Alabama State University men’s basketball coach Lewis Jackson has announced the addition of six players to the 2012-13 Hornet basketball team headlined by local standout Tony Armstrong from Carver High School, and in-state star Billy Ingram from Sumter Central.
Armstrong averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds for the 6A State Champion Wolverines. The 6′-5″, 185 pound forward showed his versatility with 21 double-doubles over the course of the season.
“We are excited to get a player like Tony Armstrong into our program,” Jackson said. “He is coming to us from the 6A State Champions and can do a lot of things. He is a kid who has played on the highest level of basketball and understands what his role has been on the teams he has played on under Coach James Jackson. He can score and he can rebound and we are really excited to get someone of his talent because I believe with all of the things he can do, his upside is tremendous.”
Ingram (Bellamy, Ala.) stands 6′-6″ and led Sumter in scoring at 23 points per game. Like Armstrong, he is a strong rebounder averaging 12 boards a game.
“Billy is another player who can do a lot of things,” Jackson added. “He is a great scorer and is not afraid to get in and work for rebounds. He is another player from here in the state of Alabama we are truly excited about joining our program.”
The coaching staff was able to reach into the talent-rich area of Chicago to land 6′-2″ point guard Terrell “Tre” Green from Simeon Career Academy. Green averaged 15 points and eight assists per contest in leading Simeon to a pair of state championships. Following his career at SCA, he spent a season at ABCD Prep located in Dallas.
ASU also signed an international talent in Umut Akkepenek. At 6′-5″, the Istanbul, Turkey native can play either a guard or forward position. He averaged 19 points per game in his final season at Impact Academy in Sarasota, Fla.
The Hornets were looking for some size in the lane and have found Eric Tucker from Omaha, Neb. He stands 6′-10″ and weighs 245 pounds. He played at Ralston High School, but spent his first two years of college playing at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb. He averaged seven points and six rebounds per game, but he also averaged three blocks per outing, which was 10th in the nation among the Junior College (JUCO) ranks.
Robert “Bobby” Brown is from nearby Douglasville, Ga. He could add some excitement to the floor as he brings with him a 42″ vertical jump to go along with his 6′-7″ frame. Like Akkepenek, he can play either at guard or forward and averaged 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots per game at Lithia Springs High School. Read Full
