ODAC Recruiting Recap: Eastern Mennonite University
(Photo courtesy of www.emu.edu) As the recruiting season for many colleges has come to a close, we want to take a look back at the local division three schools and how they recruited Virginia. With the ODAC and CAC heavily…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading(Photo courtesy of www.emu.edu)
As the recruiting season for many colleges has come to a close, we want to take a look back at the local division three schools and how they recruited Virginia. With the ODAC and CAC heavily represented in the state, two of the conferences many consider among the best in division three, the state of VA is heavily recruited by a number of schools. Many of the kids who are playing division three in VA were recruited by multiple schools in these conferences, and all of them landed some kind of gem in the process. Today, we take a look at the Eastern Mennonite Royals, who bring in four talented VA kids to add to an already young core for a rising team.
Record Last Season: 9-14
Incoming VA Recruits: Josh Good (Luray), Michael Thompson (Varina), Jhalen Thomas (Varina), Jamel Howard (Tuscarora)
A very young team, EMU struggled to play consistent basketball last season, but they showed flashes of a bright future and return much of their core and key contributors with another year of experience and improvement under their belt. On top of that, they pulled off perhaps the most underrated class in the ODAC, and have some new pieces that should come in and contribute early for them.
In the front court, 6’6” Josh Good will add a multi-skilled forward that can guard multiple positions and play inside-out. Good was a four year starter for Luray, and was named First Team All State in the VHSL 1A classification. He’s a player that can do a lot of things on the offensive end, he rebounds well on both ends and he should improve even more playing against bigger and tougher competition next season.
On the wing, EMU added an athletic duo in 6’3” Jamel Howard of Tuscarora and 6’1” Michael Thompson of Varina. Howard had a big summer last season with the NOVA Cavs, and he continued that momentum to the high school season where he was First Team All Conference 14. He’s a wing that uses his athleticism in transition, defensively and on the glass. Thompson was a pivotal player for Varina in their Conference 12 Championship run. The two guard can score it from the middle well and is another lock up defender that gets after it on both ends.
EMU’s last get was somewhat of a surprise, but after Thompson committed his teammate, 6’4” Jhalen Thomas, followed suit and committed as well. A First Team All Conference 12 selection, Thomas is a knock down shooter from deep that can attack closeouts and score it in bunches. He gives the Royals a consistent shooter that has good size and can play multiple positions on the floor.
With an already young group gathering experience and another talented incoming class, the only problem for Eastern Mennonite may be finding a way to play all of the players that deserve to. However, they look like they have a bright future and could be back in the top of the ODAC soon.