New Detroit Titans basketball coach Ray McCallum and his staff scoured the countryside for talent this summer and fall and ended up making a significant upgrade in their roster with today's announcement of the signing of three new players for next season.
On their way to Titan Territory are an incoming freshman and a pair of junior college transfers:
• Curtis Eatmon, a 6-4, 180-pound guard (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Los Osos) who is transferring from Citrus (CA) College
• John Hoskins, a 6-9, 205-pound forward (Warren, MI/Conner Creek Academy East)
• Lamar Lee, a 6-0, 170-pound guard (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson) who is transferring from Highland (IL) Community College
“This is a recruiting class that gives us some more talent on the perimeter. We've got some guys with shooting ability,” coach McCallum said. “I think our coaching staff – Carlos Briggs, Jay Smith and Derek Thomas – did an outstanding job putting this recruiting class together. They did an excellent job identifying players who bring what we need.”
Eatmon began his career at Utah, playing 29 games for the Utes during the 2006-07 season. He started three games that year, posting a one-game high of 11 points against New Mexico, then sat out last season before enrolling at Citrus College for his sophomore basketball campaign. Citrus won the California state championship last season under head coach Rick Croy and is the pre-season favorite for 2008-09.
As a senior in high school, Eatmon was a first-team All-CIF-Southern Section and Baseline League MVP at Los Osos High. He led his team to the CIF quarter-finals, a league championship and a 25-5 record in 2005-06. He averaged 15 points, two rebounds and eight assists per game as a senior, and was listed among USA Today's Top 100 players in the 2006 recruiting class.
Lee is in his first season at Highland CC after playing last winter at Indiana State. He saw action in 18 games for the Sycamores and registered an outstanding 2.8-to-1 assist-turnover ratio as a point guard.
Lee was a first-team All-Area selection as a junior at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette after averaging 15 points, three rebounds and three assists a game. He was a three-time all-conference choice despite not playing as a senior after transferring to Jefferson High.
“The two guards, Curtis and Lamar, have experience. I like the fact that they have Division I experience already to bring with them as transfers,” coach McCallum said. “They're two high-level students. They'll fit into what we want of our players in the class room. They're good all-around athletes who have good all-around ability. They can play a couple positions.”
Hoskins, meanwhile, comes off an outstanding junior high school season during which he averaged a
double-double – 20 points and 14 rebounds – along with four blocks per game while being coached by his father, John Hoskins Sr. He also paced Conner Creek in three-point shooting accuracy, leading the team to a 10-10 record as an independent.
The new Titan was a second-team Class D All-State selection and was also picked third-team All-Macomb County (all classes). His father was a member of Oak Park's Class B State Championship team in 1984.
“With his talent and with his skill level, we're excited to have John Hoskins come aboard. He's a good student as well,” coach McCallum said. “I like the fact that he's a local Detroit kid. He's one of the more talented players in the city and not only that, but he's one of the more talented big men in the state.”
The Titans next hit the court on Saturday when they host Eastern Michigan in their home opener for 2008-09. Game time in Calihan Hall is set for 7:05 p.m.
-Detroit Titans-
