Monroe Sophs Starting to Take Trips
With the losses of several key sophomores off this year's fifth place NJCAA finisher, it wasn't surprising to run into Monroe College Head Coach Jeff Brustad at the EKB Roundball Showcase on Sunday.
So it was the perfect opportunity for JUCO Junction to ask Brustad where his trio of Ryan Williams, Kingsley Edwards and Kevin Bell might be headed in the fall.
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Edwards, a spunky and athletic 6-1 combo guard, took his first official visit to Central Florida last weekend (Apr. 11-13).
Brustad said that Edwards is also slated to visit Drexel (Apr. 18-20) and Florida International (Apr. 25-27) before arriving at a decision this spring.
Edwards, who spent last year at Butler County C.C. in Kansas before transferring into Monroe, averaged 15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game for the Mustangs in 2002-2003.
As for Williams, he met with St. John's Head Coach Mike Jarvis last week, according to Brustad. If the Red Storm offers a scholarship and Williams can take care of business in the classroom, there's a good chance he could sign with the Big East school this spring.
Brustad said that Buffalo, Manhattan, Creighton and Dayton have also shown an interest in Williams. The key issue could become what schools can admit him based on certain grades on his transcript.
A tremendously athletic forward who lives above the rim and pounds the offensive glass, Williams averaged 15.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 2002-2003. He shot 53 percent from the floor and 60 percent from the free throw line.
Lastly, 6-2 point/combo guard Kevin Bell has set up one official visit this spring to Florida A&M. Brustad said that Florida International, Binghamton and Manhattan are also monitoring Bell this spring.
Graduation could be the key issue with Bell, who might be forced to go the D-II route should he not graduate by the end of the summer.
Bell, who began his college career at American University before spending a year and a half at Arkansas-Fort Smith, averaged 16.6 points and 7.6 assists for the Mustangs this season.
JUCO Junction will stay on top of all three players' situations this spring, so keep it here for the top coverage of JC recruiting on the internet!