Thursday, May 30, 2013

Warriors Sign Medford

OTTUMWA --- A player who was an NJCAA All-American two years ago will be coming to Indian Hills to continue his basketball career.  IHCC coach Barret Peery has signed Lester Medford, a 5’11”, 185-pound, point guard from Tucson, Arizona to a letter-of-intent.
As a freshman at Arizona Western, Medford was named a second-team All-American, first-team All-Conference, first-team All-Region and the region’s Freshman of the Year in leading his team to the region championship.  He averaged 17.9 points, scoring 20 or more in a game a dozen times, 4.1 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 39.3 percent from three-point range.
Peery said that “Lester’s experience as a freshman and the success that he had will be great for us here at Indian Hills.”
Asked what he likes about Medford’s game, Peery said, “Lester will bring great speed and quickness to our team.  He really fits how we play with his athleticism and he is a really talented offensive player.”
Medford led his Amphitheater High School team in Tucson, Ariz. to a 29-2 record and a state championship as a senior.  He was a three-year starter there and posted averages of 19.2 points, four assists and three steals as a senior.  He sat out last year after his lone season at Arizona Western.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Frank Williams Latest Warrior to Sign

Ottumwa -- Frank Williams took a serious look at a handful of Division I schools where he would continue his education and basketball career.  In the end, the 6-7 guard from Kansas City, Mo. chose to sign with a school only a few minutes from his home.

Williams signed a national letter of intent with the University of Missouri-Kansas City and will play for new coach Kareem Richardson with the Kangaroos.

After a freshman season in which he was sidelined for eight games with an injury, Williams emerged as a sophomore to be one of IHCC's best outside shooters.  He made 62 3s, second on the team, and shot 38 percent from 3-point range.

Williams averaged 12.2 points a game as a soph with a high game of 27.  He reached double figures in points in 19 games and was the only IHCC player to appear in all 30 games.

Williams nearly doubled his scoring average from his freshman year, when he scored 6.4 points while playing in 14 games.  He suffered a broken bone in his arm in an early-season game at Ellsworth and missed eight games.

"I chose to attend UMKC to play basketball for coach Richardson because I feel that he will run a system that has been very successful in the college game today," said Williams.  "Also, because the university is in my hometown, I have the opportunity to play in front of my friends and family."

Richardson took over the UMKC program this spring after serving as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Louisville.  He said, "Frank brings our team experience and a tremendous ability to make shots.  We couldn't be more excited to have Frank become a part of the UMKC family."

Williams is the eighth player from this past season's Indian Hills team to sign with a Division I school.