Reports From LBSU
Long Beach State men’s basketball coach Dan Monson announced today (May 5) the signing of three players to National Letters of Intent. Edis Dervisevic (Western Texas College), Khalid Gerard (Technical Career Institutes) and Corey Jackson (Fashion Institute of Technology) will join the 49ers for the 2010-11 season.
“Hopefully they can add a championship to the team,” Monson said. “We have been very close to winning the league the last couple of years. Hopefully these three have enough experience and can help us. Offensively it gives us some different ways to play. Last year we didn’t quite have enough offense to win a championship in this league and I think all three of them bring different elements to that.”
Below are capsules on the three players:
Edis Dervisevic, F, 6-8, 245, Jr., Bronx, N.Y. (Savior Lutheran HS/Western Texas College)
Played two seasons at Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas … As a freshman averaged 7.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while making 59 percent of field goal attempts and 48.3 percent of 3-pointers … Finished fifth in the WJCAC Region 5 in field goal percentage making 72-of-122 shots … Scored in double digits six times, including a 21-point game and a 20-point game … Battled an assortment of injuries as a sophomore while averaging 5.2 points per game … Junior college coach was Jason Sautter.
Coach Monson says: “He is the best passing big man that we have had. He gives us a different dimension in there which you are always looking for, guys who can play different than what you already have. He can impact our team a great deal offensively without even scoring because he has a great feel for the game, he is a great post passer, he’s a banger who gives a physical presence in there and yet he can step out and hit threes to stretch the defense which we haven’t had. I just like his skill set offensively because he is different than any of our other big guys.”
Khalid Gerard, G, 6-4, 210, Jr., St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (Charolette Amalie HS/Technical Career Institutes)
Played two seasons at Technical Career Institutes in New York City where he earned first-team All-Region 15 honors as a sophomore and honorable mention all-region recognition as a freshman … Finished sophomore season sixth in the NJCAA in scoring, while ranking fourth in the country in 3-point percentage … During career had 12 games with at least 30 points and two games with at least 40 points … Scored a career-best 48 points, while also scoring 43 points in a game … Made nine 3-pointers twice during career and seven 3-pointers four times … As a sophomore averaged 23.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while making 49 percent of 3-pointers and 48 percent of field goals … Led Region 15 in scoring and 3-point percentage, while ranking 13th in field goal percentage … As a freshman averaged 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists while making 50 percent of 3-pointers and 52 percent of field goals … Finished among Region 15 leaders in scoring, 3-point field goal percentage and field goal percentage … Junior college coach was Pernell Hosier.
Coach Monson says: “Khalid is a flat out scorer and shooter. We struggled stretching defenses last year and being able to score baskets against zones and teams that were sagging on us. Khalid can play both wing spots, different than Corey, he can play the two but also play the three. He gives us a shooter in those spots and again that is one of the areas we really wanted to address and with Corey and Khalid we have some more perimeter skill packages that we haven’t had.”
Corey Jackson, G, 6-0, 195, Jr., Brentwood, N.Y. (Upper Room Christian HS/Fashion Institute of Technology)
Named second-team National Junior College Athletic Association Division III All-America … Earned Region 15 Player of the Year and first-team All-Region 15 honors … Finished 20th in the NJCAA in scoring … Averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while making 45.6 percent of field goals, 35.3 percent of 3-pointers and 73.5 percent of free throws … Finished fourth in Region 15 in scoring, while also finishing fourth in free throw percentage, 18th in field goal percentage, seventh in 3-point field goal percentage, 22nd in rebounds and 21st in steals (1.5 spg) … Named to the Region 15 All-Tournament Team after averaging 23 points per game, while leading FIT to the championship game … Scored 25 points in the quarterfinals in an 89-71 win, 23 points in the semifinals in a 83-66 win and 21 points in the championship game in a 98-81 loss … Junior college coach was Michael Kerr.
Coach Monson says: “Corey is a versatile guard. What I like most about him is that he is an off guard who can shoot the ball. He is strong, he can shoot the ball, he can get by people off the bounce and create his own shot, and he can also slide over and give Casper a break once in awhile. He fits that need of depth at the point and another shooter at the off guard position and one that can bounce the ball.”