Tuesday, May 26, 2015

NSU Spartan Basketball Adds Craig to 2015 Recruiting Class

DEVARUS CRAIG
Courtesy: Odessa College
NORFOLK, Virginia  –  The 2015 Norfolk State men's basketball recruiting class expanded by one more on Friday, when head coach Robert Jones announced that junior college transfer Devarus Craig has signed a national letter of intent to join the Spartans for next season.

Craig is a 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward who competed last year at Odessa College in Texas. A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., he will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2015-16.

"Devarus adds much needed size and strength to our front line," said Jones. "He is a bruiser inside who also has good range on his jump shot, which should keep defenses honest. He has a tremendous work ethic which will bode well for his future success. We look forward to seeing him in a Spartan uniform."

Craig averaged 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 29 games last year for Odessa, which finished the season 20-9 overall. He connected on 57.3 percent from the floor and 65.9 percent from the free throw line while also adding 18 blocks, 13 assists and 11 steals on the year. He scored a career-high 20 points in a game twice, including in a win over Southwest Texas Junior College when he also had a career-best 10 rebounds.

He also competed at Columbia State Community College in Clifton, Tenn., in 2012-13 as a freshman. Craig posted 8.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in just six games that season before missing the rest of the year due to injury. He shot 18-of-31 (58.1 percent) from the floor and also made 14-of-20 (70.0 percent) from the free throw line while adding five assists, four blocks and two steals.

Craig played at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

He is the sixth player to join the Spartans as part of the 2015 recruiting class. Shooting guard Jonathan Wade and small forward Preston Bungei, a pair of junior college players, signed earlier this month. JC point guard Brian Kelley and incoming freshmen center Moses Toriola and power forward Alex Long signed back in November.

Mike Bello, Asst. SID
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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