Recruiting Update: Dexter Dennis, Class of 2018
Eastern Michigan is the latest program to offer hyper-athletic 6-foot-5 guard Dexter Dennis of Believe Prep Academy (TN). A well-built guard with a knack for knifing to the rim, Dennis recently scored 28 points en route to a win over Charlotte Basketball Academy.
Sound defensively and boasting a consistent 3-point stroke, Dennis rebounds the ball exceptionally well for his size.
It’s been a breakout year for Dennis, who began to garner attention as a severely under the radar recruit during the Hoop Exchange All American Jamboree back in October.
Charleston Southern, IUPUI, UNC Asheville, and a bevy of others have offered the Louisiana native. The most recent program to inquire about Dennis, who possesses high-major athleticism and an ability to convert turnovers to transition buckets with ease, is St. John’s.
SJU assistant coach Matt Abdelmassih, a recruiting ace known for his relentless work ethic, reached out to Dennis on December 19. Given his status as a high academic kid and a full qualifier (Dennis boasts a 3.7 GPA), SJU will likely offer Dennis to come as a second semester arrival. With the backcourt stacked with Shamorie Ponds and Marcus Lovett, conventional wisdom indicates that Dennis would redshirt a year.
“He puts his head on the rim at 6-foot-5,” said Brad Traina, who has been instrumental in pushing the development of the multi-faceted guard. “He’s a coachable kid with a skill-set and a leaping ability that you simply do not see at this level. He’s falling through the cracks a bit recruiting-wise and he definitely has high major ability.”
In Believe head coach Tyson Waterman, Traina’s words resonated.
“A lot of people are missing out of him,” said Waterman, who starred as a point guard at Winthrop in the 1990s. “He’s an everyday guy. He comes to work and just gives everything he’s got. He’s definitely a high-major caliber player.”
Former Arizona guard Jason Gardner, now the head coach at IUPUI, offered Dennis roughly 15 minutes after watching him practice back in November. Immeasurable intangibles such as character, leadership, and the ability to spark a run and score in spurts also make Dennis an instant impact caliber recruit.