MOC signs three NLIs

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on May 26, 2006 2:19 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Veteran Mount Olive College men's basketball coach Bill Clingan has signed three more recruits to national letters-of-intent to play at the Division II school.

The trio of Josh Brown, Kendrick Easley and Lydell Walker increases the Trojans' recruiting class to five.

Brown, a 6-foot guard from Upper Marlboro, Md., averaged 15 points, five rebounds and five assists for Largo High School. He scored a team-high 17 points in the 33rd Annual Capital Classic All-Star Game and tallied 12 points and seven rebounds in the Prince George County All-Star Game.

"Josh is a great outside shooter and will give us much needed depth in the wing position," said Clingan. "We are extremely excited to have Josh join our program."

Easley, a 6-1 guard from Norfolk, Va., is a 2005 graduate of Granby High School, where he averaged 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. He was named Virginia Preps Eastern District Player of the Year and was selected to the Class 3-A All-State second team.

Easley also earned first team all-region honors and played in the 2005 Virginia Senior Classic All-Star Game. Last year, he attended Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H. and helped lead the team to a 19-9 record. Easley is the son of former All-Pro Seattle Seahawk safety Ken Easley.

"Kendrick is an extremely versatile player and can play a number of positions on the perimeter," said Clingan. "He is a great defender and shoots the ball well from the outside."

Walker, a 6-7 forward from Norfolk, Va., is a transfer from Penn State-McKeesport. In 2004-05, he averaged 16.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game to help lead the Lions to a 19-8 mark. Walker has two years of eligibility remaining.

"Lydell is an athletic forward who can block shots and rebound," said Clingan. "He gives us another inside player who can step out and hit the three. We expect him to help immediately in the post."

The three signees join guards Mike Holloman and Brandon Plummer, who signed in April.

Mount Olive finished 25-7 overall in 2005-06 and advanced to the NCAA Division II East Regional for the third consecutive year. The Trojans lost in the semifinals after advancing to the Elite Eight in 2005.

Mount Olive has posted three consecutive 20-win seasons and compiled a record of 77-20 (.794) during that stretch.

Men's soccer

Mount Olive men's soccer coach Jerry Riggs has signed three recruits -- Adrian Daniels, Zack Luna and Michael Donte -- to national letters-of-intent.

Daniels, a forward from Greenville, finished his prep career as the all-time leading scorer in J.H. Rose High School soccer history with 60 career goals. Daniels is a three-time all-conference selection and he earned all-region honors in his senior year.

Luna, a midfielder/defender from Jacksonville, helped lead White Oak High School to a Class 3-A state championship in 2004 -- the team's third consecutive appearance in the title match. Luna is a two-time all-conference selection and was named to the all-region and all-area first team in 2005. He tallied one goal and 13 assists in his senior year.

Both Luna and Daniels played club soccer for OCSA 87 Coastal Crew.

"Zack is a tremendous player and he will help us immediately both in the midfield and in the back," said Riggs. "He's played on a state championship team, so he knows what it takes to compete on a championship level."

Haynes, a midfielder/forward from Cary, helped lead Cary High School to back-to-back conference championships. He competed in the State Junior/Senior Showcase Games.

"Donte can score in many different ways," said Riggs. "I think he can make an immediate impact for us."

Riggs added, "All three guys are not only outstanding soccer players, they're very good student-athletes. I'm excited to have them."