The Bobcat Nation

I have heard from Brett Swanson at Jucojunction.com that Brad Huse and his coaching staff have signed their first recruit (that I know of) of the spring signing period, and their second JC All American for 2011. The newest Bobcat is Xavier Johnson-Blount from Cochise Junior College in Arizona. Johnson-Bount played his high school ball at First Colonial high school in Norfolk Virginia. Cochise plays in the same conference that produced former Bobcat starting guard Will Bynum a few years back.

This past year at Cochise JC, Johnson-Blount averaged 22 points, and 5 rebounds while shooting 45% from the field, 39% from 3 point range, and 68% from the free-throw line. For his efforts he was named first team all conference, First team All Region 1 as well as All American. Cochise finished the season with a 22 wins on 11 loses. They won the region 1 tourney and championship but were eliminated at the district tourney by eventual NJCAA D1 champion Southern Idaho. Three of their 4 sophomore players have or are expected sign with D-1 school, and the forth with possibly a D-2/Naia school.

In high school Johnson-Blount averaged 24 points, 7 rebounds 2 assists, 2 steals while shooting 49% from the field, 32% from three point range and 68% from the free-throw line.

Johnson-Blount is a scorer. He is a good athlete, has a strong frame, and can create his own shot. He is deadly from 3 point range but can also post up and take the ball inside. He should be a great compliment to Huse's other All American Jamie Stewart who Huse signed last fall. Stewart, an uber-athlete, is more of a slasher and explosive player. Johnson Blount is physically stronger, but more of a pure shooter. Both are scorers and can play both the 2 and three.

With Johnson-Blount's signing I think the Bobcats need a to sign a big guy who can contribute immediately to replace the loss of Cody Anderson and a point guard who can challenge for playing time to replace Casey Trujeque. I really believe Huse and his coaches need to come up big with their 2011 recruiting class and they are off to a great start. Additionally rumors are swirling that we may lose another player so stay tuned.

Looks like a kid who knows how to use his frame to score in the paint. It would be nice to have a guard who can finish in the paint. 220 is a load in the Sky.

Its good we signed to scoring guards but unless get some legit big men to man the middle like Mbunga did for us, then the Cats will still be in trouble no matter what. I like Johnson's jumping ability and if he can develop a 15ft jumper he can be really dangerous for us.

Seems to me the Bobcat program is in a little bit of a flux right now and don't know if it is going to get worse before it gets better.

Mohamaed Fall 6-9 240 who we signed in the fall would be a good start to get a "Divaldo Mbunga type player". From what I hear is every bit as athletic as Divaldo, his equal as a shot blocker, a better low post defender and rebounder. The question marks remain remain his offense at a 11 point a game scorer (compared to 18 for Mbunda) he was not the offensives focus of his team, but he played for a team that was so much better than Mbunga's. Fall also has a penchant for getting into foul trouble. Fall was also ranked preseason as a top 120 JC recruits in the country, and top 30 true JC Big Man (Being 6-8 of better) and the only big man 6-8 or better ranked in the top 150 to be signed so far by a Big Sky school.

Now all that said, I still stand by my original statement that Huse needs to sign an exceptional class this spring. He is looking at at least 4 Big men (6-8 or better) that I know of that are still on the board and he need to land a good one.

From MBOZEMAN, Mont. – Brad Huse added a dynamic perimeter player to the Bobcat program Friday, signing Second Team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America Xavier Johnson-Blount of Cochise College to a National Letter-of-Intent to play at Montana State.



“Xavier is a very important addition to our roster for a number of reasons, but first and foremost he is a tremendous scorer,” Huse said. “He is physical and gets to the basket but also has very good shooting touch as he proved from the 3 point line. We’ll be expecting a lot from Xavier from a leadership standpoint as well. He is a proven winner and he has high expectations for his two years at MSU. ”



Johnson-Blount capped one of the top junior college seasons in the nation in 2010-11 by earning first team all-conference and all-region honors and Second Team NJCAA honors. The 6-4, 205 lb Virginia Beach, Va., product averaged 21.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, leading Cochise to a league title. He also nabbed 1.4 steals a game, with 1.2 assists, while shooting 45% from the field and 39% from three-point range.



“Xavier is a very effective scorer and a very good, big-bodied shooter,” said Jerry Carillo, Johnson-Blount’s coach at Cochise. “He has great range, can catch-and-shoot, and has good size to shoot over people. He can get to the foul line and score in the paint, as well.”



Johnson-Blount also earned second team all-conference and all-state honors as a freshman at Cochise, averaging 17.3 points per game, after an outstanding prep career at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach. He is MSU’s first signing of the spring period.



Johnson-Blount joins fall signees Jamie Stewart, a 6-4 wing who was named Second Team NJCAA All-America this spring, and 6-9, 240 lb center Mohammed Fall, an all-conference choice in the prestigious Jayhawk League in spite of an injury that slowed him late in the season, as highly-decorated players Huse sees enhancing the Bobcat program as soon as they arrive at MSU.



“Xavier will bring a great deal to this program immediately,” Huse said. “All three of the players we’ve signed thus far will be counted on to be significant contributors immediately.”





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