MOBILE, Alabama -- Spring Hill College (SHC) men's basketball head coach Aaron Niven has announced the commitment of nine student-athletes for the upcoming 2016-17 season. "We are very proud of this year's class," Niven said. "Not only is it deep in numbers, but it is an extremely talented class that will help us improve our program not only this season, but for years to come."Arguably the most noteworthy addition to the Badger roster is 6-foot, 2-inch transfer guard Andrew Dotson who joins SHC after spending his freshman season at NCAA Division I member the University of New Hampshire where he appeared in six games and averaged 1.5 points per game. Dotson prepped at Arlington Martin High School in Texas where he was the 2014-15 District Offensive MVP and finished his senior season as the second highest scoring player in his Area with 20.3 points per game. Also in 2014-15, he earned a spot on the Star Telegram All-Area Super Team and played in the Metroplex 24 All-Star Game. As a junior in 2013-14, Dotson earned 1st Team All-District accolades while averaging 15 ppg. He was the 2012-13 District Sophomore of the Year with an average of 14 ppg after earning a spot on the varsity team as a freshman in 2011-12.
"Andrew is a player that can really score the basketball," said Niven. "He has the ability to create shots off the bounce as well as off the catch. With a year of Division I experience under his belt we feel that he will be very valuable to our team this season."
Brandon Fischer is a 6-foot, 7-inch forward from Buford, Ga. He played his freshman season at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., and appeared in 24 games with one start for a 1.5 ppg average, 1.7 rebounds per game, and a season high of 11 points versus Merrimack on January 16, 2016. He played is prep career at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, N.Y., where his team won the New York State Championship in 2014-15. In his senior year, Fischer was a New York State All-Star Honorable Mention player, a Suburban Council All-Star and a Saratogian 1st Team Basketball All-Star.
"Brandon is a big, strong player who is very tough," Niven said. "He finishes well with either hand around the basket and has the ability to hit shots from the perimeter, as well. We feel that he will help add toughness and experience to our frontcourt."
Forward Ryan Littel is a 6-foot, 7-inch player from Enterprise (Ala.) High School who earned his team's Most Improved Player Award in 2015 while also appearing on the Alabama South All-Star Team roster. He won the 2016 Marcus Hornsby Mr. Basketball Award at EHS and was named to the 2016 Dothan Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team. Littel won the Southeast Sun Defensive Player of the Year Award as well as the EHS Team MVP Award as a senior. "Ryan is a long, athletic big man who can hit shots from the perimeter and really runs the floor well," says Niven. "We think that with his athleticism and his ability to run the floor he has the chance to develop into a very good player for us."
Hailing from Madison Preparatory Academy in Baton Rouge, La., William Loyd is a 6-foot, 4-inch wing/forward who won the 2015 Scouts' Focus Dunk Contest as well as the 2015-16 Louisiana State Championship. He held the highest GPA on his team and won The Advocate Player of the Week Award in January of his senior year when he also earned a spot on the All-District 1st Team. "William is a strong, athletic wing who can really get to the rim off the bounce," Niven said. "He also has the strength and athleticism to guard multiple positions well and is a very good rebounder. Will is a winner and will be able to do a lot of things to help our basketball team."
Standing 6-foot, 5-inches, Shawn Moore is large for a guard, but Niven likes his style of play. "Shawn is a long point guard who sees the floor well and can really defend well," he says. "We think his length and ability to knock down shots will allow him to be a very good player for our basketball team." He prepped at Avon High School in Indiana where his team won the Conference Championship in 2014 and was Sectional Runner-Up in 2016. He was the Team MVP in 2015and a 1st team All-Conference selection. Moore led the conference in steals as well as performing in the classroom as a Presidential Scholar Award winner and making his school's High Honor Roll. He completed his career with the seventh most steals in AHS history and the ninth most career blocks.
Gresyn Rogers is a strong 6-foot, 5-inch wing player who prepped at Casa Grande (Ariz.) Union High School under head coach Gino Crump where he was named Team MVP as a senior. "Gresyn is an athletic wing who is very skilled with the basketball," said Niven. "He has the ability to knock down open shots and is both athletic and strong enough to get to the rim and finish through contact. We believe Gresyn's best basketball is ahead of him."
Forward Jeffery Pharr joins the parade of 6-foot, 7-inch student-athletes signed by the Badgers this summer. He prepped at Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and All-District 2nd Team. He earned Academic All-District and Academic All-State honors while winning two varsity basketball letters. "Jeffery is long forward who can really run the floor," says Niven. "We believe that his athleticism and length will allow him to be an asset to our basketball team."
Danny Bajrami is a 6-foot, 2-inch guard from Cypress Lakes High School in Houston, Texas, where he won recognition as a 2nd team All-District athlete on the court as well as Academic All-District honors in the classroom. "Danny is a very athletic guard who can get to the basket off the bounce and knock down the open jumper," Niven said. "We believe with his athleticism and his ability to score in a variety of ways, Danny will be a good addition to our basketball team."
Deandre Lacy is also a 6-foot, 2-inch guard who joins the Badgers after playing his freshman season at Bishop State Community College in Mobile. Lacy played his prep career at Greenwood (Miss.) High School where he graduated with honors and was a member of the Greenwood Commonwealth All-Star 1st team. He was the GHS Basketball Team MVP and a member of the GHS baseball and football teams. "Deandre is an experienced guard who can play a variety of positions," says Niven. "With his ability to get to the rim off the bounce and hit shots, we believe Deandre will help our basketball team immediately."
The Badgers will open the 2016-2017 season at the annual Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)/Gulf South Conference (GSC) Challenge hosted by Union University in Jackson, Tenn., beginning on Friday, November 11, versus Shorter University.
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