2012-13 Men's Basketball Incoming Dons

2012-2013 San Francisco Men's Basketball www.USFDons.com | @DonsAThletics

A Note From Rex Walters about the 2012 incoming class This is an exceptional class with great student-athletes.

These young men have all competed at the top ranks in their respective states and state tournaments. They all come from winning programs. It is an exciting group for me and reflects our ability to recruit student-athletes every year that are achieving at higher and higher levels on the court and in the classroom. We always aim to up the ante and we feel that this group definitely achieves that.

They are all very hardworking, coachable kids.

This group is about winning, and they understand the educational opportunities that USF will provide for them. Their average incoming GPA of 3.54 is a testament to their hard work and success in the classroom. The last few years we’ve coached our guys how to win, how to be successful. These studentathletes come from great backgrounds and we’re confident this is a big step in the right direction for our program.

These guys are going to be about winning, representing this University, and competing for championships. Our past teams have set the stage for this group to take it to the next, and a higher, level. We might be a young team, but you will watch this group grow up before your eyes and do great things. That’s what this thing is all about.

Thank you for your support of Dons Basketball, and we look forward to seeing you in War Memorial Gym next season.

Tim Derksen

6-3, 185, Guard (Tucson, AZ/Amphitheater High School) SENIOR PREP SEASON: Named the 2011-12 Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year… ranked No. 70 nationally at his position, No. 7 overall in the state… lifted the Panthers to a 30-4 overall record as Amphi reached the Division II State Championship where they fell to Peoria… averaged 22.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per game… shot .333 from three-point range and averaged 5.5 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game… 2011-12 Division II Arizona Basketball Coaches Association Co-Player of the Year… helped Amphitheater to a 114-16 record as a four-year varsity starter… an outstanding student, maintained a 3.81 GPA in the classroom… member of the National Honor Society… volunteered locally as a youth mentor and basketball coach.

AT AMPHITHEATER HIGH SCHOOL: Built an impressive prep resume and earned national attention after averaging 17.0 points, 11 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game as a junior... entered senior year having never lost a home game… ranked No. 6 overall in Arizona and No. 61 nationally at his position by ESPN... Gila Co-Region and Southern Arizona Player of the Year accolades and was selected to the 4A Division 2 All-State First Team… lifted the Panthers to the three best records in school history – 26-7 as a freshman, 29-3 as a sophomore and then lifted AHS to a 29-2 slate en route to the 2010-11 state championship... earned 2011 State Championship Player of the Game honors after leading the Panthers to the title... competes for the Arizona Magic Pump & Run AAU team.

Walters on Derksen "Tim is the first Gatorade player of the year, that I have ever recruited and signed, so that's really exciting for me. He's just an absolute worker. He's a coach's son, absolutely all about winning. He has a great feel for the game, good shooter. Makes his teammates better. Underrated athlete, he's a very good athlete that can get and play above the rim a little bit. He's got a good nose for the ball. He's just a winner."

Matt Christiansen

6-9, 235, Forward (Oklahoma City, OK/Bishop McGuinness) AS A PREP SENIOR: Teamed with incoming Don Joe Edmonds to lead Bishop McGuinness to the Oklahoma Class 5A state title in 2011-2012… ranked No. 53 nationally at his position, No. 2 in the state by ESPN… averaged 10.9 points per game as a senior… named MVP of Boys State Tournament Team…. named to the MaxPreps Class of 2012 Basketball Top-100 list.

AT BISHOP MCGUINNESS: Teamed with fellow incoming Don Joe Edmonds to lift the Irish to back-to-back Oklahoma Class 4A State Runner-Up finishes in 2009 and 2010... a four-year starter at McGuinness… captured All-State Honorable Mention selections following his freshman and junior campaigns...averaged 15.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per contest as a junior… a four-time all-tournament selection, including the 2010 All-State Tournament Team… was rated as the No. 2 player in the state of Oklahoma and No. 45 nationally at his position by ESPN following his junior season... attended the 2011 Reebok All-American Camp… competes for the Athletes First AAU team.

Walters on Christiansen "Matt really is a tough kid. He will physically compete, fight you in battle.

Pretty good back to the basket player, pretty good facing up as well, has a nose for the basketball. Will give us a defensive presence, in terms of physically putting his body out there, not afraid to mix it up. It's all about winning, trying to play and compete, win championships, which they did. He's going to have an opportunity right away, especially at the post position, to really get out there and help us win."

Frank Rodgers

6-8, 210, Forward (Salinas, CA/Cabrillo College) AT CABRILLO COLLEGE: In his first year at Cabrillo College, the Seahawks finished 24-4 overall and captured the 2012 Coast Conference South Championship... advanced to the third round of the junior college state playoffs where they lost to Fresno City College… averaged 11.6 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game… tallied 29 assists, 32 blocks and 39 steals.

AT SALINAS HIGH SCHOOL: Compiled a strong prep resume at Salinas High School and earned 2011 Monterey County Player of the Year honors after averaging 14.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game as a prep senior... a three-time all-tournament selection and the 2011 TCAL Tournament MVP… propelled SHS to the 2011 quarterfinals of the Central Coast Section Division with a 23-2 overall record... competed in the Central Coast Cagers AAU program.

Walters on Rodgers "Frank is probably the most under-the-radar guy. We saw him as a high school senior, really liked him and thought he had a chance to do great things. Every time we went out and watched him, he just got better and better. Frank can block shots, can score with his back to the basket, he can face up and even shoot the ball out to the three-point range. He's a great listener. watching him in practice, watching him in games, he really gets locked in. "

Joe Edmonds

6-5, 195, Guard (Oklahoma City, OK/Bishop McGuinness) AS A PREP SENIOR: Teamed with incoming Don Matt Christiansen to lead Bishop McGuinness to the Oklahoma Class 5A state title in 2011-2012… ranked 106th nationally at his position by ESPN and No. 4 in the state… averaged 13.4 points per game his senior season… named to All Tournament Team for the Boys State Tournament.

AT BISHOP MCGUINNESS: Lifted the Irish to back-toback Oklahoma Class 4A State Runner-Up showings in 2009 and 2010... averaged 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game… drew national attention and was ranked No. 4 in the state of Oklahoma and No. 103 nationally at his position by ESPN… competed for the Athletes First AAU team.

Walters on Edmonds "Joe is number one a great student, a great athlete. He's a guy that is all about winning first and helping his team in any way he can.

He made sacrifices this year because he knew that's what it would take to win the state championship and that was his number one goal. Everything about him is about winning. He is an intelligent player and does everything well. I'm excited about Joe and I think he's going to do some really good things."

Avry Holmes

6-2, 170, Guard (Salem, OR/North Salem) PREP CAREER: Enjoyed a standout career for North Salem High School… wrapped up prep career winning second consecutive Central Valley Player of the Year honor as a senior… averaged 20.9 points, 6.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game... captured first team allstate honors as a senior after being the only junior to garner all-state honors (second team) the previous year… a four-year starter for the Vikings… averaged 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.8 steals per game as a junior... North Salem posted a 40-14 record in his final two seasons and qualified for the Oregon 6A OSAA Playoffs both years… played AAU for the Team Bradley Northwest Panthers… a versatile athlete… was a second-team all-league receiver for the Vikings’ football team as a junior.

Walters on holmes "AvRy is a scoring guard, can play the point, maybe even attempt to play the two, can really shoot it with range. He's got a great body for the position, strong, physically strong for a high school kid.

Can score a lot of different ways. I love his feel for the game, because even though he can really score, he gets his teammates involved. I love his confidence and how hard he works. I think he's got a chance to be a really good player for us."

INcoming Dons By The Numbers

6

LEAGUE Player of the Year Accolades All-State Selections

3.54

average incoming GPA

State prep Championships won

1

4 3

Gatorade state player of the year

Junior College LEAGUE TITLES

1