Schertz Signs First Recruits For 2008-09 Season

HARROGATE, TN – Only weeks after taking over the helm of the Lincoln Memorial University men’s basketball program, newly hired Head Coach Josh Schertz announced on Wednesday his first four signees in what is hoped to be a revitalized era in Railsplitter basketball.

Schertz first signee, Justin Allen, a 6’4” 180 lb. PG/SG, hails from Lithonia, Georgia and comes to the Railsplitter program with numerous accolades.  On the prep level Allen played for Coach Sherman White of Miller Grove High School where he averaged 12 points and five rebounds per game, while handing out 4.5 assists and hitting 42% from three point range and 77% from the free throw line.  “I think Justin is the right player for the right situation,” said White.  “He will be a tremendous player at the college level.”

While on the high school level, Allen was a Georgia All-State Honorable Mention, received the Coca-Cola Athlete-Scholar Award, and was recipient of the Georgia Sports Council Character Award.  “Justin was the first player I thought of upon accepting the coaching position at Lincoln Memorial,” said Schertz.  “I look for Justin to be an immediate impact player at this level and to have a wonderful college career on and off the floor.” 

Also signing with Lincoln Memorial was Georgia Second Team All-State performer Brandon O’Brien, a 6’6” 195 lb. forward from Stone Mountain, Georgia.  O’Brien averaged 16 points and nine rebounds per game at Chamblee High School while hitting 52% of his shots from the field and 40% of his three pointers, which also helped him earn First Team All-Metro Atlanta honors.  “Brandon epitomizes what a student-athlete should be and is the kind of player you want to coach,” stated O’Brien’s high school coach Cesar Burgess. 

While on the prep level O’Brien played in the Georgia East/West All-Star Game and was Co-MVP of the squad.  As a senior, O’Brien led his team to the state play-offs where they finished the season with a 19-8 record.  “Brandon is a phenomenal athlete with tremendous upside,” says Schertz.  “I look for Brandon to have a wonderful career at LMU and help us immediately next year at multiple positions.”   

Another of Schertz signees, Josh Stanley a 6’6” 200 lb. forward from Spartanburg, South Carolina, comes to Lincoln Memorial as a transfer from Anderson University and Spartanburg Methodist Community College.  While playing for Anderson, Stanley averaged 6.1 points per game as a freshman before transferring to Spartanburg Methodist for his sophomore season where he played in 32 games, averaging 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.  “Josh is one of the best perimeter shooters I have ever had the opportunity to recruit,” said Schertz.  “When you combine that with his toughness and high basketball IQ, Josh has all the makings to be a terrific player at this level.”

Last season at Spartanburg Methodist, Stanley shot 52% from three point range, helping his team finish the year with a 24-8 record, good enough to finish second in their conference.  Spartanburg Methodist Head Coach Rob Burke said, “Josh is one of the hardest workers I’ve had the opportunity to coach and has improved dramatically over the past year.  He will be a terrific college player at Lincoln Memorial University.  Over the next two years you will see all of his hard work pay off.”

Tony Martin, a 6’5” 245 lb. F/C from Archbishop Moeller High School in West Chester, Ohio rounds out the first four men’s basketball signees.  Martin averaged 3.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game on a team that was No. 8 nationally last year in USA Today.  Martin split time on the high school level with Matt Roberts (Citadel) and Griffin McKenzie who is considered one of the top sophomores nationally. Out of that trio of centers, Martin played the most minutes, scored the most points and grabbed the most rebounds last year.  “Tony is a player I am really looking forward to coaching,” says Schertz.  “He plays with great passion and is as tough a player as I have ever been around.  He will do all the intangible things for us that make the difference between winning and losing.” 

Over the past two years, Martin’s team posted a 46-4 record, while winning an Ohio State Championship in 2006-07.  “I thought Tony was one of the most important factors in us being a nationally ranked program,” said Carl Kramer, Head Coach of Archbishop Moeller.  “Tony is a great post defender, screener and enforcer on the court.  He is a consummate team player who makes everyone around him better.”

Later this week, Railsplitter Head Coach Josh Schertz is expected to announce several more signees for the 2008-09 season.  If his first four signees are any indication of the caliber of players he will bring to the Lincoln Memorial University men’s basketball program in the future, Railsplitter basketball looks to be headed on the right track.