Bobby Lutz has secured the nation's 13th-ranked recruiting class - the program's best, ever. |
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49ers Add Coley To Fill Up Top 15 Recruiting Class
June 12, 2007
Halton Arena - - The Charlotte 49ers have officially announced the signing of 6-7 Charlie Coley (Lake Worth, Fla./Dodge City Community College) to a national letter of intent and grant-in aid scholarship. Head coach Bobby Lutz's 2007-08 recruiting class has been ranked as high as 13th in the nation by HoopScoop, the 49ers highest ranked recruiting class ever and the 49ers fourth top 20 recruiting class in the last nine years.
Coley averaged 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds with 112 blocks at Dodge City. An all-conference choice, he was named to the Region 6 all-tournament team. A first team all-region choice, Coley was a preseason first team all-America by the NJCAA and was rated one of the top five junior college players by Sporting News Magazine. He was a first team all-America by Street & Smith's publication.
"Charlie Coley is a high level athlete who contributes in many ways to his team's success," said Lutz. "While he scores around the basket and in transition, Charlie is a tremendous rebounder and can defend a post or perimeter player. He is someone who simply helps you win games at both ends of the floor and will provide some highlight plays during his career at Charlotte."
The 49ers incoming class also includes signees Javarris Barnett (Charlotte, N.C.), Lamont Mack (Chicago, Ill.), Gaby Ngoundjo (Little Rock, Ark.) and An'Juan Wilderness (Dunwoody, Ga.) as well as sophomore walk-on Dijuan Harris (Charlotte, N.C.), who has completed one year at Hillsborough Junior College and has been accepted into the university.
"We are very pleased with our recruiting class. It addressed our most serious need based on graduation," added Lutz. "We are bringing in forwards and posts who are athletic and will allow us to pressure our opponent defensively and attack the basket offensively. Lamont Mack and Charlie Coley are two impact junior forwards and An'juan Wilderness and Gaby Ngoundo bring exceptional athleticism, toughness and a history of winning to our team. Javarris Barnett can really shoot the basketball and is a good passer and Dijuan Harris is one of the quickest players I will ever coach. He's a pass-and-defend first point guard."
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In addition to the 13th-ranked recruiting class, the 49ers will benefit from the debuts of 6-10; 250 lb. center Phil Jones, point guard Michael Gerrity as well as the return of red-shirt freshman wing Charles Dewhurst. Jones attended the university last year while Gerrity transferred from Pepperdine mid-semester. Dewhurst was injured early in the non-conference season.
"When you consider that Phil Jones, Mike Gerrity and Charles Dewhurst were at Charlotte but did not play, we have a number of new players that will change our style of play and the face of our team" Lutz noted. The 49ers return senior shooting guard Leemire Goldwire, junior point guard Jerrell Lewis, sophomore shooter Ian Andersen, senior forward Sean Phaler and sophomore guard Kyle Church.
The 49ers incoming freshmen include Ngoundjo who is a 6-7 power forward, Wilderness who is a 6-6 wing forward and Barnett who is a 6-5 shooting guard. Junior college transfer Mack, a 6-7 power forward, was rated as the 21st-best junior college player in the country. Harris is a 5-9 point guard who will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Charlotte's has boasted four top 20 recruiting classes in the last nine years, including the 2000 class that was ranked 15th.
The 49ers will be looking for their 8th post-season appearance under 10th-year head coach Bobby Lutz. Lutz has led Charlotte to five NCAA Tournaments and two NIT events in his first nine years.
