Navy?s loss could eventually be Mark Veazey and Jeremy Wilson?s gain.
Both freshmen frontcourt players are expected to see significant playing time this season for the Midshipmen following the departure of starting forward Trey Stanton, who left Navy after one season.
Recommended Stories
Veazey and Wilson are part of Navy Coach Billy Lange?s five-man recruiting class-one that Lange hopes helps him lead the Midshipmen to their first winning record since 2001.
“I really love the character and maturity of this class,” said Lange, who is 34-52 in three seasons in Annapolis. “Each one of my classes brought something different to the table. My first group brought energy, the second brought a lot of skill and this one is just mature beyond their years and will get an opportunity to play right away.”
A 6-foot-10, 215-pound forward, Veazey, who is from Lilburn, Ga., averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds as a senior and led Meadowcreek High to a 52-8 record over the last two seasons. Wilson, a 6-foot-9, 233-pound center, averaged a double-double as a senior at Sandra Day O?Connor High School in Helotes, Texas before spending last season at the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, R.I.
Guards O.J. Avworo, Greg Brown and Romeo Garcia round out Lange?s third full recruiting class. The 6-foot Avworo must sit out this season after transferring to Annapolis from the University of Idaho, according to NCAA rules.
“O.J. is a big-time kid with great leadership skills, a skill that will only grow at Navy once we put him in as point guard,” Lange said.
Lange said Brown, a Waldorf resident who played at St. Mary’s-Ryken High School before playing at NAPS last year, and Garcia, a native of Cypress, Texas, both bring unique skills to the team.
“Romeo is a point guard is a swing man?s body,” Lange said. “He does all of the little things and gets his teammates involved in the game. Greg has a lot of upside who could be special as he matures.”
Lange said having players who attended the Naval Academy Prep School are advantageous-on and off the court.
“Players from NAPS bring with them a heightened sense of awareness of what life is like at a military institution,” Lange said. “It helps them understand how to balance the rigors of life at the Naval Academy with basketball.”
Navy notes
» Navy?s 14-16 record last season represents the most wins by the Midshipmen since they went 19-12 during the 2000-01 season.
» Guard Greg Sprink finished last season as the 10th player in Navy history and just the third junior to score 500 points in a season. He ranks second on the single-season three-pointers made (66) and attempted (174) lists and his .864 free throw percentage is the third-highest percentage ever by a Midshipman.
» Navy allowed just 62.7 point per game last season, which is the sixth-lowest average since the school started keeping records in 1952, and the lowest in 27 years.
