Nix And Sherman To Join Michigan State Basketball
11/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2008
Coach Izzo Press Conference Audio
Coach Izzo Press Conference Video
Nix and Sherman Video Highlights
Watch the Big Ten Network Signing Day Special Wednesday at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo announced Wednesday that two players have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Michigan State next fall and play for the 2009-10 Spartan basketball team. The signees include Derrick Nix (C, 6-9, 275, Detroit, Mich./Pershing) and Garrick Sherman (C, 6-10, 235, Kenton, Ohio/Kenton).
Derrick Nix (C, 6-9, 275, Detroit, Mich./Pershing) - Averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds as a junior at Pershing High School, playing for Coach A.W. Canada ... Helped lead Pershing to a 22-5 record and a spot in the Class A title game, totaling 12 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game ... Tallied 29 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the regional final win over Detroit Northwestern and 17 points and 16 rebounds in 79-77 state semifinal overtime win against Romulus ... Named third-team All-Detroit by The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press and honorable mention all-state Class A by the Detroit Free Press ... Rated the No. 56 player in the nation by Scout.com, including the No. 8 center ... Ranked as the No. 98 player in the ESPN 100, including the No. 9 center ... Rated the No. 117 player in the nation by Rivals.com, including the No. 16 center ... Played for Detroit Murray Wright as a sophomore ... Plays AAU basketball for The Family.
Izzo On Nix: "Derrick Nix's greatest attributes are his toughness and great hands. He has also played for great programs at both the high school and AAU level, so we know we are getting a well coached player who is very coachable and wants to get better. Derrick is an intriguing player in that his contributions will rely on his conditioning and his ability to get to a good playing weight. If he can make the same commitment that players like Zach Randolph and Draymond Green made, we believe he has all the skills necessary to succeed. One of the things we like best about Derrick is that he is passionate about the game and he really wants to be at Michigan State. With his knack for getting every loose ball, his great hands and very good footwork, we believe that he is a diamond in the rough."
Garrick Sherman (C, 6-10, 235, Kenton, Ohio/Kenton) - Averaged 23.3 points, 15.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocks as a junior at Kenton High School for Coach Terry Rowe, shooting 68.0 percent from the field ... Already established as the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder ... 2008 Second-Team All-State Division II honoree, as selected by The Associated Press ... 2008 Player of the Year in the Western Buckeye League ... 2008 District 8 Player of the Year ... Led Kenton to a 17-5 mark as a junior ... Averaged 17.1 points, 17.4 rebounds, 5.8 blocks and shot 61.5 percent from the field as a high school sophomore ... Averaged 16.8 points, 14.2 rebounds, 5.4 blocks and shot 64.5 percent as a freshman ... Three-time first-team all-league honoree ... Three-time First-Team All-Limaland honoree ... Rated the No. 63 player in the nation by Rivals.com, including the No. 8 center ... Rated the No. 99 player in the nation in the ESPN 100, including the No. 10 center ... Plays AAU basketball for the Columbus Basketball Club.
Izzo On Sherman: "Garrick Sherman is a very well-rounded big man, with the ability to shoot, rebound and block shots, as well as being an excellent passer. Because of where he played, he didn't get some of the early recognition that other players received, but we liked what we saw. He has great skills, very good timing, a tremendous work ethic and he is a very intelligent player that does all the little things. His potential to contribute initially will be based on his ability to adjust to the competition at the Division I and Big Ten level."
Signing Day Special airs Wednesday: The next class of Big Ten men's basketball stars will be introduced on the Big Ten Network at 6 PM ET on Wednesday, Nov. 12, during Big Ten Tonight: Signing Day Special. Dave Revsine and Jim Jackson will discuss the incoming players and break down which university's recruiting class will make the biggest impact in 2009-10 and beyond. The two will be joined for the hour-long show by recruiting expert Dave Telep of Scout.com.
