NORFOLK, Va. – Head coach Jeff Jones and the Old Dominion men’s basketball team picked up two talented recruits for 2017-18, as both Marquis Godwin (Hampton, Va.) and Michael Hueitt Jr. (Fayetteville, N.C.) signed their NLI’s on Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to have both Michael and Marquis joining the Old Dominion basketball program,” said Jones. “Both young men are outstanding individuals and have done a really good job in the classroom. From a basketball standpoint, they have played in a lot of big games in the EYBL circuit, as well as at the high school level. Both guys can really shoot the basketball. Going into this year’s recruiting class, improving our perimeter shooting was a priority and I think these guys are elite among the 2017 class.”
Godwin, a 6-6 195-pound guard, averaged 15 points per game last season for Hampton High School after spending the first semester at Christ School in Arden, N.C. After transferring back, he helped lead Hampton to an 18-10 record and the Group 5A state quarterfinals. As a sophomore, he was the second leading scorer for the Crabbers. Godwin is listed as a three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout. He played his AAU ball locally for Boo Williams.
“I’ve always considered Jordan Baker a big brother,” said Godwin. “I’m real good friends with Aaron Bacote, who just graduated from ODU. I just felt it was the best situation for me and I really felt at home. They won 25 games last year and I also like the way the school is expanding. They’re building a new practice facility, which is very nice. I really like the direction of this program.”
“Marquis is a guy that we have known since he was a youngster over in Hampton,” explained Jones. “He has been extremely well-coached at Hampton High School, as well as within the Boo Williams AAU program. As Marquis has physically grown, he has really raised the level of his play. The thing that you can’t help but notice is how he shoots the ball. He is a very smart basketball player that stretches the floor and in that regard, is able to make things much easier for his teammates out there on the floor. He already has strong ties to the program with current and former players, so he is already very much part of the ODU basketball family and we are excited for him.”
Last season as a junior at High Point Christian Academy, Hueitt Jr. averaged 16.3 points per game and led the team in made 3-pointers. He played for Team CP3 AAU’s squad this past summer on the Nike circuit. Hueitt Jr. finished the travel season as the Nike EYBL’s top shooter from 3-point range, making 56 threes off of 48-percent shooting from deep. Hueitt Jr., a 6-3 175-pound guard, is ranked as a three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout.
"ODU was my first official visit and after the visit, I said, 'I don't feel like going anywhere else’,” explained Hueitt Jr. “I had other visits scheduled, but I cancelled them all. I wanted to commit as soon as my visit ended. It just felt like home when I went up there. The coaching staff has shown me a lot of love for years. I really fit in with the team, socially and on the court. It is a good fit for me and I love that place.”
“Michael is a dynamic player that can do a lot more than shoot, but what you notice about him is his ability to knock down shots from behind the arc in bunches,” stated Jones. “He played with the highly regarded CP3 AAU program and I had the opportunity to see him play in some really big, high level games and without fail, there would be a stretch that he would make one three-pointer and then all of a sudden here comes the second and third. I would compare him in some ways to former Monarch Ambrose Mosley, in that when he gets it going, you want to feed him because he can really make his impact in any game very quickly. Michael is attending Northwood Temple Academy, which reunites him with Corey Baker, who has served as an outstanding mentor for Michael. We are very excited to welcome Michael to the Monarch family.”
Old Dominion will open up the 2016-17 regular season next Friday, Nov. 11 against James Madison. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. the Ted Constant Convocation Center. This match can be viewed live in HD via C-USA TV.
For just $30 you can get a ticket to both the ODU men’s basketball home opener vs. James Madison on Friday (7:00 p.m.) AND ODU Football’s game vs. Southern Miss on Saturday (3:30 p.m.). That is $18 of savings to watch the Monarchs this weekend! For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Single-game and season tickets for Old Dominion University men’s basketball are on sale now at www.ynottix.com or by calling 757-683-4444. For group pricing (10+), please call Todd McKeating at 757-683-7087. All ODU students get in free all year long.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For a more in-depth look into the men’s basketball program, be sure to follow @ODUMBB on Twitter, ‘ODU Basketball’ on Facebook and odu_mbb on Instagram