(Durham, NC) North Carolina Central University head men's basketball coach Phil Spence announced his first collegiate recruiting class Thursday, which includes two freshman and three junior college transfers, all hailing from North Carolina.
The five signees are Charles Nickens from Southern High School, Melvin Gray from Washington High School, Michael "Petey" Noel from Surry Community College, and Angelo Maddox and Johnny Chapman from Louisburg Junior College.
Nickens, a 6-3, 180-pound shooting guard out of Durham, is already being tagged a "hometown hero" by Spence. "When I took this job, I said I wanted to find a hometown hero," said NCCU's head mentor. "I have found one in Charles Nickens. He is not the most recognized player in Durham, but to me he is the best."
Spence has high expectations for the long-range shooter, who tallied three triple-doubles this past season. He predicts that Nickens will make a run at the CIAA Rookie of the Year award, and that he will become the all-time leading scorer in NCCU men's basketball history (currently Theodore Manning [1962-66] holds the top spot with 2,086 points). "He is a coach's dream," Spence said. "He can shoot, rebound, pass, and defend. He is a complete player."
Gray, a 6-3, 190-pound small forward, averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds per game during his senior campaign at Washington (NC) High School. According to Gray's head coach Sam Leggett (who played with Spence in the East-West All-Star Game during his high school playing days), those are the best numbers since Dominique Wilkins left the school. "He hustles, is fundamentally sound, and has a great attitude," Spence said of the two-time all-conference and team M.V.P. "He'll do all of the dirty work."
Noel, a 6-0, 175-pound point guard who played at Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, earned all-conference and all-region honors at Surry Community College the last two seasons. This past year, he averaged 15 points and six assists per game to charge Surry C.C. to the Region 20 championship game and a 24-5 overall record. As a freshman averaging 16 points per outing, Noel was named second-team National Junior College Athletic Association All-America. When Spence first saw him play, Noel scored 30 points and handed out 10 assists. The Eagle head coach believes the junior transfer can bring leadership and tenacity to the squad. "I expect him to be one of our leaders this year," Spence said. "He looks to pass first, but he can score. He can hit the right person at the right time with the right kind of pass."
Maddox, a 6-6, 210-pound forward out of Louisburg Junior College, played on the 1998 Goldsboro High School state 3-A championship team and participated in the 1999 East-West All-Star Game. Spence considers Maddox's strengths as rebounding, going to the basket, and being a team player. A teammate at Louisburg J.C. believes that Maddox, nicknamed "The Beast," will top the CIAA in rebounding. "He is a man among boys," Spence said about the junior.
Chapman, a 6-9, 240-pound power forward from Greenville, NC, averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game at Louisburg J.C. In one of his best outings, he dropped 36 points against Brunswick Community College, including six three-point baskets. As a high school senior at D.H. Conley, Chapman, who Spence said has "no fat ... anywhere," played in the East-West and North-South All Star Games. "He can step outside and shoot, and runs the floor like a deer," Spence said.
Overall, Spence is excited about his first recruiting class and is looking forward to the first day of practice on Oct. 15. "I would put this recruiting class up against anybody's," Spence said. "They are all quiet, young men. I think they will make everyone proud."
When NCCU hits the hardwood, Spence said fans can expect to see excitement and an up-and-down game. "We'll have a lot of athletes playing with a common goal," he said. "These Eagles will soar."
2001 NCCU Men's Basketball Recruiting Class Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown Last School Melvin Gray Fr. SF 6-3 190 Washington, NC Washington H.S. Charles Nickens Fr. SG 6-3 180 Durham, NC Southern H.S. Angelo Maddox Jr. F 6-6 210 Goldsboro, NC Louisburg J.C. Michael "Petey" Noel Jr. PG 6-0 175 Winston-Salem, NC Surry C.C. Johnny Chapman Jr. PF 6-9 240 Greenville, NC Louisburg J.C.