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Collins adds 4, subtracts 3 from WSSU basketball
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Published: May 13, 2008
Coach Bobby Collins of Winston-Salem State needed a little of everything in his recruiting class, and he signed four players who he says can make immediate impacts.
"The bottom line is we needed to fill some holes, and we feel like these four guys are not only good kids, they can also play," Collins said. "They all will have a chance to compete for us."
The recruits are 6-8 Stephon Platt, 6-5 forward Mike Boner and guards Jamarcus McClinton and Lamont Monger.
Collins also lost three players from last season's team -- rising junior Darius Floyd, rising senior Mike Puckett and rising sophomore Max Funderburke -- when he chose not to renew their scholarships.
Floyd started 18 games at guard last season and averaged 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds. Puckett played in 11 games in the first semester and was the team's best shooter but was academically ineligible for the second semester.
Collins said that it was important to sign players who could help immediately. However, Platt has yet to qualify. He averaged 18.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.9 blocks last season at Scotland High in Laurinburg.
"Stephon can play on the inside, and he can step outside a little bit," Collins said.
Boner can shoot the 3-pointer and is also a great rebounder, according to Collins. Boner played at Perquimans High in Hertford and was the Albemarle 1-A Conference player of the year after averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
"I really like his versatility, and he's a (small forward) who I like to have in my system," Collins said. "He's agile and is hungry, and I just liked his energy."
Monger, a 6-0 point guard from Ahoskie, was a three-time all-conference player who also was recruited to play football at Duke, according to Collins.
"He's a pretty solid point guard and is very strong," Collins said. "There were a lot of schools after him for football, but he wanted to play basketball."
McClinton, a shooting guard from Chester (S.C.) High, averaged 26 points and eight rebounds last season.
"I actually got some tape on him and saw him play, and he's a scorer and has that mentality," Collins said.
Collins said that adding depth was his first priority.
"We have an opportunity to strengthen our program with these four talented freshmen," Collins said.
■ John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com.
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