DePaul University Athletics
Men's Basketball Signs Five For Next Season
11/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 10, 2010
CHICAGO - When he was hired in April, DePaul head coach Oliver Purnell described his recruiting philosophy as starting from the inside and working out. He followed through on the philosophy in his first full recruiting class with a group rooted in Chicago and stretching north of the border to Canada and south to the Gulf of Mexico.
Braeden Anderson, Macari Brooks, Jamee Crockett, Shane Larkin and Derrell Robertson each signed a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday and head to Lincoln Park starting next season. The five signees cover each position on the floor and all five are described as explosive athletes that will thrive in Purnell's signature "high pressure defense, high pressure offense" system.
"I'm very pleased with the makeup of our first full recruiting class. I think we addressed a lot of needs for next year's team," said Purnell. "We were able to sign a guy at each position. I think we have guys that shoot the basketball, guys that have the ability to defend and overall a very athletic class."
The class features five players that can play a multiple positions. Brooks and Crockett head north from Chicago's south suburbs while Anderson, a native of Canada, joins Larkin from Orlando, Fla., and Robertson from Mendenhall, Miss.
Anderson is a 6-8 forward that is at Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Mass., this season. The Okotoks, Alberta, Canada native played last season at Creedmoor (N.C.) Christian Faith Academy where he averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game. He played on the summer circuit for Grassroots Canada and ESPN.com ranks him among the top 50 power forwards in the 2011 recruiting class.
"Braeden Anderson is a tremendous athlete for his position," said Purnell. "He is a developing big guy who has a thirst to get better. He has great size."
Brooks, a 6-2 guard, enters his senior year at Rich South High School in suburban Richton Park, Ill., this season. He played for the Mac Irvin Fire AAU program and is ranked in the top 60 shooting guards in the 2011 class by ESPN.com. Crockett, a 6-4 forward, also played for the Mac Irvin Fire on the AAU circuit and begins his final prep season at Crete-Monee. Known as one of the most athletic players in Illinois, Crockett is ranked among the top 80 small forwards in this year's recruiting class.
"Macari Brooks is an outstanding athlete who is a natural scorer from all over the floor. I was very impressed with his toughness and tenacity as well," said Purnell. "Jamee Crockett is probably as good an athlete as I saw all summer. He's improved his ability to the outside shot. He is a tremendous runner and finisher."
Larkin is a 5-11 point guard at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla. He picked up first team Class 6A All-State honors as a junior after averaging 19.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.5 steals while leading Dr. Phillips to a 27-6 record and state runner-up finish. Ranked among the top 25 point guards in the 2011 class, Larkin played for the Showtime Ballers and Florida Assault during the summer. His father, Barry Larkin, played for the Cincinnati Reds and was a 12-time All-Star.
"Shane Larkin is an outstanding point guard from Orlando. He not only provides the ability to quarterback the team, but he's shown an ability to shoot the three-point shot with consistency," said Purnell.
Mississippi native Robertson is a 6-9 center known for his shot-blocking and defensive abilities. He starts his senior season at Mendenhall High School and played with MBA Hoops during the summer AAU circuit. Rated as one of the top 10 players in Mississippi, he averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots per game at Mendenhall as a junior. His father, Derrell Robertson, Sr., was a professional football player in the Canadian Football League after a career at Mississippi State.
"Derrell Robertson is an outstanding big athlete and has shown the ability to defend with some of the best in the country," said Purnell. "He's an outstanding shot blocker and will improve offensively in our up-tempo style."
Purnell and the Blue Demons open the 2010-11 season Sunday evening against Chicago State. The season opener is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start at McGrath Arena.
