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Oats Signs Three For 2016-17
11/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York men's basketball program signed three players to National Letters of Intent for the upcoming 2016-17 season. The class is comprised of players from Minnesota, North Carolina and Illinois.
Brock Bertram is a 6-11, 250-lb center from Apple Valley, MN, who is ranked as the fourth best player in the state of Minnesota by ESPN and the 42nd best center nationally. Last season, Bertram's Apple Valley squad finished with a 30-2 record, while being ranked the best program in Minnesota and the 14th best program nationally, according to MaxPreps. Bertram was named Second Team All-State by the Minnesota Associated Press in 2015 and is a consensus three-star recruit. Bertram averaged 13.0 points a game last season for Apple Valley, who won its second straight state title in 2015.
"Brock is a legitimate low-post scoring threat with a high skill level that will give us a big presence on both ends of the floor," said Oats. "We love the fact that he has played in a winning program and he knows how to compete at the highest level."
Quate McKinzie is a 6-7, 195-lb power forward out of Burgaw, NC, who is ranked as the 11th best player in the state of North Carolina and the 41st best power forward nationally by ESPN. McKinzie is beginning his senior season at Harrells Christian Academy, his third as a Crusader, having transferred from Pender High School after his freshman year. He has 734 career points over two seasons at HCA, and is well on his way to breaking every major basketball record at the school. McKinzie is a two-time member of the Coastal Rivers Conference All-Conference team. Last February, McKinzie was voted to the CRC All-Tournament team, and won the CRC Tournament MVP award. McKinzie is also considered a consensus three-star recruit.
"Quate is a versatile, multi-dimensional, big-time athlete that will contribute immediately on both ends of the floor," said Oats. "He is a high-energy player that can play both forward positions for us. He comes from a very well-coached program at Harrells and he will be ready to contribute immediately."
James Jones comes to UB from Chicago, IL where he is a 6-4 shooting guard out of Bogan High School. Jones is one of the City/Suburban Hoops Report's top 10 prospects in the Class of 2016. Prep Hoops Illinois has Jones listed as the 11th best player in the state and the fourth best shooting guard. Playing in the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout late last year, Jones scored 31 points in the championship, including nine three pointers, while also scoring 22 in the semifinal game.
"James is a big-time scorer that can come in right away and help replace the shooting that leaves when Jarryn Skeete graduates," said Oats. "James can really shoot it, but is also a high-level athlete that can get to the rim and finish. He can be a lockdown perimeter wing defender as well as a scorer. James comes from one of the best programs in Chicago and has been well-coached by Coach Goodie. He will be ready to play immediately as a freshman."
In assessing the class as a whole, Coach Oats was extremely pleased.
"This recruiting class we've brought in is a group that our staff believes will help take this program to new heights. We have real size and skill on the interior with high-level athletes on the wing and forward positions. Our staff did a really good job of targeting and getting commitments from very high-level players. On top of being great players, all three of these student-athletes are high character individuals that we are ecstatic about bring into our program. As a head coach, I couldn't be any happier with this class."
