The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Men's Basketball Inks Two Players
5/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 1, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, -- UAB men's basketball coach Mike Anderson has announced signing forward DeMario Eddins, and guard Richard Jones to grant-in-aids.
They are the first players signed by the new Blazer head coach.
Eddins, a 6-foot-7 forward, played this past year at Winchendon Prep School in Winchendon, Mass. He played his high school ball at Julian High in Chicago. Jones, 6-4, is from Douglass High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
"I'm excited to sign these two quality players," Anderson said. "I applaud my staff for their outstanding effort in getting us players that are athletic enough to play our style of getting up and down the court. They are great additions to our program"
Eddins averaged 17 points and nine rebounds at Winchendon. He was named second team all-league in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference. Eddins led Winchendon to a 23-4 record. He was the MVP of the Maine Central Institute Tournament.
"DeMario gives us a very versatile player on the wing. He has great size and runs the floor really well. I had the opportunity to sign him last year when I was at Arkansas before he went to prep school," Anderson said.
"Richard Jones is one of the top five players in the state of Oklahoma and a two-time all-state performer. He is a scoring guard with the physical build that fits our style of play," said Anderson.
Jones was first team Oklahoma All-State, averaging 23.4 points and 9.8 rebounds. He shot 65 percent from the floor for his senior season. Jones was also selected as one of the state's "Super 5" by the Daily Oklahoman. He will participate in the Faith 7 game which features the top seniors from Oklahoma against the top players in Texas.
With Jones leading the way, Douglass went 22-3 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state basketball tournament. He scored 27 points and had 14 rebounds in the quarterfinal game.
