Bzdelik pleased with Wake class
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest head coach Jeff Bzdelik announced today that six prospective student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Wake Forest beginning in the fall of 2012.
Forward Tyler Cavanaugh (Jamesville, N.Y.), guard Codi Miller-McIntyre (Concord, N.C.), forward Arnaud Adala Moto (Alexandria, Va.), forward Aaron Rountree (Wilson, N.C.), forward Devin Thomas (Harrisburg, Pa.) and center Andre Washington (Rocky Mount, Va.) all signed their official commitments today to join the Demon Deacon basketball family next season.
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"I am proud to announce the signing of a nationally-recognized recruiting class," said Bzdelik. "This talented six-man class provides instant depth and fills needs while ensuring the type of high character that has traditionally represented Wake Forest. All of these players come to Wake Forest from well-coached, winning programs. I am excited about the positive impact they will have on the Wake Forest community."
The six-player class is Wake Forest's largest recruiting haul since bringing in six players out of the 2006 class.
Cavanaugh is a 6-8 forward out of Jamesville-Dewitt High School in Dewitt, N.Y. Cavanaugh has helped the Red Rams to state championships in each of the past two seasons, posting double-doubles in each of the title games. ESPN ranks Cavanaugh as the No. 31 prospect in the East Region in 2012.
"Tyler is a skilled, versatile and tough-minded player," said Bzdelik. "His ability to shoot it beyond the arc coupled with his ability to move without the ball make him difficult to defend. His grit, toughness and competitive spirit will make Tyler a valuable asset to our program."
Miller-McIntyre is a 6-2 combo guard who plays on the post-graduate team at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. Miller-McIntyre is a native of Concord and played at First Assembly Christian School before transferring to Hargrave, where he is a teammate with fellow signee Andre Washington.
Miller-McIntyre is a consensus four-star recruit who is regarded as one of the top point guards in the country.
"Codi has the strength, talent, athleticism and leadership to establish himself as one of the best guards in college basketball," said Bzdelik. "He shoots it, he drives it, he defends and he sees the floor."
Moto is a 6-6 forward out of Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. Moto, whose name is pronounced "ar-NO ah-DAH-luh", has ties to the Wake Forest basketball program, as he is coached at Episcopal by former Deacon Jim Fitzpatrick (1999-2000). A native of Cameroon who moved stateside when he was 15, Moto was named All-Met after leading Episcopal to a 25-3 record last season. Another consensus four-star recruit, Moto is regarded as one of the top small forwards in the country.
"Arnaud is a strong and powerful athlete whose defensive potential is off the charts," said Bzdelik. "He grew up playing soccer, so he combines quick feet and a strong body with a defensive mindset beyond his years. Arnaud is also a versatile offensive player who shoots the three and drives it hard with an explosive above-the-rim finish."
Rountree is a 6-8 forward out of Greenfield School in Wilson, N.C. Rountree is a versatile player who serves as the point guard for Greenfield despite his 6-8 frame. He was named to the NCISAA 1-A all-state team and was the 1-A Coastal Plains Independents Conference Player of the Year for Greenfield in 2010-11.
Rountree played three seasons at Beddingfield High in Wilson before transferring to Greenfield and re-classifying to the class of 2012. Scout rates him as a four-star recruit and as the No. 18 small forward in this year's class.
"Aaron's ability to pass and dribble the ball efficiently for a 6-8 player is rare," said Bzdelik. "he is the type of player who plays multiple positions and has the unique ability to impact winning in several areas of the game."
Thomas is a 6-9 forward out of Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg, Pa. Thomas was a first team all-state selection last season after averaging 21.4 points and 12.2 rebounds in leading Central Dauphin to a 20-7 record.
He is the brother of Maryland's Alyssa Thomas, who was named the 2010-11 ACC Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year. He is regarded as one of the top 30 recruits in the East Region in 2012.
"Devin's ability to score in the low post and rebound the ball fills a huge void for our basketball team," said Bzdelik. "His high-energy approach to the game is infectious. Having just turned 17 a few months ago, it is needless to say that at 6-9, 235 pounds, Devin has a huge upside."
Washington is a 7-0 center who plays on the post-graduate team at Hargrave Military Academy. Washington is a native of Rocky Mount, Va., and played at Roanoke Catholic before transferring to Hargrave, where is a teammate with Miller-McIntyre.
At Roanoke Catholic, Washington played under Bill Hodges, who coached Larry Bird and Indiana State to the NCAA title game in 1979. After transferring and re-classifying to the class of 2012, Washington averaged 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds for Roanoke Catholic last season. He is regarded as one of the top 25 centers in the class of 2012 by ESPN.
"Andre is long and tall. He has strong hands and a competitive spirit that will serve him very well as his body fills out," said Bzdelik. "His ability to alter and block shots will provide us with another line of defense at the rim. This is a skilled young man who has a chance to become an impact center for the Demon Deacons."
Wake Forest's 2012 Basketball Recruiting Class
6-8, 215
Forward
Jamesville, N.Y.
Jamesville-Dewitt H.S.
Entering his senior season at Jamesville-Dewitt High School in Dewitt, N.Y. ... Has helped the Red Rams to Class A New York state titles in each of the past two seasons ... In 2010-11, posted a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds in the 66-51 championship win over Harborfields ... In 2009-10, posted a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in a 59-45 defeat of Newark ...
Helped the Red Rams to a 22-4 record in 2010-11 ... Plays for Coach Bob McKenney at J-D ... Teammate of Syracuse commit DaJuan Coleman ... Played AAU ball for the Albany City Rocks ... Rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and Scout ... ESPN ranks him as the No. 31 overall recruit in the East Region, the No. 7 recruit from the state of New York and the No. 38 power forward in the 2012 class ... Committed verbally to the Deacons in September 2011 ... Chose Wake Forest over offers from Syracuse and Notre Dame ... Wears No. 34 at Jamesville-Dewitt.
6-2, 170
Guard
Concord, N.C.
Hargrave Military Academy
Entering his senior season at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. ... Played at First Assembly Christian School in Concord, N.C., before transferring to Hargrave ... Plays on the post-graduate team coached by former Demon Deacon A.W. Hamilton, who played at Wake Forest in 2001 ... Teammate of fellow Wake Forest signee Andre Washington ...
Other Hargrave teammates include Charles Bugg (Minnesota), Ryan Taylor (Louisville) and Montrezl Harrell (Virginia Tech) ... Played for coach David Murr at First Assembly ... Played just his junior season at FACS after transferring during the middle of his sophomore year from Northwest Cabarrus ... Played AAU ball for Carolina Elite, alongside fellow signee Aaron Rountree ...
Rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout ... ESPN ranks him as the No. 81 overall recruit in the class of 2012 ... Also ranked by ESPN as the No. 14 point guard, No. 22 player in the Southeast Region and No. 6 prospect in the state of North Carolina ... Rivals ranks him as the No. 15 point guard and the No. 70 recruit ... Scout has him as the No. 12 point guard and the No. 67 overall prospect ... Committed verbally to the Deacons in March 2011 ... Chose Wake Forest over offers from Clemson, NC State, Virginia Tech and Charlotte ... Wears No. 10 at Hargrave.
Arnaud Adala Moto
6-6, 215
Forward
Alexandria, Va.
Episcopal H.S.
Entering his senior season at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. ... Coached by former Demon Deacon Jim Fitzpatrick, who played two seasons at Wake Forest from 1999-2000 ... Averaged 18 points and 11.5 rebounds as a junior in 2010-11 ... Led Episcopal to a 25-3 record and the school's first Interstate Athletic Conference championship in 13 years last season ...
Selected to the 2010-11 All-Met Team ... Played AAU ball for Team Takeover .... Possesses a 7-1 wingspan ... Rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN and Scout ... Scout ranks him as the No. 58 overall recruit in the 2012 class and the No. 12 small forward ... ESPN ranks him No. 75 overall in the class and the No. 22 small forward ... ESPN also has him as the No. 16-ranked player in the East Region and the No. 3 prospect out of the state of Virginia ...
Committed verbally to the Deacons in October 2011 ... Chose Wake Forest over offers from Florida, Miami, UCLA, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech ... Moved to Virginia from his native Cameroon when he was 15 years old ... Full name is Arnaud William Adala Moto ... Name is pronounced "ar-NO ah-DAH-luh" ... Wears No. 45 at Episcopal.
6-8, 190
Forward
Wilson, N.C.
Greenfield School
Entering his senior season at Greenfield School in Wilson, N.C. ... Plays point guard for Coach Rob Salter at Greenfield ... Averaged 17.1 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three blocks for the Knights as a junior in 2010-11 ... Led Greenfield to a 23-9 record and a berth in the NCISAA 1-A semifinals ... Named to the NCISAA 1-A all-state team and was the 1-A Coastal Plains Independents Conference Player of the Year ...
Named the 2010-11 Wilson Times Male Player of the Year ... Three-time Wilson Times All-Area selection ... Played his first three years of high school at Beddingfield H.S. before re-classifying to the class of 2012 after transferring to Greenfield ... Named to the 2-A Eastern Plains All-Conference team twice at Beddingfield ... Played AAU ball for Carolina Elite alongside fellow Wake Forest signee Codi Miller-McIntyre ...
Rated as a four-star recruit by Scout ... Scout ranks him as the No. 85 overall player in the class of 2012 and the No. 18-ranked small forward ... ESPN ranks him as the No. 44 small forward and the No. 11 recruit in the state of North Carolina ... Committed verbally to the Deacons in March 2011 ... Chose Wake Forest over Colorado, NC State and Virginia ... Son of Aaron Rountree, Jr. and Alprator Baldwin.
6-9, 235
Forward
Harrisburg, Pa.
Central Dauphin H.S.
Entering his senior season at Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg, Pa. ... Plays for Coach Jay Crosier at Central Dauphin ... Named first team all-state in 2010-11 after averaging 21.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks ... Led Central Dauphin to a 20-7 record last season ... Posted a double-double of 43 points and 23 rebounds in a game against Bishop McDevitt last season ...
Played AAU ball for Mid Penn Motion ... Coached by his father, Bob Thomas ... Rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout ... ESPN ranks him as the No. 37 power forward in the class of 2012 ... ESPN also ranks him as the No. 30 overall player in the East Region and the No. 5 prospect out of the state of Pennsylvania ... Possesses a 6-11 wingspan ...
Committed verbally to the Deacons in October 2011 ... Chose Wake Forest over offers from Penn State, Temple, Marquette and Virginia Tech ... Son of Bob Thomas and Tina Klotzbeecher-Thomas ... Parents both played basketball at Millersville (Pa.) ... Sister, Alyssa, is a sophomore on the Maryland women's basketball team and was named the 2010-11 ACC Freshman of the Year ... Has another sister, Alexia ... Wears No. 20 at Central Dauphin.
7-0, 215
Center
Rocky Mount, Va.
Hargrave Military Academy
Entering his senior season at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. ... Played at Roanoke Catholic High School before transferring to Hargrave ... Plays on the post-graduate team coached by former Demon Deacon A.W. Hamilton, who played at Wake Forest in 2001 ... Teammate of fellow Wake Forest signee Codi Miller-McIntyre ... Other Hargrave teammates include Charles Bugg (Minnesota), Ryan Taylor (Louisville) and Montrezl Harrell (Virginia Tech) ...
Played at Franklin County High School as a sophomore before transferring to Roanoke Catholic and re-classifying to the class of 2012 ... Played at Roanoke Catholic under Coach Bill Hodges, who coached Larry Bird and Indiana State to the NCAA title game in 1979 ... Averaged 14.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 6.7 blocks for Roanoke Catholic in 2010-11 ... Posted seven triple-doubles and shot 54 percent from the field for the Celtics ...
Played AAU ball for East Coast Fusion ... Rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout ... ESPN ranks him as the No. 25 center in the class of 2012 ... ESPN also ranks him as the No. 33 overall player in the East Region and the No. 9 prospect out of the state of Virginia ... Possesses a 7-0 wingspan ... Committed verbally to the Deacons in March 2011 ... Chose Wake Forest over Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia ... Wears No. 33 at Hargrave.