USU basketball team adds two, loses one

Utah State Men¹s Basketball Adds Two High School Standouts  LOGAN, Utah ­ Utah State men¹s basketball coach Stew Morrill announced Tuesday that Preston Medlin and Tyrone White have signed National Letters of Intent to compete for the Aggies beginning in the 2009-2010 season.  Both players will enter the program with four years of eligibility. 

Medlin, a 6-3, 165-pound guard from Carrollton, Texas, averaged 22.5 points per game as a prep senior and led Hebron High School to a 20-11 record and an appearance in the District 6 Championship game.  During his senior season, he shot 53.0 percent from the field, 44.0 percent from three-point range, and 76.0 percent from the free throw line.

 “Preston is a very good offensive player who scores the ball easily,” said Morrill.  “With physical maturity and strength he will become a very good Division I basketball player.”  Medlin, who is ranked as the 43rd-best prep player in Texas by Texas Hoops, scored a career-high 34 points in the district championship game against L.D. Bell High School and scored 30-plus points three times during the year.

 “I think Utah State is a great place to play basketball and the environment in the Spectrum is amazing,” said Medlin.  “I feel like my style of game will fit in well with Coach Morrill and the system they run, and I¹m excited to be a part of the program.”     
As a prep senior, Medlin led his district with 739 points and was the second-leading scorer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  He was named the District 6-5A Offensive Most Valuable Player as a senior and was a McDonald¹s All-American nominee.  He also earned all-region honors during his senior season, along with earning all-district honors as both a junior and senior.  During his junior campaign, he averaged approximately 13.0 points per game.

     White, a 6-6, 175-pound guard from Portland, Ore., averaged approximately 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game this past season at the Air Force Academy Prep School helping his team post the second-best record in school history at 25-7.  During his one year at the Air Force, White scored 30 or more points four times including a season-high 39 points against Northwestern Colorado Community College.      “Tyrone has a lot of versatility in his game,” Morrill stated.  ” He is skilled offensively and motivated to rebound and defend.  Like most young players, he needs to get stronger to reach his potential at our level.” 

    During his senior year of high school in Portland, Ore., White averaged approximately 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for Jefferson HS as his team won the 2008 state championship. White, who earned all-city and second-team all-state honors as both a junior and senior, was also the student-body president at his high school carrying a 3.5 grade-point average.   

   “The main reason I decided to play for Utah State was I¹m used to playing good basketball, and I want to win and go to the NCAA Tournament,” said White.  “I think I will bring a lot to the table for Utah State because I can play more than one position and I¹m a versatile player. I also think I am a fun person to be around and will provide a positive attitude for my teammates.” 

    “Both Preston and Tyrone are quality young men who understand how important character has been and will continue to be in our program,” added Morrill.    

  Utah State also announced Tuesday that freshman guard Dominique Cooks (Wollongong, Australia) will not return to the team.  -USU-