Wabash Valley could have one more

Wabash Valley has been among the most prominent junior colleges in the country in sending players to Division One schools the last couple of years. Toby Madison has had ten players sign Division One letters of intent in the last two years, including Kevin Bridgewaters with Chattanooga and Vincent James with UNC-Asheville this spring. Madison thinks he has one more.

"Mario Brandon is originally from Chicago," Madison said. "He goes about 6-5, 205, he's sort of a combo three-four. He's very versatile, that's the thing people would like. He's able to step out on the floor if he's got a four guarding him and it would be a mismatch. If he's got a three guarding him, he'll take them in."

Brandon averaged about nine points and six rebounds on a team that had eight players between eight and ten points per game. Madison said Brandon is getting interest from some teams in the Ohio Valley, Horizon and Southern Conferences.

"I think he's a Division One player," the coach said. "He's gonna step into an Ohio Valley type school and be an impact guy."

Brandon will graduate in the next couple of weeks. His highwater mark this season may have come in a game where he put up 14 points and 11 rebounds against a Southeastern Illinois frontcourt that included Division One signees Takais Brown and Demar Dotson.

"He's tough. He competes and he's always around the ball," Madison said. "He's the type of kid, you know what you're getting every day in practice. You know what you're getting when the ball is tipped for a game. There are no question marks with Mario."

Except where he'll go to school next season.