Lakers Strengthen Perimeter With Signing of Illinois JUCO

MORROW, Ga. -- The Clayton State Laker men’s basketball team and head coach Gordon Gibbons moved a step closer towards completing its 2007-08 recruiting class on Tuesday with the signing of junior guard/forward Ricky Garrett from Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Ill.

Garrett becomes the fifth signee of the 2007-08 Laker recruiting class, joining point guard Tracey Williams from Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla., junior wing Bernard Fields from Aiken Technical College in Aiken, S.C., sophomore wing/small forward Will Lewis from Truett-McConnell Junior College in Cleveland, Ga., and freshman power forward Torrin Green from North Clayton High School in College Park, Ga.

The addition of the 6-foot-5, 195-pound Garrett to go along with Fields (6-4, 190), Lewis (6-6, 210), Williams (6-1, 190) and returning three-year starter Michael Sloan (6-4, 180) makes the Lakers bigger, stronger and more athletic on the perimeter for the 2007-08 season.

“Ricky brings experience and athleticism to our program,” said Gibbons, who is 121-57 in six seasons at Clayton State. “He will compliment his teammates with his good all-around game.”

A native of Rome, Ga., Garrett played two seasons at Wabash Valley for veteran head coach Dan Sparks, one of the winningest head coaches all-time at the junior college level. This season, he averaged 10 points and three rebounds a game for a balanced Wabash Valley squad that finished 20-11 for the 2006-07 season.

He opened the season with a bang, scoring 27 points against Volunteer State and 21 points against Lincoln Land. For the season, Garrett reached double-figures in 10 games for the Warriors this season, garnering second team NJCAA All-Region 24 honors.

Garrett enjoyed a stellar prep career at Rome High School, where he averaged 13 points and four rebounds a game and was selected first team All-Region. In addition, he was also selected two-time All-Area by the Rome News-Tribune, and finished his career ranked fourth all-time in points scored at Rome.

Gibbons plans to finish the recruiting class by signing one, maybe two players before the team reports back to campus for the fall semester.