GWU Men's Basketball Signs Five Student-Athletes
May 18, 2009 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb University announced
Monday that five student-athletes had signed National Letters of
Intent with the men's basketball program.
Forward Keith Manley (6-5, 190), point guard Eddie Gray (5-8, 170),
forward Luke Engelken (6-7, 215), shooting guard David Brown (6-2,
180) and forward Stefon Johnson (6-6, 210) have cast their lot with
the Runnin' Bulldogs, and should add immediate scoring punch in
2009-2010.
Manley starred at Grimsley (N.C.) High in Greensboro, recently
finishing a prep career that saw him score over 1,000 points, pull
down more than 800 rebounds and swat away more than 200 shots for
the Whirlies.
As a senior this past season, Manley averaged 19.0 points, 10.1
rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, shooting 56.0 percent from the
floor in the process. He was a two-time, first-team All-Area
selection by the Greensboro News & Record, and an All-District
choice as a junior and senior – and was named Metro 4A
Conference Player of the Year in 2009.
Manley posted averages of 15.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks
per game as a junior in 2008. He chose Gardner-Webb after
considering Elon and Air Force.
"Keith is a combo forward who can score inside and out, and adds a
solid dose of athleticism to our roster," said GWU head coach Rick
Scruggs. "Our staff has been keeping tabs on his progress, and we
feel that he is a young man who can be an integral part of our
rotation."
Gray starred this past season at Highland (Kan.) Community College
in the traditionally strong Jayhawk Conference. The speedy
Cincinnati, Ohio, native was an honorable mention All-Jayhawk
selection after averaging 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds
per game. Gray scored a season-high 32 points in a matchup with
Coffeyville, knocking down six three-point baskets in that game. On
the season, Gray averaged 4.5 made free throws per game
(138-of-172, 80.2 percent), pilfered 44 steals and ranked 10th in
the Jayhawk Conference in scoring, 11th in three-pointers made,
10th in free throw percentage and 11th in assists per game.
Gray spent one season at NCAA Division II tournament participant
Northwest Missouri State before matriculating to Highland CC. He
was a first-team All-City selection on the prep level after
averaging more than 18 points per game as a senior at Cincinnati's
Taft High.
He chose Gardner-Webb over Coastal Carolina.
"Eddie is a very quick point guard who can score in the lane, get
to the free throw line or hit the long distance shot," said
Scruggs. "He is a very capable passer as well and has shown a very
strong ability to get his teammates involved on the break and in
half court sets. We think his experience, playing in a tough league
and against top notch guards, will help us quickly."
Engelken also played in the Jayhawk Conference as a sophomore,
starring at perennial powerhouse Butler (Kan.) Community College.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder led the Griz to a 24-9 record and an 11-5
league mark, averaging 10.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists
per game. The versatile Engelken led the team with 77 made
three-pointers (37.2 percent) and was also among the team leaders
in scoring and rebounding. He had 19 points and 12 rebounds in a
win over Allen County, and dropped in 18 points and 15 boards vs.
Coffeyville.
The St. Joseph, Mo., native played his freshman season at Iowa
Western Junior College, and was a two-time All-State choice at
Mid-Buchanan (Mo.) High. Engelken was rated as one of the top-40
prospects in Missouri as a senior by Rivals.com, and averaged 21.4
points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in 2007.
Engelken chose Gardner-Webb over Youngstown State.
"Luke is the type of big forward we've had success with here in
year's past," Scruggs said. "He can score on the block, but is very
comfortable, and effective, stepping out and making shots from
deep. He is a very smart, hard-working basketball player, and we
are very excited to have him join our program."
Brown is a standout shooter from long distance who has three years
of eligibility remaining after starring at Broward College in the
junior college ranks as a redshirt freshman in 2008-09. The
Margate, Fla., native led his team in scoring (14.2 ppg), and added
4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals per outing. The team MVP
and Broward Male Athlete of the Year recorded a triple-double
during one regular season game, scoring 13 points to go with 11
rebounds and 10 assists.
Brown made 40.1 percent of his three-point attempts on the season
(75-of-183), earning first-team All-Southern Florida Conference
honors in the process. He netted a game-high 25 points in the
opening round of the FCCA State Tournament, earning a spot on the
All-Tournament team.
A star at the American Heritage School at Boca-Delray as a high
school player, Brown led the Stallions to the Class 2A State
Playoffs from one of the state's toughest regions, averaging 22
points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He was the
second-leading scorer in Palm Beach County and earned first-team
All-Area honors from the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and was an
honorable mention All-State choice. Brown was a second-team
All-County choice as a junior after averaging 16.0 points, 4.3
rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, leading the Stallions in
scoring.
Brown redshirted in 2007-2008 at NAIA powerhouse Lee University in
Tennessee. He chose Gardner-Webb over Montana State.
"David can score the basketball, and has done so consistently at
each stop so far in his career," Scruggs said. "He has good size,
and had some success in the junior college ranks this past season.
He's a very strong shooter from distance. He has three years left
to play with us, and we think he's a great addition."
Johnson is rated as one of the nation's top-200 power forward
prospects in the Class of 2009 by ESPN.com after a strong career at
Princeton (Ohio) High in Cincinnati. The athletic forward helped
the Vikings to a 25-2 record and a state runner up finish in Ohio's
top classification in 2009, averaging 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds
for a team that featured six Division I recruits.
A two-time All-City selection by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Johnson
played his best against top competition. He netted 16 points and 10
boards in a win over Arden (N.C.) Christ School and a frontline
that included Duke recruit Mason Plumlee. As a junior, he scored a
season-high 17 points vs. nationally-ranked St. Benedict's (N.J.)
and McDonald's All-American Samardo Samuels (Louisville). Johnson
averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 boards per game for the Vikings as a
junior, earning honorable mention All-State honors. Johnson chose
Gardner-Webb over Norfolk State and Morehead State.
"Stefon is an athletic post player who can step in and play some
significant minutes for us next season," said Scruggs. "He has gone
up against top competition, and played at a high level, in high
school. Princeton was one of the most talented teams I've seen, and
Stefon was a big part of their success."
The quintet boosts Gardner-Webb's recruiting class to six members,
joining standout point guard Brian McNair (6-1, 175) of The
Greenfield School in Wilson, N.C., who signed with GWU in November.
McNair earned All-State honors in 2008-2009 after averaging 16
points, six assists and four steals in leading Greenfield to a 31-6
record and the state semifinals.
