Mott Community College in Detroit, which recorded a 35-3 record and won the NJCAA Tournament National Championship. The 6-foot-4 guard said Ball State was a perfect fit for him.
"I really feel like this is a great team with a great coaching staff," Giles said. "I got along with the guys [on the team] when I played with them during my visit. It was like instant chemistry."
Thompson said Giles gives his team good size at the guard position and a much needed consistent shooter on the perimeter. Ball State shot 38.5 percent from the field as a team and 27.2 percent from behind the 3-point arc last season. As a sophomore, Giles connected on 43 percent of his field goal attempts and shot 34.3 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
"He's a kid who can really stretch the defense with his range when he's on the floor," Thompson said. "Defenses really have to pay attention to him because he can shoot from the outside."
Steve Schmidt, who coached Giles the last two years, said the sophomore will fit nicely with the Cardinals on the defensive end as well. Though Giles was a shaky defender when he came to Mott, he has improved drastically during the past two seasons, Schmidt said.
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dave
posted 4/13/07 @ 5:00 PM EST
Mott Community college is in FLINT, Michigan, home court of the next Will Ferrell movie due out in '08 called "Semi Pro". And home of the best JC college coach in America, Steve Schmidt
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