coach Gordon Gibbons moved a step closer towards completing its
2007-08 recruiting class on Tuesday with the signing of junior
guard/forward Ricky Garrett from Wabash Valley College in Mt.
Carmel, Ill.
Garrett becomes the fifth signee of the 2007-08 Laker recruiting
class, joining point guard Tracey Williams from Indian River
Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla., junior wing Bernard Fields
from Aiken Technical College in Aiken, S.C., sophomore wing/small
forward Will Lewis from Truett-McConnell Junior College in
Cleveland, Ga., and freshman power forward Torrin Green from North
Clayton High School in College Park, Ga.
The addition of the 6-foot-5, 195-pound Garrett to go along with
Fields (6-4, 190), Lewis (6-6, 210), Williams (6-1, 190) and
returning three-year starter Michael Sloan (6-4, 180) makes the
Lakers bigger, stronger and more athletic on the perimeter for the
2007-08 season.
"Ricky brings experience and athleticism to our program," said
Gibbons, who is 121-57 in six seasons at Clayton State. "He will
compliment his teammates with his good all-around game."
A native of Rome, Ga., Garrett played two seasons at Wabash
Valley for veteran head coach Dan Sparks, one of the winningest head
coaches all-time at the junior college level. This season, he
averaged 10 points and three rebounds a game for a balanced Wabash
Valley squad that finished 20-11 for the 2006-07 season.
He opened the season with a bang, scoring 27 points against
Volunteer State and 21 points against Lincoln Land. For the season,
Garrett reached double-figures in 10 games for the Warriors this
season, garnering second team NJCAA All-Region 24 honors.
Garrett enjoyed a stellar prep career at Rome High School, where
he averaged 13 points and four rebounds a game and was selected
first team All-Region. In addition, he was also selected two-time
All-Area by the Rome News-Tribune, and finished his career ranked
fourth all-time in points scored at Rome.
Gibbons plans to finish the recruiting class by signing one,
maybe two players before the team reports back to campus for the
fall semester.