Wildcats announce first four members of first DI signing class since 1960s
12/5/2012 5:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ABILENE – ACU men's basketball coach Joe Golding announced the program's first NCAA Division I signing class since the 1960s on Wednesday as the Wildcats added four new faces for the 2013-14 season.
The Wildcats -- who are currently playing their 40th and final season in the Lone Star Conference -- will move from NCAA Division II affilation to NCAA Division I status and the Southland Conference in 2013-14.
The class is headlined by high school guard Michael Grant, the first verbal commitment in this year's class. The other high school signee is 6-8 power forward Christian Albright. Golding also announced that ACU has added a pair of transfers in shooting guard Mike Harmon of Paris Junior College and 6-10 center Jacob Lancaster from Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College.
"I'm really excited about the young men we've been able to sign early, and what they bring to what we're building here at ACU," said Golding, ACU's second-year head coach. "We all know recruiting is a great challenge and anytime you can bring in good players who are also great quality people then you have something to be proud of and build around.
"I'm thrilled for these young men as I'm also thrilled for the ACU community that they have young men they can be proud of representing ACU," he said. "All of these young men come from great families, great basketball programs, and are proven winners. Most importantly, they are all excited to be part of what we are building here at ACU."
Grant is a 6-5, 190-pound swingman from McKinney Boyd High School where he played for head coach Nathaniel Christian. Grant played his first two years at Frenship High School where he was a teammate of current ACU freshman Tyler Rogers.
While at Frenship, Grant averaged 16 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists per game as a sophomore. As a junior he averaged 18 points and six rebounds to lead the team to a 30-4 record. He was a first team all-district, all-region and Texas Basketball Magazine all-state selection. TexasHoops.com also ranked Grant among the state's top-10 small forwards.
Grant's father is former Indianapolis Colts' draft choice Steve Grant.
Albright, who signed with the Wildcats out the Episcopal School of Dallas, had more than 20 NCAA Division I offers on the table before deciding to join ACU. Albright is a top 50 overall player and top 15 power forward in the state by Texashoops.com.
Last year as a junior he averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor (40 percent from 3-point range) and 75 percent from the free throw line.
As a high school standout at Katy Morton Ranch High School, Harmon averaged 23 points per game. His career single-game best was a 38-point effort as a senior in a game in which he hit nine 3-pointers. He led his team to a 30-6 record as a senior under head coach Carey Palmer.
Harmon is a starting shooting guard at Paris JC for head coach Chuck Taylor and is the Dragons' third-leading scorer in 2012-13. Current Wildcat Cornelius Cammock played at Paris JC from 2010-12 before coming to ACU this summer.
Lancaster is one of the top big men in junior college basketball in 2012-13. A 6-10 sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colo., Lancaster is averaging 10 points and seven rebounds for this season Northeastern and head coach Eddie Trenkle.
As a high school standout at Doherty High School in Colorado, Lancaster played for legendary head coach Dan McKiernan, who has been inducted into the Colorado High School Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.
A LOOK AT THE 2013-14 SIGNING CLASS
Michael Grant
6-5, 190 • Guard / Wing • McKinney Boyd HS • McKinney, TX
What the Coach is Saying:
"Michael Grant is one of the more talented high school players that we've signed here at ACU He will always hold a special place in the history here because he was the first to commit to ACU in this recruiting class. Michael is an exceptional athlete who can play above the rim, and he's a good rebounder. He's a tough kid who loves to compete and create problems for opponents on the defensive end. Michael has a great ability to attack the rim, and also get in the paint and create for his teammates. I'm a excited to see the things Michael will accomplish in his four-year career at ACU."
--- ACU head coach Joe Golding
Christian Albright
6-8, 225 • Forward • Episcopal School of Dallas • Dallas, TX
What the Coach is Saying:
"Christian is a player that we are extremely excited to have join us here at ACU. He's a young man who plays with a ton of passion and enthusiasm for the game. Christian is a big strong forward that battles for rebounds at a high level and gets excited to play hard-nosed defense. Christian is a left-hander with great touch from the perimeter, but will also play with his back to the basket and finish in the lane. He has good court vision and plays with a high basketball IQ. Christian will help establish ACU at the NCAA Division I level during his four-year career. Along with Michael Grant, Christian is committed to being an important part of building ACU into something special."
--- ACU head coach Joe Golding
Mike Harmon
5-10, 170 • Shooting Guard • Paris Junior College (Katy Morton Ranch HS) • Katy, TX
What the Coach is Saying:
"Mike Harmon is a young man who has had to work for everything he has gotten in his career. I appreciate Mike's maturity and his work ethic to be a great player. Mike is a sharp shooting guard who can really stretch a defense with his range from outside. Mike is quick off the dribble and is a good passer who can make plays for others. We believe Mike will provide not only outside shooting but also an experienced and veteran presence in our locker room. I coached against his head coach (Chuck Taylor) during my time at Arkansas-Little Rock and I have tremendous respect for the job he does instilling championship habits on and off the floor in his players."
--- ACU head coach Joe Golding
Jacob Lancaster
6-10, 240 • Center • Northeastern Junior College (Doherty HS) • Colorado Springs, Colo.
What the Coach is Saying:
"Jacob is a player we were very fortunate to sign early. As we all know, signing players with experience, size, and ability is very difficult to do at any level of college basketball. Jacob will be a tremendous addition to our team. Jacob is a good rebounder and a very versatile and skilled player for his size who can play inside and out. Jacob will have an opportunity to contribute right away for us and will continue to get better and better with every game he plays."
--- ACU head coach Joe Golding
The Wildcats -- who are currently playing their 40th and final season in the Lone Star Conference -- will move from NCAA Division II affilation to NCAA Division I status and the Southland Conference in 2013-14.
The class is headlined by high school guard Michael Grant, the first verbal commitment in this year's class. The other high school signee is 6-8 power forward Christian Albright. Golding also announced that ACU has added a pair of transfers in shooting guard Mike Harmon of Paris Junior College and 6-10 center Jacob Lancaster from Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College.
"I'm really excited about the young men we've been able to sign early, and what they bring to what we're building here at ACU," said Golding, ACU's second-year head coach. "We all know recruiting is a great challenge and anytime you can bring in good players who are also great quality people then you have something to be proud of and build around.
"I'm thrilled for these young men as I'm also thrilled for the ACU community that they have young men they can be proud of representing ACU," he said. "All of these young men come from great families, great basketball programs, and are proven winners. Most importantly, they are all excited to be part of what we are building here at ACU."
Grant is a 6-5, 190-pound swingman from McKinney Boyd High School where he played for head coach Nathaniel Christian. Grant played his first two years at Frenship High School where he was a teammate of current ACU freshman Tyler Rogers.
While at Frenship, Grant averaged 16 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists per game as a sophomore. As a junior he averaged 18 points and six rebounds to lead the team to a 30-4 record. He was a first team all-district, all-region and Texas Basketball Magazine all-state selection. TexasHoops.com also ranked Grant among the state's top-10 small forwards.
Grant's father is former Indianapolis Colts' draft choice Steve Grant.
Albright, who signed with the Wildcats out the Episcopal School of Dallas, had more than 20 NCAA Division I offers on the table before deciding to join ACU. Albright is a top 50 overall player and top 15 power forward in the state by Texashoops.com.
Last year as a junior he averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor (40 percent from 3-point range) and 75 percent from the free throw line.
As a high school standout at Katy Morton Ranch High School, Harmon averaged 23 points per game. His career single-game best was a 38-point effort as a senior in a game in which he hit nine 3-pointers. He led his team to a 30-6 record as a senior under head coach Carey Palmer.
Harmon is a starting shooting guard at Paris JC for head coach Chuck Taylor and is the Dragons' third-leading scorer in 2012-13. Current Wildcat Cornelius Cammock played at Paris JC from 2010-12 before coming to ACU this summer.
Lancaster is one of the top big men in junior college basketball in 2012-13. A 6-10 sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colo., Lancaster is averaging 10 points and seven rebounds for this season Northeastern and head coach Eddie Trenkle.
As a high school standout at Doherty High School in Colorado, Lancaster played for legendary head coach Dan McKiernan, who has been inducted into the Colorado High School Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.
A LOOK AT THE 2013-14 SIGNING CLASS
Michael Grant
6-5, 190 • Guard / Wing • McKinney Boyd HS • McKinney, TX
What the Coach is Saying:
"Michael Grant is one of the more talented high school players that we've signed here at ACU He will always hold a special place in the history here because he was the first to commit to ACU in this recruiting class. Michael is an exceptional athlete who can play above the rim, and he's a good rebounder. He's a tough kid who loves to compete and create problems for opponents on the defensive end. Michael has a great ability to attack the rim, and also get in the paint and create for his teammates. I'm a excited to see the things Michael will accomplish in his four-year career at ACU."
--- ACU head coach Joe Golding
Christian Albright
6-8, 225 • Forward • Episcopal School of Dallas • Dallas, TX
What the Coach is Saying:
"Christian is a player that we are extremely excited to have join us here at ACU. He's a young man who plays with a ton of passion and enthusiasm for the game. Christian is a big strong forward that battles for rebounds at a high level and gets excited to play hard-nosed defense. Christian is a left-hander with great touch from the perimeter, but will also play with his back to the basket and finish in the lane. He has good court vision and plays with a high basketball IQ. Christian will help establish ACU at the NCAA Division I level during his four-year career. Along with Michael Grant, Christian is committed to being an important part of building ACU into something special."
--- ACU head coach Joe Golding
Mike Harmon
5-10, 170 • Shooting Guard • Paris Junior College (Katy Morton Ranch HS) • Katy, TX
What the Coach is Saying:
"Mike Harmon is a young man who has had to work for everything he has gotten in his career. I appreciate Mike's maturity and his work ethic to be a great player. Mike is a sharp shooting guard who can really stretch a defense with his range from outside. Mike is quick off the dribble and is a good passer who can make plays for others. We believe Mike will provide not only outside shooting but also an experienced and veteran presence in our locker room. I coached against his head coach (Chuck Taylor) during my time at Arkansas-Little Rock and I have tremendous respect for the job he does instilling championship habits on and off the floor in his players."
--- ACU head coach Joe Golding
Jacob Lancaster
6-10, 240 • Center • Northeastern Junior College (Doherty HS) • Colorado Springs, Colo.
What the Coach is Saying:
"Jacob is a player we were very fortunate to sign early. As we all know, signing players with experience, size, and ability is very difficult to do at any level of college basketball. Jacob will be a tremendous addition to our team. Jacob is a good rebounder and a very versatile and skilled player for his size who can play inside and out. Jacob will have an opportunity to contribute right away for us and will continue to get better and better with every game he plays."
--- ACU head coach Joe Golding
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