Thurgood Marshall graduation 2012
Badin vs. Versailles
Law Enforcement Memorial Day
Home > Blogs > Flyer Connection: University of Dayton sports > Archives > 2009 > November > 11 > Entry
Staten, four others sign with UD
Juwan Staten, one of the most heralded recruits in University of Dayton basketball history, has signed a national letter-of-intent with the Flyers this morning, making his commitment official.
Staten, a 5-11 senior point guard for Oak Hill Academy, is ranked as the 44th-best prospect nationally by Rivals.com and the 64th-best player by ESPN.com.
All five Flyer recruits signed today. The other four — Devin Oliver of Kalamazoo, Mich.; Brandon Spearman of Chicago; Jesse Berry of Lafayette, Ind.; and Ralph Hill of Westerville, Ohio — help give UD a recruiting class that is ranked in the top 30 nationally by Rivals.com and Scout.com.
“Today’s a great day for our future,” UD coach Brian Gregory said. “It started a little more than two years ago when Juwan made his commitment. As excited as I was that day, I’m even more excited today.
“What we did a few years ago was build the program with a great commitment to local talent, and Juwan is another example of that. I believe in the last four years we’ve been able to bring in the top player in this area (counting junior Chris Wright, redshirt freshman Josh Benson and true freshman Matt Kavanaugh). We wanted to make that commitment not only to this area, but also to the Dayton Public Schools.”
Staten may be the most talented player Gregory has recruited in his seven seasons. The Dayton native is ranked as the 11th-best point guard nationally by ESPN and the 12th-best by Rivals.
He was a little less highly regarded by Scout.com, but he still was ranked No. 82 overall and No. 17 as a point guard.
“With the way we play, the pace we play at and the intensity we play with, you need a high-quality floor general to lead that attack, and we have that in Juwan,” Gregory said. “He’s proven that right here in the city in leading Thurgood Marshall to the state finals last year. He’s proving it at a national high school level at Oak Hill. And he proved it all summer long winning all those championships with his AAU team as well.”
Gregory believes playing high-caliber competition at Oak Hill will benefit Staten.
“There’s no doubt he’s being challenged every day in practice. He’ll also grow up. He’s on his own in a different type environment that’s challenging academically and basketball-wise,” Gregory said.
Spearman also is a highly rated player, ranked No. 116 in the Rivals.com top 150. And he’s an accomplished offensive player, he’s known more as a defensive stopper.
“That was the first thing that really drew me to him, his toughness and his ability to guard just about anybody — and his willingness to do that,” Gregory said. “And then all of a sudden, you started watching him and he’s making plays on the offensive end, too, because he has a great motor. We’ve been pretty successful with guys like that.”
Permalink | Comments (34) | Post your comment |
Comments
By Jim
November 11, 2009 10:33 AM | Link to this
Outstanding! Great signing for the Flyers. Well done BG. And Juwan, the Flyers will show you lots of love. GO FLYERS!
By Kramer
November 11, 2009 10:33 AM | Link to this
Yada, yada, yada. Now we officially have to put up with his old man’s BS for four more years. Billy’s a pain in
By A-Train
November 11, 2009 10:40 AM | Link to this
This class is going to lead UD to the Promise Land… Go Flyers!!!
By Bigben7Tony
November 11, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this
Actually you are the one full of BS and a pain in the butt Kramer. This is a great day for UD basketball and even the haters can’t ruin it!!!
By luv the blur
November 11, 2009 11:00 AM | Link to this
Staten is a Great’n and no one’s lamer than Kramer
By Jimmy The Geek
November 11, 2009 11:01 AM | Link to this
Billy is already on board. Nah Nah Nah Nah to all those nay-sayers who thought he would back out of his commitment. Great job Juwan and the Flyers coaching staff.
By #1 foam finger
November 11, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this
Yea baby!
By Just the Facts
November 11, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this
“He ain’t goin’ to no mid-major like UD. He be goin’ to one of them there BCS skools….” WELL, HOW ABOUT THAT!? Welcome, Juwan! Your glorious signing makes it official: 95% of the mouth-breathing, unemployed, sub-humans on this message board have absolutely no idea what in the world they’re talking about. Now, perhaps REAL Flyer fans can have a free exchange of ideas on here, without your worthless noise.
By OSU Joe
November 11, 2009 11:16 AM | Link to this
I wish Tha Ohio State College would have signed him. Are program is sinking faster dan a rock.
By 12penguins
November 11, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this
I will admit that I did not think this was going to happen when Staten went to Oak Hill, but I am happy that it did. It will be interesting to see how his game grows from this point forward.
By barryUD67
November 11, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this
With the signing of Juwan comes the beginning of a new era. I am so excited about what this will do for the program. I see the flyers as a fixture in the top 25 for years to come. Go UD !!
By GoFlyers
November 11, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this
THE BLUR!!
By Jimmy The Geek
November 11, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this
barryud67, maybe the next 4-5 years they will be a top 25 team, lets not get carried away:)Staten went to Oak Hill to play against better competition. This will help him adjust to the college came a lot faster. He’ll be A-10 Rookie of the year, 1st teamat the point and POY at some point before he leaves UD to play for Pay$$$.
By Old Flyer
November 11, 2009 1:23 PM | Link to this
On the first day for LoI signing, too! Juwan, welcome and best wishes for a brilliant career at UD and thereafter.
By John Lacy
November 11, 2009 1:55 PM | Link to this
What fabulous,fabulous news!!!!!!!!!! Excellent signing and a beautiful, banner recruiting class signed on the cusp of what could be the most memorable Flyer campaign on the hardcourt EVER. Way to go BG, and great choice Juwan, youll love playing in front of 13,000+ every night!!!! We are UD!!!!!!!!!!!!
By 84Flyer
November 11, 2009 1:55 PM | Link to this
Sweet. GO DAYTON FLYERS!
By John Lacy
November 11, 2009 1:56 PM | Link to this
What fabulous,fabulous news!!!!!!!!!! Excellent signing and a beautiful, banner recruiting class signed on the cusp of what could be the most memorable Flyer campaign on the hardcourt EVER. Way to go BG, and great choice Juwan, youll love playing in front of 13,000+ every night!!!! We are UD!!!!!!!!!!!!
By PMthor
November 11, 2009 2:07 PM | Link to this
Drat! I hate Dayton!
By Negele
November 11, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this
This guy is really good.
By kontender
November 11, 2009 2:33 PM | Link to this
a-train what promise land is staten and them taking yall to nowhere. my question is why would staten go to oak hill if he wasn’t trying to get to a better school he cuda just stayed at thurgood.
By Bobby
November 11, 2009 2:42 PM | Link to this
UD will still lose to Xavier.
By agraham
November 11, 2009 2:46 PM | Link to this
Juwan, give all the hell you can. Good luck.
By PMthor
November 11, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this
…but I do love the smell of a men’s locker room!
By Phlyer Phan
November 11, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this
The next Neagle Knight, but better!!
By Fan
November 11, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this
If he stayed at Thurgood he woul not have gotten far. He was better off moving just as he did. I’m glad he is coming to UD. His family is nice and he stood by his word. Which shows a lot!!
By Darrell
November 11, 2009 5:37 PM | Link to this
Congrad’s to UD, you stole a diamond in the rough Best Of Luck Staten!!! And so far as for the Hater’s for Billy Staten I think he is a stand up man who just wants the best for his son. I live In Texas now but will be watching from afar, maybe come home next winter to catch a game, again GOOD LUCK!!!
By FlyerOne
November 11, 2009 5:46 PM | Link to this
Welcome Juwan! With the ball in this young man’s hands, get used to it - he’ll not lose to Xavier in his 4 years at Dayton. Mark it down. He, his mates and BG are that good.
By bub
November 11, 2009 6:05 PM | Link to this
Awesome! Now, if Chris Wright could only be convinced to stay through his senior year—WOW. THAT would be a final four team… CW would be considered a top 5 first round pick—-more money, more playing time, no D-league.
By Musak
November 11, 2009 7:13 PM | Link to this
Great signings, UD! Top to bottom, this is a really interesting class. Looks like we have some more guys to run the floor…I love how intense and energetic a team the Flyers have become.
By rogers the truth
November 11, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this
go flayers
By rogers the truth
November 11, 2009 7:45 PM | Link to this
let me correct myself GO FLYERS
By John F
November 11, 2009 11:31 PM | Link to this
Ready some of the comments on here remind me why I left Dayton. He is a kid, and some of the things said on here should be flagged. I hope the young man rocks the house for UD. This is fantastic news for that program.
By Flyer Lady
November 13, 2009 1:39 PM | Link to this
We’ve got the players, the team, the spirit, the class, the coach , the arena, the fans, the mascot (rUDy), beautiful campus, outstanding academics, undefeated women’s soccer team, A10 champs in men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball. We’ve got it all—Go UD, beat Creighton!
By seo lace
May 2, 2010 1:07 AM | Link to this
I am having a hard time readiong your page in IE 8.4, I juwt figured I might tell you about it?