DETROIT (6/18/13) – University of Detroit Mercy head men's basketball coach Ray McCallum has announced the signing of three student-athletes for the 2013-14 season. Guards Matthew Grant (Los Angeles, Calif./Westchester HS) and Jarod Williams (Danville, Va./George Washington HS), join forward Patrick Ackerman (Rutland, Mass./Penn State University) on the Titans roster.

"We are very excited about this incoming class," stated coach McCallum. "We have a good combination of athletic big men, along with perimeter players that can create their own shots, while still helping others. All of these guys are winners and good all around players. 

Grant, a 6-2 shooting guard from Los Angeles, played for head coach Ed Azzam at Westchester High School. Grant was named the 2013 LA City Section Player of the Year along with earning Western League Player of the Year accolades, while receiving MaxPreps All-State honorable mention. Grant averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game as a senior and helped lead the Comets (29-7) to the LA City Division I title.

Grant, who was ranked No. 10 among guards in California by MaxPreps, played AAU for the Compton Magic. He was also recruited by Long Beach State and Utah Valley State among others.

"Matthew is a terrific jump shooter that can create his own shot and go to the basket," said coach McCallum. "He is also an outstanding defender."

Williams is a 6-2 point guard from Danville, Va., where he attended George Washington High School and was named the 2013 Danville Register & Bee All-Metro Boys' Basketball Co-Player of the Year. Williams, who averaged 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game his senior season, was also named to the All-Western Valley District first team and All-Region second team after leading the Eagles to a 21-3 overall record.

Williams, the 2012 Western Valley District Tournament MVP, was coached by Thomas Carr and received scholarship offers from Duquesne, James Madison, Mount St. Mary's, Norfolk State, Northeastern, Ohio, and Western Kentucky.

"Jarod is a combo guard that can shoot from outside and attack and finish around the basket," stated coach McCallum. "He has a strong body and will be a good defender."

Ackerman, a 6-11 forward transferred to UDM after playing his first two years of collegiate ball at Penn State. Ackerman played in 13 games in 2012-13 and 25 total in two seasons with the Nittany Lions.

Ackerman was a standout at the Worcester Academy where he was nominated for the 2011 McDonalds's All-American basketball game and was a three-star recruit by Rivals.com. He was also ranked among the top-20 senior-to-be prospects in his region according to the New England Recruiting Report and had a breakout summer on the AAU circuit, earning All-Tournament Team honors at the GymRat Challenge in Albany, N.Y.

Ackerman will sit out the upcoming season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have two years of eligibility left.

"Patrick brings two years of B1G Ten experience with him and will have two years of eligibility remaining," said coach McCallum. "With his size at 6-11 he can go inside and outside."

The three recent Titan signees also join Patrick Onwenu (Detroit, Mich./Highland Community College) to form another stellar recruiting class. Detroit, which recorded its second-straight 20-win season last year, lost five players from the 2012-13 squad, including P.J. Boutte and Gabriel Dos Santos, who were granted releases to transfer, but look forward to adding sophomore guard Carlton Brundidge, along with the incoming class to the rotation this year.