May 9, 2003
Head coach Brad Holland and his staff signed on two more athletes to their already outstanding recruiting class for the 2003-2004 season.
The most recent signing was Brice Vounang, a 6-8, 240-pounder from Eastern Oklahoma Junior College in Wilburton, Oklahoma, who will transfer to USD for the 2003 fall semester. Penciled in to replace the inside play of Jason Keep, Vounang is a physical player that excels down low on the blocks. A native of Cameroon, Vounang averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds last season in earning All-Bi-State Conference and All-National Junior College Athletic Association Region II (Oklahoma/Arkansas) honors. He shot 63% from the field and 68% from the free throw line.
"In losing Keep we had to find a legitimate post player, and Brice is our answer," stated head coach Brad Holland. "At 6-8, he likes to run to the block and establish position. He will give us a legitimate inside player for the next two years."
The Toreros will also receive the services of 6-5 wingman Floyd North III, the San Diego Union-Tribune Prep Basketball Player of the Year for 2000-2001 at St. Augustine High. He is transferring from Oregon State and will be required to sit out the 2003-2004 season, but will have two years of eligibility with the Toreros.
Over the past two seasons at Oregon State he played for two different head coaches. As a freshman under Ritchie McKay, he played in all 29 games and started 12. He shot 50.5% from the field and his high-point games were 11 against Stanford and Oregon. After McKay left for New Mexico, this past season he played for Jay Johns. He started 21 of 28 games, averaging 5.3 ppg and 3.6 rpg. His career averages at OSU in 57 games were 5.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 43.5 FG% and 31.6 3PT%.
"We are real excited to get Floyd on the rebound from Oregon State," added Holland. "He is an outstanding 6-5 wing athlete who has really improved his perimeter game and outside shot. We see him as a player that will make an impact in our program, especially in scoring and defense."
These two recruits will join 6-8 forward Brandon Gay (Seward CC in Kansas) and Michael Hubbard (Bellflower, CA) for the fall semester. Gay and Hubbard committed last November during the early signing period. Gay, who played in the Jayhawk Conference, arguably one of the top JC conference's in the nation, was selected the conference Most Valuable Player. Hubbard did not play this past season due to injury and will have four full years of eligibility with the Toreros.
