The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Talented Trio Inks with Blazer Basketball
11/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB men's basketball team and head coach Robert Ehsan announced the signing of Zack Bryant, Makhtar Gueye and Luis Hurtado, Jr. to National Letters of Intent on Friday.
"We tried to identify and recruit the best players in the country in this recruiting class, as well as individuals that are passionate about winning and fit our family culture," Ehsan said. "I can't think of three better people to start our recruiting class with than Zack Bryant, Makhtar Gueye and Luis Hurtado, Jr."
A 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard, Bryant attends Providence School in Jacksonville, Fla., and is entering his senior season under head coach Jim Martin. Bryant played his first two seasons at Menendez High School and was tabbed the St. Augustine Record Player of the Year as a sophomore.
Last season as a junior, Bryant averaged 19.9 point, 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in helping the Stallions reach the regional final of the 2016 Florida High School Athletic Association 3A Basketball State Championships. In that game, Bryant scored a career-high 32 points to mark the second-highest scoring output in a single game in Providence School history.
Bryant ended the season with 634 points and broke current Duke guard and Providence School alumni Grayson Allen's single-season school record. The Hastings, Fla., native would go on to be named to the Florida Times-Union All-First Coast team while earning 3A All-State honors.
"Zack Bryant will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play for me at Providence," Martin said. "He is the ultimate competitor and hates losing with a passion. He is both an explosive athlete and a skilled player, and I am looking forward to watching him play at UAB. I have no doubt he will be a special player for UAB."
Bryant enters his final season at Providence School as the top ranked senior in North Florida according to sourcehoops.com.
"I'm thrilled to have Zack `Scootie' Bryant as part of our first recruiting class under the new coaching staff," Ehsan added. "He is a winner in every sense of the word and is going to be a huge part of the future success of UAB Basketball.
"He's a player who affects the game in so many ways on the basketball court. His ability to score and create for others makes him a dynamic offensive player. His toughness, competitiveness and speed have helped him to become of the best defensive guards in the country. He's the perfect guard for our system and style."
Originally from Dakar, Senegal, Gueye currently plays at the Aspire Basketball Academy in Scottsdale, Ariz., for head coach Jeremy Kipness. Gueye is a 6-foot-10, 185-pound combo forward that can stretch the floor and is expected to play on the wing for UAB.
Gueye serves as the team captain at Aspire Academy and has helped his team to a 4-0 record while averaging 19.8 points and 9.5 rebounds during that stretch.
"Makhtar Gueye is a bright, hardworking, determined and passionate young man who exemplifies what you look for in a student-athlete," Kipness said. "He will be an immediate fan favorite as soon as he steps on campus because he is fun-loving, outgoing and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals."
"I'm so excited to have Makhtar sign with us and join our basketball family," Ehsan said. "He's a hard-working and competitive person who is going to be a focal point of our success in the future. Makhtar is one of the most versatile players in the country with his size, skill and ability to play multiple positions.
"He will have an immediate impact on our program with his ability to affect the game in so many ways on both ends of the floor. Makhtar's work ethic and personality make him the perfect fit for our basketball program and the UAB community."
A native of Venezuela, Hurtado moved to the United States in 2012 and enrolled at Greenforest Academy in Decatur, Ga., the same school that produced UAB senior forward Tosin Mehinti. Hurtado now plays at The Sagemont School in Weston, Fla.
Hurtado is ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.
"We are excited to add Luis Hurtado to our 2017 recruiting class," Ehsan said. "Luis is very hard working and demonstrates an extremely high character, and he is a person who will fit in tremendously here at UAB for the next four years. On the court, Luis is a versatile player capable of playing many different positions because of his unique skill set. He comes from a winning program and has competed against some of the best teams and players in the country. With the addition of Luis, I feel like we have put together a very strong recruiting class in the early signing period that will help us continue to compete for championships in the future."
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), Instagram (@blazerhoops) and Snapchat (@UAB_MBB).
