UNCW Adds Tyree Graham

[SEA33HAWK]

Rutgers Adds Tyree Graham to 2010 Recruiting Class
6/10/2010
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (June 3, 2010) - Head men’s basketball coach Mike Rice announced today that rising junior guard Tyree Graham (Durham, N.C.) has signed a scholarship agreement to attend Rutgers University and compete for the Scarlet Knights. A First Team All-Region 10 selection at Brunswick Community College (N.C.) this past season and a former North Carolina High School First Team All-State choice, Graham played his freshman season (2008-09) in the Big 12 Conference at Texas Tech University.

“Tyree is a gifted young man and a unique prospect,” said Rice. “He already has the experience of playing the collegiate game at a high level. Tyree has the reputation of being not only a scorer, but a fierce competitor. We are going to look for him to produce right away.”

Graham joins an incoming 2010 recruiting class that includes freshmen Gilvydas Biruta (Jonava, Lithuania), Austin Carroll (Bedford, Mass.) and Mike Poole (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.).

Tyree Graham
Guard
6-1, 190 / Junior
Durham, North Carolina

2009-10: Averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 43.0 percent from behind the arc at Brunswick Community College in Supply, N.C. under head coach Walter Shaw…Was a first team all-region selection and the Region 10 Tournament MVP…Helped the Dolphins to the Region 10 Division One Tournament title and their first NJCAA Tournament berth, where he scored 17 points in each of BCC’s two games...Had a school-record nine three pointers en route to a school-record 41 points in a come-from-behind, regular season victory over Clinton…BCC has produced 30 NCAA Division I men’s basketball players from 1999-2010, with Graham slated to be the first to compete in the BIG EAST.

2008-09: Played in 13 contests as a true freshman at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas under head coach Pat Knight…Averaged 3.9 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 87 percent from the foul line in 14.3 minutes-per-game...Scored a season-high 11 points in 28 minutes versus Mississippi State...Had six assists and six rebounds in 18 minutes against East Central…Logged double-digit minutes in 11 contests...Withdrew from school due to family reasons prior to the spring 2009 academic semester.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2008 graduate of Village Christian Academy in Fayetteville, North Carolina, playing under head coaches Brian Phillips and James Jordan…Averaged 23.7 points and 7.0 rebounds as a senior with 194 assists (5.7) and 96 steals (2.8), while making 123 of 155 free throw attempts (.794)…Was a NCISAA 2A First Team All-State selection, an all-region first team choice, a McDonald's All-American nominee and a nationally rated point guard prospect by ESPN.com…Was cited as the as NCISAA Cape Fear Independent Player of the Year as a senior after helping VCA to the conference title…Had 45 and 41-point games, while setting a school record with six triple doubles.

PERSONAL:Born September 30, 1988 in Durham, North Carolina...Name is pronounced tie-REE…Son of Edward Lee Graham and Crystal Green…Has three brothers (Torian, Steve and Shaun) and a sister (LaPrecious)…Mentor is Ed Davis…On the AAU circuit, competed with D-One Sports, where he was teammates with John Wall (Kentucky), J.T. Terrell (Wake Forest), Marshall Moses (Oklahoma State) and Eric Wallace (DePaul) and with D.C. Assault, where he was teammates with Nolan Smith (Duke), Jamar Samuels (Kansas State), Ron Anderson, Jr. (USF), Wally Judge (Kansas State) and Michael Beasley (Kansas State/Miami Heat).

[hawkfan4life]

Not a lot of options out there since summer school starts shortly. Aug is around the corner. He will be 24 in September,been in Major programs,has his degree and wants to play against VCU and Drexel. With his prior injuries and 1 year of eligibility....teams are glossing over him. We are in a desperate sitation so it works for both of us. Buzz has his veteran guard now..

[Trask31]

IF healthy, this kid can play. He also is a pretty good bet for a 6th year as I uinderstand the TTech was driven by the loss of his mother during the season. Clearly not an academic risk, either. Can play both guard positions and has the body to play in the CAA. I do like the fact he is an NC kid and has something to prove.

[billthebighawkfan]

Great pickup! Welcome Tyree!!

[jumpinmullet]

Ponder is also coming off an injury and it is a huge part of the college game these days and I would absolutely take the chance on this guy.Maybe even get him for 2 years but one would be a big time upgrade from Adam Smith.This is a player that can flat out go and will be able to handle the CAA play style.If I am a guard with UNCW this is the type of backcourt player I would love to play with.Plays both ends and is a fearless ball hawk.I see no down side to this and even if he gets hurt it would be wort the chance.

[70sHawk]

Ponder is also coming off an injury and it is a huge part of the college game these days and I would absolutely take the chance on this guy.Maybe even get him for 2 years but one would be a big time upgrade from Adam Smith.This is a player that can flat out go and will be able to handle the CAA play style.If I am a guard with UNCW this is the type of backcourt player I would love to play with.Plays both ends and is a fearless ball hawk.I see no down side to this and even if he gets hurt it would be wort the chance.

I'm slack jawed, and worried....not over Tyree, but over The Mullet.

I'm wondering if the Mullet's health can possibly hold up in the face of such unprecedented optimism. It's a Star Trek-like situation...matter meeting antimatter. Might cause catastrophic failure.....

[hawkfan4life]

Lets hope he can stay healthy. A huge risk at this point. Hopefully he pans out.

[jumpinmullet]

Buzz has a couple of good pieces now that I have seen play and maybe it will turn around for them.Rendleman and Graham are legit,Jackson played ok last year but the knee injury set him back a bit I thought.Ponder and Hager are guys that people say should be able to compete in the CAA and the rest are what they are-average.They could really use another guard with CAA level skill.

[StillJonesn]

I'd worry more about the fact he's not been on the court in 2 years and is still 212 pounds with a target playing weight of 200 pounds than his knee's breaking down on him again. 6' guards need speed and agility more than anyone and 200 pounds is way heavy for a 6' guard IMO, much less one already likely slowed by past injuries. Raymond Felton is that size and everyone jokes on how fat he is and he admited it's affected his game and conditioning this year.

[hawkfan4life]

212 lbs does not make him fat unless hes a model. Graham, Ponder and Hager will give us a strong backcourt.