Photo by: Bobby R. Hester, (c) 2009
Boddie, Johnson, Owens Sign NLIs To Play Basketball at UC Riverside
11/16/2011 9:24:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Riverside—UC Riverside Men's Basketball Coach Jim Wooldridge announced today that shooting guard Dayton Boddie (Oceanside, CA), point guard Tajai Johnson (Vallejo, CA) and forward Tre'von Owens (Rota, Spain) each signed National Letters of Intent to join the UC Riveside Men's Basketball Team beginning in July of 2012.
"This is the first year we have been able to sign this many heralded young high school players in the early signing period," said Wooldridge.
Boddie (6-2, 198) averaged 18.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.7 steals per game as a junior for El Camino High School. ESPN.com ranks him as the 46th best player in California following his second-team All-CIF and third-team All-North County performance from a year ago.
"Dayton Boddie was the first player to verbally commit to us in this class. He decided he wanted to be a member of the Highlanders during the summer following his junior year. He is a strong, tough, and competitive yound man, who comes from a winning program, and will offer a variety of services to the Highlanders basketball program."
Johnson (6-2, 175) is coming off of a season in which he averaged 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Vallejo HIgh School. Norcalpreps.com rates him as the sixth best player in Northern California, and the number one point guard. ESPN.com lists him as the 51st best point guard in the country and the 26th best player in the state.
"Tajai Johnson is known as a flat-out scorer and playmaker, and has demonstrated that throughout his high school career. His ability to score and make plays is very exciting to our growth as a program."
Owens (6-6, 185) poured in 33 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out five assists per game for Rota High School in 2010-11. The son of United States Military parents, Owens has lived in the United States, Japan and Spain growing up. He spent part of last school year in Wichita Falls, TX, and played with the Dallas Mustangs AAU Orgnization.
"Trevon Owens is a player we identified that really fit a need. His length and ability to shoot the ball will blend in well with or style of play. He has competed at a high level and demonstrated the level of character we are after as well.
"This class represents the future of UC Riverside Basketball," added Wooldridge, "and watching these guys grow as players and as people is going to be fun for our fans to watch over the next four years."
"This is the first year we have been able to sign this many heralded young high school players in the early signing period," said Wooldridge.
Boddie (6-2, 198) averaged 18.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.7 steals per game as a junior for El Camino High School. ESPN.com ranks him as the 46th best player in California following his second-team All-CIF and third-team All-North County performance from a year ago.
"Dayton Boddie was the first player to verbally commit to us in this class. He decided he wanted to be a member of the Highlanders during the summer following his junior year. He is a strong, tough, and competitive yound man, who comes from a winning program, and will offer a variety of services to the Highlanders basketball program."
Johnson (6-2, 175) is coming off of a season in which he averaged 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Vallejo HIgh School. Norcalpreps.com rates him as the sixth best player in Northern California, and the number one point guard. ESPN.com lists him as the 51st best point guard in the country and the 26th best player in the state.
"Tajai Johnson is known as a flat-out scorer and playmaker, and has demonstrated that throughout his high school career. His ability to score and make plays is very exciting to our growth as a program."
Owens (6-6, 185) poured in 33 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out five assists per game for Rota High School in 2010-11. The son of United States Military parents, Owens has lived in the United States, Japan and Spain growing up. He spent part of last school year in Wichita Falls, TX, and played with the Dallas Mustangs AAU Orgnization.
"Trevon Owens is a player we identified that really fit a need. His length and ability to shoot the ball will blend in well with or style of play. He has competed at a high level and demonstrated the level of character we are after as well.
"This class represents the future of UC Riverside Basketball," added Wooldridge, "and watching these guys grow as players and as people is going to be fun for our fans to watch over the next four years."
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