Lander men's basketball signs Virginian Chidozie Omile

GREENWOOD – Lander head men's basketball coach Jeff Burkhamer announced today (Aug. 13) that Chidozie Omile, a 6-4 wing from Woodbridge, Va., has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Bearcats this fall.

Last year as a senior at Hylton School, where he played for Coach Barry Smith, Omile averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game, while shooting 54 percent from the field and 72 percent from the free throw line. He had a season-high 33 points against Osbourne High School and a high 18 rebounds against Brooke Point. He was also selected to play in the prestigious Virginia High School All-Star Game.

"We believe Chidoze will provide an immediate impact on our basketball program," said Burkhamer. "Not many freshmen can come into the Peach Belt and immediately play, but I believe Chidozie will be able to contribute right away.

"(He) is a big wing who can do a variety of things on the court. He runs the floor in transition, scores to 21 feet, is a great rebounder on both ends of the floor, and is a terrific passer."

Omile will be battling for playing time left vacant by All-American Dwight Tolbert.

"Chidozie is a strong, athletic perimeter player," added Burkhamer. "He is also a good student and should excel in the classroom."

Omile hasn't decided on a major yet.

"I feel that I am prepared for college work and look forward to deciding on a major," said Omile. "On the court, I feel that I can solidify the perimeter game and get immediate playing time. I had a number of other schools, including some Division I programs, recruit me, but I felt Lander was the right place for me."

MAY. 17, 2012- STEP YOUR GAME UP, LLC

MAY. 15, 2012-VIVA LOUDOUN/BLOGSPOT.COM

Boys Basketball: Briar Woods 4-Year Standout Tate Commits to Play at Mars Hill College in N.C.

MAY. 10, 2012-CNEAGLES.COM

Benson, Eagles add three to 2012-2013 signing class

JEFFRSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman basketball has signed three student-athletes for the 2012-2013 season, head coach Chuck Benson announced on Thursday. Guard Jay Lane (Manassas, Va.), guard Andrew Barnett (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) and forward Josh Rogers (Bristol, England) have all signed to play for Benson and the Eagles in the upcoming season. The group joins Knoxville-product Carson Brooks (Knoxville, Tenn./West High School) in this year's class. "I am very excited about this class," Benson said Thursday. "All four of these young men are quality student-athletes and will represent our institution in a first-class manner."

 Lane joins the Eagles as the all-time leading scorer in Osbourn High School history. The combo guard led his team to the Virginia 3A State Quarterfinals in his junior and senior seasons. He was named to the VHSCA 3A All-State First Team and was a three-year co-captain at OHS. His mother, Terry Sutton, played basketball at East Carolina University. "Jay (Lane) is going to be a very versatile player for us," Benson said. "He is a great on-ball defender and is very physical on both ends. He is a good lefty shooter with a smooth stroke from beyond the arc."

Barnett comes to C-N from nearby Pigeon Forge High School where he scored over 1,000 career points and was twice named his team's MVP. He was a two-time all-district selection, and was named all-Region as a senior.

In the classroom, Barnett was a four-year member of the school's honor roll and was involved in Beta Club and Student Government. "Andrew (Barnett) is a long, lean athlete and a tremendous shooter," Benson said." He was a prolific scorer in high school and will build on that here. His athletic ability will surprise a lot of people." Rogers, a 6-7 small forward, comes to C-N from Bristol, England, where he was a standout at Cotham School, averaging 19.5 points, 13 rebounds, and 3.5 blocked shots per game. "Josh is a big perimeter player," Benson said of the Eagles' overseas signee. "He's not a traditional international player though, he's got an Americanized game. He is very skilled on the perimeter, but he attacks the rim off the drive, and is a factor around the rim on defense and offense."

The group joins an Eagle team that returns all of its key pieces from a young squad that went 15-14 this past season, led by All-South Atlantic Conference selections Ishmael Sanders and Antoine Davis, both of whom will be juniors next season. Carson-Newman will also have the services of Division I transfers Odell Parker (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Cody Henegar (South Pittsburg, Tenn.). Parker sat out last season after transferring from Wofford, but has been on campus for a full year and practiced for the Eagles all of last season. Heneger transferred at the semester after playing his first two seasons at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where he had 12 points against Florida State as a freshman. Both give the Eagles an improved physical presence inside. Parker is a versatile 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward, while Heneger is a 6-9 post with good shooting ability.

Benson enters his third season as head coach of the Eagles this fall. He led the Eagles to their first winning record in four years last season with a team comprised predominantly of underclassmen. 

APR. 11, 2011- INSIDENOVA.COM

Forest Park's Dominique Major to sign with St. Francis for men's basketball

By David Fawcett 
Published: April 11, 2011

A close friend [Jay Jackson] of Dominique Major runs a recruiting service[Step Your Game Up, LLC] and offered to send out tapes (highlight video and player profile) to colleges to attract attention for the Forest Park senior boys basketball player.

About a month ago, one of the tapes caught the eye of St. Francis head men’sbasketball coach Don Friday. A few days later, Friday came down and watchedMajor play in a game and decided he had seen enough. He offered Major right on the spot.

Major wanted to first visit the Pennsylvania school and get a feel for the campus before committing. But after taking his official trip two weeks ago,Major himself decided he had seen enough.

With current St. Francis players texting Major or contacting him throughFacebook, encouraging him to come to the school, Major committed to the Red Flash and will make his choice official Wednesday when he signs his national letter of intent.

“I had a number of different schools from Division III, II and I looking at me,” Major said. “Basically, I was in no rush to make a decision, even when it got down to crunch time. I wanted the best fit for me and my family.”

Major, an all-Cardinal District selection this past season who finished as the area’s leading public schools scorer with a 21.3 points per game average, is expected to play point guard at St. Francis. The program currently has a sophomore starting at that position, but Major is going to be looked at to come in and split time with him.

“My dad [Jay] and I put in a lot of hard work and dedication. That’s one of the big reasons I was able to get this scholarship,” Major said. “Plus, there was the hardwork in the classroom.”

St. Francis plays in the Northeast Conference and last season finished 7-11 in the league and 9-21 overall.