Towson is taking names in recruiting

Ron Bailey, Publisher

New staff grinding on the recruiting trail.

October 11, 2011 – Since taking the Towson University’s men’s basketball reigns in May, Pat Skerry and his staff have hit the recruiting scene hard, roaring up and down the East Coast in search of players. The outlook of Tigers Basketball is trending upward, while conversely those of other Colonial Athletic Association teams may not be as rosy.

To date, Skerry and his staff of assistants Kevin Clark, Kenny Johnson, and Luke Murray have lured a quartet of players poised to join the program in 2012; Frank Mason, Jerome Hairston, Barrington Alston and TJ Parker. Hairston (6’1”) and Mason (5’11”) are guards, joined by frontcourt guys, wing forward Parker and power forward/center Alston, both 6’8”.

(Photo from Ice World)

Despite that impressive upcoming haul, Skerry et al are apparently not intent on relaxing, as this past weekend saw the Tigers hosted 15 players for unofficial visits, including several from the District-Maryland-Virginia region: Class of 2013 players Kelvin Howard and Jarius Lyles – both DeMatha Catholic (MD) students and Team Takeover AAU standouts participated. Joining them were Gonzaga (DC) student athlete Charles Glover, plus rival WCAC, Paul VI (VA) performers Jamal Robinson, Marcus Derrickson and Quandre Smith. Robinson joins the others in the Class of 2013, while Smith is a 2014 guy and Dickerson will graduate high school in 2015.

The group was on hand for a 31-28 Towson Tiger victory over CAA rival Richmond. The game took place at Towson’s Johnny Unitas Stadium. The contest saw nationally ranked Towson (#25) upset similarly lauded Richmond (#14) on the game’s last play.

Will such a festive atmosphere enhance the Tiger’s chances to land any of the 15 recruits on hand? Only time will tell.

One thing’s for certain; Towson’s staff is putting in the work.