Miami Signs Impressive Class

OXFORD, Ohio—Miami University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Charlie Coles announced today (Nov. 11) the signing of three student-athletes to national letters of intent. Inked to join the RedHawks in 2010-11 are 6-foot-8 forward Jon Harris (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg), 6-foot, 180-pound point guard Quinten Rollins (Wilmington, Ohio/Wilmington) and 6-foot-4, 200-pound Josh Sewell (Louisville, Ky./Trinity).

Sewell, touted as a top candidate for Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball award, enters the 2009-10 campaign with 890 points and is closing in on the Trinity High School’s all-time scoring record. As a junior, he earned third-team all-state honors. Sewell has earned all-region honors the past two seasons and was an all-tournament team selection for the 27^th District as a junior. During his time with the Shamrocks, he has helped the team to two 20-win seasons, ranking 16^th in the state a year ago with a 22-8 mark. As a junior he averaged 15.2 ppg and 7.0 rpg for Trinity.

“Josh Sewell, in my mind, is the most aggressive perimeter player I’ve ever signed as a head coach,” said Coles. “This guy is aggressive on offense, he takes the ball to the basket, he’s got a great pull-up jump shot, needs to work on his outside shot a little bit, but boy can he get fouled. On defense, he’s equally as aggressive. Physically, he could play for our basketball team right now. That’s what excites me most about him. He’s ready to play physically and he’s ready to play mentally.”

Rollins averaged 27.0 ppg, 4.0 apg, 5.0 rpg and 2.0 spg as a junior at Wilmington High School. He was a third-team all-state selection and First-Team All-Southwest District pick in 2008-09 and was tabbed the conference Player of the Year in 2007-08. Rollins has been a three-time first-team all-conference selection in basketball and earned first-time all-conference distinction in football as sophomore and junior. He has helped the Hurricanes to two 20-win seasons, including a 22-3 record a year ago, and helped them to back-to-back conference titles.

“Quinten Rollins is probably the best combo football/basketball player we’ve ever signed,” said Coles. “This young man had over 350 yards of total offense against Cincinnati Turpin in a playoff game a few weeks ago. Quinten is equally as good on the basketball floor, and probably better. If he had decided to play football, he would probably have been a high recruit, but he loves basketball and tells me he loves Miami University, and I’m so glad because I think this guy can come in, along with Josh Sewell, and play right away and not give up anything.”

Harris averaged 14.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.55 spg and 2.2 bpg as a junior for Twinsburg High School. He helped the team to a 14-6 league record in 2008-09 and was a first-team all-conference selection and earned all-district accolades.

“If someone would ask me who has the most professional potential of any guy that I’ve signed since (Wally) Szczerbiak, it would be Jon Harris,” remarked Coles. “He’s 6-foot-8, very thin, but very skilled. He shoots an outside jump shot and really can shoot the ball. Plus, unlike most 6-foot-8 kids, he can get the shot off on his own. He doesn’t need a screen. His biggest drawback right now is physical strength. It may take him a month or two when he gets here, but there’s no doubt in my mind that that young man is headed for basketball success.”