Nov. 19, 2008
ATLANTA – Mfon Udofia (pronounced MOO-fonn yu-DOE-fee-uh), a 6-3 point guard from Stone Mountain, Ga., became Georgia Tech’s fourth men’s basketball signee when he signed a letter-of-intent with the Yellow Jackets, head coach Paul Hewitt announced Wednesday.
Twice named a Class AAAA first-team all-state performer, Udofia averaged 24.4 points, 7.5 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game last year as Miller Grove went 26-6 and advanced to the final four of the state playoffs. With his senior year still to play, he is Miller Grove’s all-time leading scorer with 1,539 points. Udofia is ranked No. 36 overall by Rivals, No. 6 among point guards in the class.
“Mfon is an extremely competitive point guard,” said Hewitt. “He’s a great defender who can score, and distributes the ball well. He’s an outstanding clutch free throw shooter. He may be the most competitive of anybody in the group.”
With Udofia’s signing, Tech has recruited a player to fill four of the five positions on the floor. Udofia joins Kammeon Holsey, a 6-8 strong forward from Hancock Central High School in Sparta, Ga.; Brian Oliver, a 6-6 swingman from William Penn High School in New Castle, Del.; and Glen Rice, Jr., a 6-4 guard from Walton High School in Marietta, Ga.
“This class really improved the depth of our team,” said Hewitt. “Adding guys like Mfon and Brian, who can score the basketball right now, will improve the offensive capabilities of this team. In Glen and Kam, you have two players who are versatile and can make better the players around them.”
All but Oliver rank 77th or better in the most recent Rivalshoops Top 150. Oliver, namesake of one member of Tech’s 1990 Final Four team but no relation, is No. 129. It is the largest group of signees of this ranking since Hewitt’s first full recruiting class in 2002 which included B.J. Elder, Anthony McHenry, Isma’il Muhammad, Ed Nelson and Luke Schenscher, four of whom were ranked among the nation’s top 100.
Holsey was named first-team all-state and Class A Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last year while averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds at Hancock Central, which won the class A state championship and posted a 30-2 record. He also was named Middle Georgia Player of the Year by the Macon Telegraph. Holsey is ranked No. 13 in the nation among power forwards by ESPN.com, No. 17 by Rivals.com, and is the No. 77 senior overall, according to Rivals.
“Kammeon is a versatile forward who rebounds the ball really well,” said Hewitt. “The thing that really impressed me is his ability to handle and pass the basketball. He’s a very skilled player and has a very bright future.”
Oliver averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds in six games for William Penn last year, then transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. He has returned to William Penn to play his senior year. Oliver was a third-team all-state choice and conference MVP as a sophomore at William Penn, averaging 16 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots per game while leading his team to a 19-6 record. He is ranked No. 129 overall by Rivals, No. 28 among small forwards in the class, and No. 25 by ESPN.com.
“Brian is a great shooter, one of the best I’ve recruited in a very long time,” Hewitt said. “In every game I saw him play this summer, he made at least six three-pointers. He’s got a great personality and will fit in very well here at Georgia Tech.”
Rice, son of former Michigan and NBA standout Glen Rice, averaged 25.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a junior at Walton High School, which posted a 19-8 record last year. He was named Cobb County Player of the Year by the Marietta Daily Journal and was a third-team all-state choice by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Heading into his third season as a starter, Rice has scored over 1,000 points in his career. He is ranked No. 48 overall by Rivals, and No. 10 among shooting guards in the class.
“He’s very skilled, and a very good all-around player,” said Hewitt. “Glen has a bright future. He may be somebody I would characterize as a late bloomer. His skill level is very high in terms of dribbling and passing. If he shoots it anywhere near like his Dad did, he will become a complete player. He may have the most potential of anyone in this group.”
Georgia Tech Basketball Signees
Kammeon Holsey, F, 6-8, 190, Sparta, Ga. (Hancock Central)
Brian Oliver, F, 6-7, 215, New Castle, Del. (William Penn High School)
Glen Rice, G, 6-4, 175, Marietta, Ga. (Walton High School)
Mfon Udofia, G, 6-3, 180, Stone Mountain, Ga. (Miller Grove High School)
