Nov. 15, 2006
NORFOLK, VA.--Old Dominion University head basketball coach Blaine Taylor announced the signing of standout recruits in Etoile Imama a 6-3, 195-pound guard from Montreal's Champlain St. Lambert and 6-5, 185 guard/forward Kent Bazemore (Windsor, NC.) from Bertie High School in Bertie, NC.
Imama, a point guard was a member of Canada's under-19 team this past summer. he averaged 11.1 points, 6-5 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game as a junior at Canadian powerhouse Champlain St. Lambert which is coached by John Dangelas. Imama earnedthree All-Star tournament selections and was a first team All-Conference pick. He helped lead Champlain St. Lambert to the Conference finals and a third place finish inall of Canada. Champlain St. Lambert defeated New England Prep champion Bridgeton and Worcester Academy.
"Etoile comes from perhaps the strongest high school program in Canada," saidTaylor. "Coach Dangelas has produced approximately 15 Division I players. Etiole is thought to be a player of very high level who was not seen very much last summer. Hissize, strength and savvy make him a prototypical guard. He is a tremendous studentwith the designs on finishing with a Masters in four years. As we look at our recruiting board, he was as important as any given our needs for next season and the future."
Bazemore averaged 22.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game as a junior for headcoach Calvin Moore at Bertie High School. Bazemore was the Northeast North Carolina Coastal Conference Player-of-the-Year and the Roanoke-Chowan District Player of the Year as a junior.
"Kent represents an area player who has a great upside. His physical talents arevery eye catching particularly in light of his very young age," notes Taylor. "His loyaltyand hunger to represent ODU having attended numerous games and understanding thestrength of our program was very refreshing. Kent has done a nice job of preparing himself to take on this challenge both on the court and in the classroom. There is a very solid family and group of relatives in the area who will enjoy following his career."
"Over the years we have been very selective of who gets the opportunity to joinour program. I can't imagine of any better pair of players joining the Monarch familythan these two," said Taylor. " In regards to the future, we have signed some very fineplayers in the spring such as Alex Loughton, Arnaud Dahi and Drew Williamson. Withtwo good ones in the fold, we will now turn our attention to the spring and next yearsrecruiting."