Indians going bigger with new class

With all but two spots filled, the 2011 Chipola men’s basketball recruiting class is taking form.

That form? Big.

After being on the small side along the front line in his first two years at Chipola, third year Indians coach Jake Headrick has made size the priority with his third official recruiting class, as evidenced by the bulk of the four post players he has signed.

The most recent pull for Headrick may be his best in 6 foot, 9 inch, 235-pound center Jason Carter, a transfer from Alabama.

Carter only played 16 games as a freshman for the Crimson Tide, but Headrick said he believes the Houston, Tex., native will have an enormous impact on the Indians.

“Jason will bring a presence to the team that we haven’t had since I got here,” he said. “He can really score with his back to the basket, and he can also step out and make shots from the perimeter. I’m very excited about having a guy who can come in and be able to score and rebound the ball like he can.”

Carter isn’t the only high profile big man for the Indians, as 6 foot, 10 inch, 240-pound Joseph Uchebo – who originally signed with North Carolina State before deciding to leave after a coaching change – also has inked with the Indians.

Uchebo was rated a four-star recruit by ESPN and Scout.com, with Scout ranking him the No. 10 center in the nation for the class of 2011.

“(Uchebo) is a big time shot blocker and rebounder,” Headrick said. “He played in the Michael Jordan Classic game this year and had 21 rebounds. He’s a true low post guy who can clog up the paint. I just think with his body and where he’s at defensively, you put him with Carter, and you’ve got two guys who give us something we haven’t had the last couple of years. Both of them were top 100 kids coming out of high school.”

The Indians also signed 6 foot, 7 inch, 240-pound Marianna Bulldogs big man Kruize Pinkins, as well as Fort Pierce native Earl Watson, who comes in at the same height and weight as Pinkins.

Tevin Baskin, a 6 foot 7 inch, 225-pound transfer from Quinnipiac, can also play on the interior for Chipola.

The signings send a clear message as to what the Chipola staff saw as the biggest need moving forward.

“We’ve been thin the last two years. That size is something that we definitely have lacked, that physical presence and size,” Headrick said. “We’ll be a lot thicker this year. I’m just really excited about the bodies that those guys are going to bring down low.”

Chipola also signed a pair of guards in 6 foot Terrell Hall out of Dalton, Ga., and 6 foot, 2 inch Mo Lee from Bronx, N.Y., and return sophomore guard Aishon White.

But it could be Trantell Knight – younger brother of former Indians star Marcos Knight – who takes the reigns at point guard after red-shirting last season.

 PJ Lockridge gives Chipola some size on the perimeter as a 6 foot, 6 inch, 215-pound small forward, and comes in as a transfer from Rhode Island.

While size was the priority, Headrick said he couldn’t have asked for more from a total class.

“I feel like, as far as from a summer recruiting standpoint, this is probably the best job we’ve done in these three years of getting talent, getting transfers, and getting guys with experience and guys with character,” he said. “I’m really excited about what these 10 guys will bring to the table.”

The Indians made a big jump in Headrick’s second year, bouncing back from a last-place finish in the Panhandle Conference in the 2009-2010 season with a regular season league title in 2011 and an appearance in the state title game.

Headrick said he believes that he and his staff are addressing the needs necessary to get to the next level.

“Obviously, we got bigger from year one to year two, and we’ll be even bigger this year,” he said. “Just having guys we can throw it into down low and score with their back to the basket will open things up. Last year, I thought our defense carried us most of the season. We only averaged 65 to 70 points per game, but we were able to hold opponents to 60.

“This team I think will be more skilled with the big guys, who will be able to score it down low and be able to step out and shoot it as well.”