Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Basketball Announces Three Early Signees
12/3/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell head coach Dave Paulsen has announced that three student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Bison men's basketball program in 2010-11. Paulsen's second Bucknell recruiting class consists of Cameron Ayers, a 6'5" guard from Blue Bell, Pa. (Germantown Academy), Ben Brackney, a 6'4" wing player from Lincoln, Ill. (Lincoln Community High School) and Ryan Hill, a 6'2" point guard from Steelton, Pa. (Steelton-Highspire High School).
"We're really excited about the addition of these three outstanding young men," said Paulsen. "First of all, they are high-character guys who will be terrific additions to the Bucknell community. They have distinguished themselves as excellent students who value the combined academic-athletic experience that Bucknell provides. As players, they all have excellent size at their positions, possess high basketball IQs and are unselfish."
Ayers enters his senior year at Germantown Academy with 866 career points. He averaged 14.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting better than 85 percent from the free-throw line as a junior, when he was named First Team All-State for Class AA as well as MVP of the Inter-Ac League.
He has been part of a highly successful team that has captured three straight Inter-Ac championships. Germantown Academy finished 24-6 last season.
"Cameron is one of those guys who makes everyone around him better," said Paulsen. "He has great vision and understanding of the game, and he is an excellent passer. He is a very good shooter and excels in his mid-range game, which is a lost art today. He has a very efficient and versatile game and has been a great leader for his team during his high school career."
After leading his team to a 29-5 record in 2008-09, Brackney is gearing up for his senior year at Lincoln Community High School. A year ago he was named to the Central State Eight All-Conference Team and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Special Mention Team. He was an all-tournament selection at both the Collinsville Holiday Tournament and the Glenwood/Meijer Tournament. Brackney was also an all-conference choice as a sophomore.
"Ben was one of the finest long-range shooters that I saw during the entire July evaluation period," praised Paulsen. "He has the ability to score from deep and in bunches. But he is much more than just a shooter. Ben is developing an effective dribble game, is an excellent passer, and has a great feel for the game. His length and versatility will make him a tough match-up."
Once again Paulsen and his staff have tapped into the Central Pennsylvania talent pool with the recruitment of Hill, who will join Harrisburg native D.J. Rowe and Shamokin's Colin Klebon on the team next year. Hill piloted Steelton-Highspire to a PIAA AAA state championship in 2008 and was named MVP of the state championship game. He has already been the team's starting point guard for three seasons and has led his squad at least as far as the district playoffs each year. In 2008 Steel-High was a district finalist and the Mid-Penn Commonwealth League champion, competing against much larger schools.
Hill enters his senior year with 785 career points, 434 rebounds and 487 assists. He averaged 12 points per game last season while handing the point-guard duties. He was a Third Team All-State selection and earned the George Eastman Young Leadership Award, sponsored by the University of Rochester.
"Ryan is the quintessential point guard," said Paulsen. "He is an excellent passer with good vision who gets his teammates open shots. He has the ability to get to the basket and has an effective mid-range game. He will be a very good defender for us and will give us added versatility in our lineup. He's not concerned with individual accolades as long as his team is winning, as evidenced by his role in his team's state championship two years ago."
The 2009-10 Bison squad is off to a 4-4 start heading into games at Binghamton and Boston University this weekend.
