Media Guides

            Ashland University head basketball coach Roger Lyons and his staff have completed their recruiting class for 2008-2009. The AU coaches attracted seven newcomers who will begin their collegiate careers this fall.

            Information on the incoming group can be found below.

            Darius Brents (Detroit, MI/Mott C.C.) – Brents is a 6-0, 175-pound point guard who will be a junior in the fall.  While at Mott Community College he played on teams that won two National Junior College Athletic Association national championships (2007 and 2008).  Mott’s two-year record while he was there was 65-7.

Brents played his high school basketball at Detroit’s Crockett High School.   In 2006 he was the Southwest Conference player of the year.  As a senior he averaged 22.8 ppg., 6.0 apg., 4.3 rpg., and 3.0 spg.

Gabriel Garcia (Medina, OH/Kent State) – A 6-11, 250-pound center, Garcia will be a senior in 2008-2009.  Garcia spent last season at Kent State.  In 2006-2007 he played at Schoolcraft Junior College where he averaged 11.0 ppg., and 7.0 rpg.  Garcia was named to the conference all-star team in 2006-2007.

Bylynn Hatcher (Alliance, OH/Grand Rapids C.C.) – At Grand Rapids C.C., Hatcher made the conference all-star team and received the school’s outstanding male athlete award.  As a sophomore at Grand Rapids, the 6-2, 170-pound Hatcher averaged 15.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg., and 3.0 apg.  His senior year at Alliance High School Hatcher averaged 19.0 ppg., 7.0 rpg., and 3.0 apg.  He was a first team all-conference choice and named to the Summit County all-star team.  Hatcher was also named to the All-Eastern Ohio all-star team.

Jordan Jennings (Navarre, OH/Fairless) – The 5-10, 150-pound Jennings will be a freshman in the fall. Twice in his career he was the conference’s player of the year.  He was named third team All-Ohio once and honorable mention all-state on another occasion.  Jennings was named first team All-Stark County.  His senior year he averaged 20.7 ppg., 7.4 apg., and 3.2 rpg.  He owns Fairless single-game records for points (54), assists (15) and three-point field goals (10).

Jennings played on two teams (2006, 2007) that won district championships.

Alex Mrozik (Lublin, Poland/Youngstown State) Mrozik, a 6-7, 170-pound guard-forward, will be a junior in the fall.  He played his high school basketball in Georgia at Community Christian High School where he averaged 13.0 ppg., and 8.0 rpg., his final season.  As a senior he was named to the all-area team.

Blake Saunders (Las Vegas, NV/Sonoma State) – Saunders is a 6-7, 215-pound forward.  He played one year at Sonoma State, an NCAA Division II institution, and averaged 9.0 ppg., and 4.8 rpg.  He shot 54.2 percent from the field.  Saunders will be a sophomore in 2008-2009.

At Hinsdale Central High School, Saunders was a two-time all-conference and all-area performer.  He was named the Suburban Area player of the year.  As a senior, Saunders averaged 15.5 ppg., 12.9 rpg., 3.3 apg., and 3.3 bpg.  He shot 61.5 percent from the floor.  His junior year Saunders was good for 11.7 ppg., 7.9 rpg., 4.4 apg., and 3.3 bpg.  Hinsdale won back-to-back regional championships.  Saunders ranks among Hinsdale’s top three in career rebounds and blocked shots. He’s among the school’s Top-20 all-time leading scorers.

Chuck Turnbo (Cleveland Heights, OH) – Turnbo will be asked to provide help in the backcourt. He’s a 5-11, 160-pound guard who averaged 16.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg., and 5.0 apg., as a senior.  In his final season he helped Cleveland Heights go 19-6 and advance to the district finals.

Ashland is an NCAA Division II institution that is a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).  Last season, the Eagles finished 13-15 and advanced to the first round of the GLIAC playoffs.

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