Gardner-Webb Men's Basketball Inks Four Student-Athletes During Early Signing Period
November 17, 2009 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Gardner-Webb men's basketball has signed
four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, a strong
recruiting haul during the early signing period.
The Runnin' Bulldogs added 6-foot-8 forward Santoine Butler
(Hephzibah, Ga. / Oldsmar Christian (Fla.) School), 6-foot-10
center Michael Byron (San Antonio, Texas / Churchill), 6-0 point
guard Luke Davis (Raleigh, N.C. / Ravenscroft) and 6-foot-9 wing
forward T.J. Hallice (Indian Trail, N.C. / Metrolina Christian
Academy).
"This is probably the best early group of signees we've ever had
here, and we are pleased to have such a great group joining our
family," said Gardner-Webb head coach Rick Scruggs. "All four young
men know how to play the game on both ends. We needed some size up
front and added a trio we think will help us there - but also three
big kids who can step out and shoot it.
"Michael can step out and knock down shots all over the court, and
T.J. is a tremendously versatile player who can drain shots from
deep and score in the post. Luke Davis was the top point guard
target on our board, and we feel he can come in and compete at a
high level very early. Luke's ability to run a team, from scoring
to creating opportunities for teammates, is impressive. He competes
against some of the nation's best on a regular basis at the high
school level."
"Santoine gives us an active, athletic presence down low," added
Scruggs. "He finishes well in traffic, is quick off the floor and
is a versatile player who can get up and down the court, and make
shots out to three-point range. His moves in the low post are very
effective on the offensive end, and he has shown the ability to be
a defensive force as a shot blocker. Santoine is a major piece of
the puzzle for us."
Butler, a long-armed and athletic presence, is playing his senior
season at Oldsmar Christian (Fla.) School under Coach Ryan
Pannone.
Butler starred at Cross Creek (Ga.) High as a junior under Coach
Tracey Gamble, averaging 15.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks
per game for the Razorbacks in 2008-09. He earned All-Area honors
from the Augusta Chronicle and was a first-team All-Region 3-AAAA
selection - teaming with current Gardner-Webb quarterback Keenan
Grissett in a high-paced offensive attack. He was the Razorbacks
defensive MVP as a sophomore and junior, and helped his squad to
the playoffs last season.
Butler was rated as the No. 24 overall prospect in Georgia by
ESPN.com for the Class of 2010 and as the Peach State's No. 6 power
forward prospect following his junior season. He played summer
basketball on the AAU circuit with Team Truth under Coach Curtis
Wheeler in 2009.
He chose GWU after considering UT-Martin, Coastal Carolina and
Radford.
Byron is the tallest player to sign with Gardner-Webb in four
seasons, and is a versatile big man who can score in the paint or
beyond the arc. He averaged 9.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks
per game as a junior - earning All-District honors in the top Class
5A basketball district in South Texas.
Davis is expected to star for one of the Old North State's top
private school programs in 2009-2010, and is the consummate point
guard - a deft passer with excellent court vision and the ability
to create off the dribble. ESPN.com rates Davis as one of the
state's top-10 senior point guards, and as one of the top-200 at
his position nationally.
As a junior, playing for a Ravens squad that went 25-7 and advanced
to the NCISAA Class 3A state title game, Davis averaged 8.3 points,
4.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He earned All-Conference
honors and was named to the All-Tournament team for the
GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.
Davis was also invited to participate in the prestigious Dave Telep
Carolina Challenge Camp prior to his senior season.
Prior to transferring to Ravenscroft, Davis starred at Broughton
(N.C.) High, earning CAP 7 Conference Player of the Year honors in
2007-2008 (14.7 ppg).
Hallice was an all-conference selection as a junior for Metrolina
Christian Academy near Charlotte, averaging a team-high 19.0 points
and 9.0 rebounds, 5.0 assist and 3.0 steals per game last season.
ESPN.com rates Hallice as one of the top-30 overall prospects in
North Carolina for the Class of 2010.
As a sophomore playing for Tabernacle Christian (Ala.) School,
Hallice averaged 14 points, four rebounds and a team-high four
assists per game - earning first-team All-Conference and team
offensive player of the year honors. Hallice led Tabernacle to a
state championship, averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists
and three blocks per game in the state tournament. He has logged
time in the backcourt, and was a point guard early in his prep
career.
The highly recruited Hallice - who boasts a 6-foot-10 wing span -
chose Gardner-Webb over Air Force and American University.
