Sports Poets Society

Position Forward Height 6-9 Weight 245 Class Jr. Hometown Mississauga, Ontario Highschool Stephen Lewis EMU: Transferred from Binghamton University prior to the 2015-16 campaign and will have two years of eligibility but will have to sit out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA transfer rules…Binghamton: Appeared in 20 games as a freshman, starting 16...Averaged 10.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, shooting 43.7 percent from the floor and 38 percent from beyond the arc...Earned the America East Rookie of the Week honor once, while also posting one double-double on the year...As a sophomore, Madray appeared in 13 games but his season was cut short due to injury...Averaged 7.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in those 13 contests, all while picking up 11 blocks...High School: Findlay Prep: Played one season of prep school basketball at Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, Nev...Helped his squad to a 32-1 record, while capturing the 2011-12 ESPN National High School Invitational Championship...Stephen...

Position Guard Height 6-2 Weight 225 Class Jr. Hometown Alpharetta, Ga. Highschool Alpharetta     EMU: Transferred from Georgia Highlands College prior to the 2015-16 campaign and will have two years of eligibility… Georgia Highlands: Averaged 17.8 points per game, while pulling down 3.3 rebounds and dishing out 2.4 assists per contest...Was efficient on the offensive end, knocking down 44.4 percent of his attempts from the floor...Appeared in 36 games for the Chargers, helping them to a 30-8 record on the season on his way to earning NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention accolades...Led Georgia Highlands to the semifinals of the 2015 NJCAA Division I Men's National Basketball Championship before falling to the eventual national champion, Northwest Florida State... Appalachian State: Appeared in 22 games, starting in six of them...

Position Guard Height 6-1 Weight 165 Class So. Hometown Corona, Calif. Highschool Corona EMU: Joined EMU as a freshman prior to the 2014-15 campaign…2014-15: Appeared in 28 games, starting 17 of them...Averaged 3.4 points per game, while pulling down 1.4 rebounds and dishing out 1.8 assists in 14.5 minutes per contest...Posted a career-best 10 points on Dec. 28 versus Concordia...Dished out a career-high seven assists versus Longwood, Nov. 23...Led the team in free throw percentage, knocking down 83.9 percent of his attempts...High School: Four-year letterwinner at Corona High School...Led Corona High School to its first 20-win season since 2005-06 as a senior...Averaged 23.2 points, 5.8 assists, 3.9 steals and 3.7 rebounds per game...Named the Big VIII Co-MVP and earned all-league honors...Garnered Southern Section Second Team honors, while being named the county's most valuable player...Was selected as the all-tournament MVP three times, in addition to three more all-tournament...

Position Guard Height 6-3 Weight 195 Class R-Sr. Hometown Detroit, Mich. Highschool Chandler Park Academy EMU: Redshirted during the 2013-14 season after transferring from Oakland County Community College...2014-15: Appeared in 13 games...Averaged 1.8 points and rebounds per game...Posted a 50 percent field goal percentage...Notched a career-best five points and six rebounds versus Concordia (Dec. 28.)...Oakland C.C.: An Eastern Collegiate Conference Academic All-Conference honoree...High School: Played for Derrick Walton at Chandler Park Academy...Was a two-time conference champion, while also being named to the All-Conference Second Team in a pair of seasons...Was a member of the cross country team for two seasons...Personal: Full Name: Jordan Gregory Harrison Martin...Son of Gregory and Jacquelyn Martin...Has two brothers and a sister...Major: Sport Management.

Position Forward Height 6-7 Weight 225 Class Jr. Hometown Dearborn Heights, Mich. Highschool Ecorse EMU: Transferred to EMU prior to the 2015-16 campaign from the University of Findlay...Findlay: 2014-15: Appeared in eight games...Averaged 5.5 points per game...Grabbed 5.1 rebounds per contest...2013-14: Appeared in 29 games...Averaged 4.6 points per contest...Grabbed 2.3 rebounds per game...Recorded 12 steals...Blocked 11 shots...Shot 52.7 percent from the floor...Scored a season-high 12 points against Marygrove, Nov. 9 and Ohio Dominican, Feb. 6...Pulled down a season-high nine rebounds against Marygrove, Nov. 9...2012-13: Redshirted during his freshman season...High School: Attended Ecorse High School...Named fourth team all-Michigan...Was a two-time MVP of the Motor City Classic...Personal: Full Name: Quaran lyn Jones...Son of Lem Jones and Carolyn Hanson and stepmother Trish Jones.

Position Forward Height 6-7 Weight 173 Class R-Fr. Hometown Novi, Mich. Highschool Novi EMU: Transferred from the University of Nevada Las Vegas after one year and will have four years of eligibility as an Eagle...High School: A four-year varsity letterwinner as a Wildcat at Novi High School in Novi, Mich...Earned the sportsmanship award in each season at Novi...Averaged nine points, 10 rebounds and a block as a senior under head coach Brian Tass...Was a member of the Academic Honor Roll at Novi in all four years...Personal: Full Name: Blake Spencer Brown...Son of John and Diane Griffin...Has one brother, Mason, and a sister, Nyla Griffin...Brown’s cousin, Tony Robertson, played basketball at West Virginia before competing in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakes and Golden State Warriors...His uncle, Thomas Lee Robertson, played basketball at Oakland University...Major: Criminal Justice.

Position: Forward Height: 6-9 Weight: 195 Class: R-Fr. Hometown: Canton, Mich. Highschool: Canton   EMU: Joined EMU prior to the 2014-15 season as a true freshman... 2014-15: Redshirted during the 2014-15 campaign... High School: Was a four-year letterwinner at Canton High School...Was the first freshman to play varsity in 20 years at Canton...During his senior season, he earned all-conference, all-area and all-state honors...Was named Canton's MVP, while earning Co-Offensive Player of the Year awards for the Chiefs...Coaches voted him as the team's hardest worker...Named all-conference and all-area during his junior campaign...Led Canton to division, conference and disctrict championships...Was named the Chiefs' Defensive Player of the Year, as well as Co-Offensive Player of the Year...Is the first NCAA Division I basketball student-athl...

Position: Guard Height: 6-4 Weight: 190 Class: R-So. Hometown: Franklin, Tenn. Highschool: Independence EMU: Joined EMU as a walk-on before the 2013-14 campaign…2014-15: Earned a scholarship after redshirting during his first season with the team...Appeared in 21 games...Averaged 2.4 points per game in 7.6 minutes per game...Was a spark off the bench in the Eagles' contest at Louisiana-Monroe during the College Basketball Invitational going 4-for-4 from the floor and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc for a career-best 10 points...2013-14: Redshirted during the 2013-14 campaign...High School: Attended Independence High School in Thompson Station, Tenn. where he was an Eagle under Head Coach Greg Glass…Earned a pair of varsity letters…Earned the John Maher Student-Athlete of the Month while attending Independence…Named to the District 11AAA All-Tournament Team…Knocked down the second-most three-pointer's in his district...Was the student body Vice President and an Honor Roll member...

Position: Guard Height: 6-2 Weight: 170 Class: Fr. Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich. Highschool: Muskegon EMU: Joined the Eagles as a walk-on after earning an academic scholarship at EMU prior to the 2015-16 campaign...High School: Played at Muskegon High School for Keith Guy...Averaged 13 points per game for the Big Reds, while knocking down 49 percent of his field goal attempts as a senior...Helped the Big Reds with their run into the Class A state quarterfinals during a season in which Muskegon went 23-2...Earned All-OK Black Conference honors as the Big Reds won the OK Black Conference Championship...Averaged 12 points per game as a junior on his way to a state championship...Personal: Full Name: Daryl Thomas Kirkland II...Son of Daryl and Tonya Kirkland...Has one sister, Trinity...Major: Sports Management.

Position: Guard Height: 6-1 Weight: 180 Class: Jr. Hometown: Richmond, Va. Highschool: Marshall     EMU: Transferred from San Jacinto College prior to the 2015-16 campaign and will have two years of eligibility… San Jacinto College: Appeared in 34 games for San Jac, starting all of them...Averaged 20.6 points per game this season, a mark that ranked 23rd in the nation, while shooting 38 percent from the field...Posted 3.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game...Named First Team All-Region XIV, while also earning all-Region South Zone First Team and NJCAA All-American Third Team honors... High School: Played at John Marshall High School in Richmond, Va. for Ty White...Was a four-year varsity letterwinner...Led his team to four conference titles and two regional championships...Scored over 1,600 career points...A two-time all-state honoree, whi...

Position: Guard/Forward Height: 6-8 Weight: 185 Class: R-Jr. Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind. Highschool: Detroit Country Day Transfer from: Duke EMU: Joined Eastern after playing one season at DePaul University...2014-15: Appeared in 34 games for EMU, starting in three of them...Posted double-digit scoring affairs in four games...Led the Eagles with 11 points in their victory over Michigan (Dec. 9)...Posted a career-best 13 points in the Eagles game at Miami (Jan. 10)...Had two-or-more blocks in six games...2013-14: Sat out the 2013-14 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules...DePaul: Appeared in eight games for the Blue Demons during the 2012-13 campaign...High School: Ranked 143 Overall on Rivals...Ranked among the class of 2012's top 25 three-point shooters by ESPN.com...Averaged 11.3 points and 4.4 rebounds...Led Detroit Country Day to combined 44-10 record during junior and season seasons with two state semifinal appearances in Class B...Attended the Lebron James Skills Academy...

Position: Forward Height: 6-8 Weight: 225 Class: Sr. Hometown: Howell, Mich. Highschool: Howell EMU: Transferred from Des Moines Area Community College prior to the 2014-15 campaign…2014-15: Appeared in all 35 games, starting 13 of them...Averaged 3.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game...Posted a career-best 11 points against Western Michigan (Jan. 31)...Pulled down a career-high eight rebounds on three separate occasions...Recorded three blocks versus Dayton (Dec. 6), for his best block total of the season...Was instrumental in the Eagles' first round win over Miami (March 9) in the MAC Tournament, playing a career-high 35 minutes...Des Moines Area CC: Named an NJCAA Second Team All-American at the Division II level following his sophomore season…He averaged 16.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game…Led DMACC to a 29-7 overall record and an 11-3 mark in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC)…The Bears won the regular-season conference championship and also captured ...

Position: Guard Height: 5-9 Weight: 160 Class: Fr. Hometown: Detroit, Mich. Highschool: River Rouge   EMU: Joined EMU as a freshman prior to the 2015-16 campaign... High School: Named First Team All-State by the Detroit News , while being named to the second team by the Detroit Free Press ...As a senior, Stone averaged 21 points, six assists and four steals per contest...Ranked as the eighth-best college prospect in the state of Michigan according to ESPN.com...Earned the No. 55 ranking at point guard in the country by ESPN.com...Played at River Rouge for his father LaMonta Stone, who was an EMU men's basketball assistant coach from 2000-02... Personal: Full Name: LaMonta Anthony Stone II...Son of Lamonta and Tomica Stone...Has two brothers, Lance and Landen... Major: Undecided.

Position: Center Height: 6-10 Weight: 220 Class: Fr. Hometown: Baton Rouge, La. Highschool: Parkview Baptist EMU: Joined the Eagles as a freshman prior to the 2015-16 campaign...High School: Played under Donnie Green at Parkview Baptist High School in Baton Rouge, La....Was voted his team's most valuable player as a junior and a senior...Was a three-time first team all-state award winner...Earned first team all-Baton Rouge Metro honors during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons....Averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks per game as a senior, 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks as a junior and 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in his sophomore stint...Played AAU ball for the Louisiana Future and Houston Hoops for Head Coach Titus Randle...Was a key factor in Houston Hoops' run to the championship of the Fab 48 in Las Vegas, Nev. during the summer of 2013...Personal: Full Name: James Thompson IV...Son of James Thompson III and Yosiata Steptore...Has one ...

Position: Guard Height: 6-7 Weight: 160 Class: So. Hometown: Baltimore, Md. Highschool: City College High School EMU: Joined EMU as a true freshman prior to the 2014-15 campaign…2014-15: Missed the entire non-conference season due to injury, but played all 22 of the Eagles' remaining contests, starting six of them...Averaged 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds, while knocking down 43.1 percent of his field goal attempts...Posted double-digit scoring efforts in six games, including a career-high 15 versus Toledo, March 6...Recorded nearly one block per game, including three at Ball State, March 3...Pulled down a career-high seven rebounds in three contests...High School: Led City College High School to the Maryland Class 3A State Championship after the Knights went 27-0 during his senior season…Was a four-year letterwinner...Averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game this season…Posted an average of six steals and three blocked shots...Named All-Metro First Team in his ...

Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 175 Class: R-Jr. Hometown: Detroit, Mich. Highschool: Romulus EMU: Joined EMU as a freshman prior to the 2012-13 campaign...2014-15: Earned All-MAC Third Team accolades...Posted the most points by an EMU sophomore with 586 on the year, helping surpass the 1,000 point mark in his career...Appeared in 35 games, starting in 32 of them...Led the Eagles in scoring, while finishing the season second in the MAC at 16.7 points per game...Had the fourth-best free throw percentage in the conference at 79.5 percent...Averaged two three-point makes per game, good for 10th in the conference...Recorded 1.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per contest, while knocking down 44.3 percent of his field goal attempts on the year...Scored in double-figures all but five games during the season...Scored 20-or-more points in 10 games, including a pair of 30-plus point outbursts...Posted a season-high 33 points at Ohio (Feb. 7), including 31 second half points and 24 o...

Hometown: Newtown Square, Pa. Position: Head Coach Birthdate: 12/13/1970 Alma Mater: Philadelphia '94 Over the last four seasons, Patrick Chambers has reinvigorated Penn State basketball. Since being named the 12th head coach in program history June 6, 2011, the Philly native quickly energized his players and staff, as well as the Penn State fan base with his passion, enthusiasm and his team’s all-out style of play. This year’s freshman class - the first Top 30 recruiting class in PSU history - clearly illustrates the progress Chambers and his staff have made during their time in Happy Valley. The future continues to be bright as Penn State makes its mark around the state and region. Chambers has sent players into the professional ranks in each of the last two years with Tim Frazier (2010-14) currently signed with the Portland Trail Blazers after also spending time with the Philadelphia Sixers, and with D.J. Newbill (2013-15) playing professionally in Europe with AS...

Class: Junior Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. High School: Victory Collegiate Last College: UConn Height / Weight: 6-4 / 205 Position: Guard Will be eligible to compete for Penn State for two seasons beginning in 2016-17 after sitting out the 2015-16 campaign to satisfy NCAA transfer requirements. PRIOR TO PENN STATE While at UConn, appeared in 65 career games for the Huskies, averaging 3.0 points and 1.7 rebounds… Saw tin every game for the Huskies as a sophomore and made eight starts this past season… Played in 30 games his freshman year, improving as the season went on... Provided great defense off the bench as a freshman throughout UConn’s run to the NCAA Championship. AS A SOPHOMORE (2014-15): Saw time in all 35 of UConn’s games, averaging 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds Made his first career start against Texas (11/30) and had eight starts on the year Reached double-figures three times, including in UConn’s First Round NIT game against Arizona State (3/18) Scored a career-high 1...

Class: Junior Hometown: Springfield, Va. High School: West Springfield Height / Weight: 6-0 / 185 Position: Guard AS A SOPHOMORE (2014-15) Joined the Nittany Lions after walk-on tryouts and was a valuable member of scout team during practice Did not dress or travel with team HIGH SCHOOL Played two years of varsity basketball at West Springfield ... As a senior captain in 2011-12, averaged 5.3 points and 1.5 assists per game ... Earned the team’s Spartan Award in 2012 ... Three-time recipient of a GPA Achievment Award. PERSONAL Born Samuel George Halle on November 16, 1993 ... Son of Michael and Danella Halle ... Has two brothers, Jacob and David ... Majoring in kinesiology with aspirations of becoming a physician.

Class: Senior Hometown: Reading, Pa. High School: Berks Catholic Height / Weight: 6-9 / 210 Position: Forward AS A JUNIOR (2014-15) Saw action in all 34 games, making 12 starts Averaged 3.5 ppg and 2.7 rpg with 26 total blocks Tied for No. 7 all-time in PSU career blocks with Jordan Dickerson ... Each have 82 to their credit Combined 15-18 from the FT line in the last 19 games Produced five points vs. Purdue in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal (3/13/15), the most in span of 13 games Had six points, with 4-4 showing from FT line, and put up season-high four blocks vs. Minnesota (1/28/15) ... Moved into eighth all-time in PSU career blocks with performance against the Gophers Went 4-4 from the field vs. Michigan (1/6/15) and hit lone free throw attempt for nine points ... Also had four rebounds ... First time in 50 games played without a personal foul vs. the Wolverines Well-rounded performance vs. Drexel (12/20/14) with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks Produced fourth career double-d...

Class: Senior Hometown: Dayton, Ohio High School: Jefferson Township Last College: Vincennes (Ind.) Height / Weight: 6-2 / 205 Position: Guard AS A JUNIOR (2014-15) Saw action in 19 games on the season, including 14 Big Ten contests Averaged 2.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg in his first season at Penn State Averaged 5.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg with 15-23 FGs and 5-6 FTs over seven-game span before injuring knee and missing the Maryland game (2/14/15) Saw action in all three Big Ten Tournament games, producing 2.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg Tallied second 3-pointer of the season in win over Iowa (3/12/15) ... Both treys this came against the Hawkeyes Grabbed career-high eight rebounds vs. Nebraska (3/11/15), including seven on the defensive end Was perfect from the free throw line (2-2) for the first time in his career at PSU against Ohio State (3/4/15) Logged first career triple against Iowa (2/28/15), adding one steal and one block Scored 8 points vs. Minnesota (1/28/15), going 3-3 from field and 2...

Class: Freshman Hometown: Kaunas, Lithuania High School: St. Mary Ryken (Md.) Height / Weight: 6-6 / 220 Position: Forward HIGH SCHOOL Two-year starter for St. Mary’s Ryken in Leonardtown, Maryland ... Captain his senior year ... Only senior from the 2014-15 team who is playing college basketball ... Averaged 15 ppg in final high school season ... Rated as a 3-star recruit and as the 11th best recruit in Maryland in the class of 2015 by ESPN.com ... One of three players from ESPN.com’s top-25 recruits from his class in Maryland signed by a school from the Big Ten ... Played AAU with Threat 220. PERSONAL Born June 6, 1996 in Lithuania to Vytautas and Gitana Zemgulis ... Has a brother, Aurimas, and a sister, Gabriele ... Was a member of the U16 Lithuanian team that competed in the European Championships.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT    C  FRONTCOURT  B-  BENCH/DEPTH C  INTANGIBLES  C LOCATION   State College, PA  CONFERENCE   Big Ten (since 1992-93) LAST SEASON    18-16 (.471)  CONFERENCE RECORD   4-14 (13th)  STARTERS RETURNING/LOST   3/2  NICKNAME   Nittany Lions  COLORS   Blue & White  HOME COURT   Bryce Jordan Center (15,261)  COACH   Patrick Chambers (Philadelphia Univ. ’94) - 2018-19 RECORD AT SCHOOL  56-75 (4 years)   CAREER RECORD   98-103 (6 years)  ASSISTANTS: Keith Urgo (Fairfield ’02) Dwayne Anderson (Villanova ’09) Ross Condon (Villanova ’07)  WINS (LAST 5 YRS.)   19-12-10-16-18 RPI (LAST 5 YRS.)    48-160-183-115-109  2014-15 FINISH   Lost in Big Ten quarter finals. Thanks to stability and little roster turnover, Penn State enjoyed its first winni...

Class: RS Freshman Hometown: Williamsport, Pa. High School: Williamsport Height / Weight: 6-3 / 160 Position: Guard AS A FRESHMAN (2014-15): Saw first career action vs. Fordham (11/16), tallying first PSU point off a free throw in the second half Received a medical hardship waiver for the season and has four years of eligibility remaining. HIGH SCHOOL Washington finished his career at Williamsport ranked first all-time in steals, made/attempted free throws and is in the Top 5 of games played. He averaged 22 points per game as a senior after putting up 16.6 ppg during his junior season at Williamsport in 2012-13, guiding the Millionaires to a 23-3 record. They earned a District 2/4-AAAA crown before advancing to the second round of the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs. The combo guard started all four seasons for coach Allen Taylor's squad, ending his career as a two-time all-state selection. A former AAU teammate of PSU redshirt-freshman Julian Moore, Washington spent the last several...

Class: Freshman Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.  High School: Phelps School Height / Weight: 6-8 / 245 Position: Forward HIGH SCHOOL Played senior season at The Phelps School in 2014-15 ... Won the 2015 PISAA Championship game against Westtown after overcoming a 16-point third-quarter deficit ... Tallied 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks in the comeback victory ... Averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and 6.5 blocks a game during his final high school season ... As a junior at Philadelphia’s Math, Civics & Sciences (MCSCS) in 2013-14, reached the 2014 PIAA – A tournament championship game while racking up 17 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks in a runner-up finish to Lincoln Park Performing Arts ... Averaged 11 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5 blocks during a junior campaign in which he totaled 17 double-doubles ... Played AAU with Team Philly, the same program which produced senior Brandon Taylor ... Rated as a 4-star recruit and the 3rd best recruit from Pennsylvania in the class of ...

Class: Senior Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. High School: IMG Academy/Abraham Lincoln Last College: SMU Height / Weight: 7-1 / 245 Position: Center AS A JUNIOR (2014-15) Saw action in 29 games on the season season, including 17 of 18 Big Ten contests ... Averaged 8.7 minutes per appearance Saw action in all 34 games, starting 19 ... Has made 23 total starts at Penn State ... Returned to starting lineup vs. Nebraska (2/7/15) and started in each of the final 11 games of the season Has 82 career blocks in 1.5 seasons at Penn State, tied with Donovon Jack for the seventh-most in a PSU career Had multiple blocks in 17 games on the season ... Led the team with 53, tying Jack’s 2013-14 total in the No. 8 spot in a single season Averaged 1.6 blocks per game, which was tied for fifth in the Big Ten after the conference tournament Averaged 3.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg with four blocks through three B1G tourney games ... Shot 71 percent from FT line in tourney action, up from season average of 60 percent H...

Class: Senior Hometown: Tabernacle, N.J. High School: Trenton Catholic Height / Weight: 6-6 / 225 Position: Forward AS A JUNIOR (2014-15): Saw action in 32 games, making 25 starts ... Missed two games with knee injury Averaged 9.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg to credit over the course of the season Finished second on the team in rebounds and third in scoring and blocks Ranked No. 10 in career blocks at Penn State with 74 after posting a career-high five against Nebraska (3/11/15) in the Big Ten Tournament The five-block showing was a PSU record in conference tourney action Scored in double-figures in 12 of last 18 regular-season games played, including each of the last two Shot 47 percent from behind the arc in the last five games of the season, hitting multiple treys in three games ... Shot 46 percent from field in same stretch Went 3-3 from behind the arc vs. Purdue (1/17/15) Tallied 11 points, five rebounds and a career-high four assists at Indiana (1/13/15) Produced the team’s first doub...