The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Men's Basketball Signs Pair Of Standouts
5/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 8, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Guard Maurice Gibbs, who helped lead Moberly (Mo.) Community College to a national junior college runner-up finish, and Roderick Ollie, a swingman who is regarded among the top prep prospects in the state of Mississippi, have signed letters-of-intent to attend UAB, according to an announcement by head men's basketball coach Mike Anderson.
The 6-2 Gibbs was one of the primary reasons his Moberly CC team reached the national JUCO title game as he ranked second on the team with a 14 points per game average. Gibbs connected on 56 percent of his field goals overall and 40 percent from three-point range.
Gibbs, a product of Carbondale, Ill., helped lead Moberly to a 30-7 record as a sophomore, playing for head coach Mark Bernsen. Gibbs was named to both the 2004 and 2005 Region XVI All-Region teams.
In Ollie, the Blazers have signed one of the top high school recruits in Mississippi. The 6-6 forward led Indianola Gentry High to a 27-6 record and a berth in the North Mississippi Class 4A quarterfinals.
He averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and three steals per game as a senior as he was named first-team All-State by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. Ollie recorded a triple-double as a sophomore, scoring 35 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and recording 10 assists.
Most recently, Ollie was named MVP of the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game as he scored 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
"We're certainly happy to add two quality, young basketball players who are good people as well," said Anderson. "Hopefully, these guys will have an opportunity to come and get adjusted to the college setting and make contributions to our basketball program. Both of these guys are proven winners."
Gibbs and Ollie join 6-6 forward Lawrence Kinnard as members of the 2005 recruiting class for the Blazers. Kinnard, from Memphis, Tenn., was UAB's lone signee from the early signing period last November.
