Recruiting on the South Plains | SG/PG DeShon Minnis

Surprised?  Me too.  The 2011 roster was released and there are some surprises, including the addition of SG/PG DeShon Minnis (6-3/200), from Philadelphia, PA.  The good part is that the roster conundrum has been resolved as the 2011-12 roster was released last week:

Your returning players are PG Javarez Willis, SF Jaye Crockett and C Robert Lewandowski. 

The players that "left" during the offseason were PG Mike Davis, SF Theron Jenkins, PF Paul Cooper, SG Marshall Henderson, and SG Jamel Outler.  I don't know where Jenkins and Henderson went, but I think that Davis, Outler and Cooper found other basketball homes. 

One player that committed to Texas Tech, PF/C Daouda Soumaro, is not on the official roster. 

The new players are:  SF Cameron Forte, SG/PG Toddrick Gotcher, SG/PG DeShon Minnis, SF Jaron Nash, PG Ty Nurse, SF Terran Petteway, C Kader Tapsoba, PF Jordan Tolbert, PG Kevin Wagner and C Dejan Kravic.  Kravic will have to sit out all of this year as he is a transfer.

Lets get to Minnis.

The Measurables:

DESHON MINNIS
Position: SG/PG
DTN Profile
Video: Clip 1 | Clip 2
Rivals Profile N/A
Scout Profile N/A
ESPN Profile N/A
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 200 lbs
High School: South Philadelphia High School (Philadelphia, PA)

I couldn't find a profile for Rivals or Scout and the ESPN profile was relatively worthless as it has Minnis going to Kent St.  And the reason why I have Minnis as a shooting guard is that there are few guards on this team with much, if any height and Minnis and Gotcher, will be playing some shooting guard, most likely, as there are three other true point guards (Nurse, Willis and Wagner) on this team.  Someone has to fill that role.

The Player Speaks:  When Minnis finally made it to Texas Tech, here's what he had to say:

"I am excited for the opportunity," said Minnis. "After talking with coach Walker and coach Gillispie, I feel like this the best fit for me. I think we have a chance to be successful."

And a month ago, Minnis spoke with RecruitScoop who got this from Minnis:

"Yes," he said by phone on Tuesday night. "I made the verbal."

"When I spoke to Coach Gillispie, he said he produces guards," said Minnis. "He didn’t tell me anything I didn’t want to hear. He told me they needed a big guard and they like to run. That’s my style."

Minnis' comments, i.e. Texas Tech needs a big guard, seems to mesh with my thought that Minnis, despite maybe not playing much shooting guard, will see some minutes there this year.

Offers and Rankings:  Couldn't find much of anything.

More after the jump.

The Video:  Film don't lie.

Scouting Report:  Minnis does seem to have a pretty good handle, is able to split defenders, but he also dribbles too much.  I don't know if Minnis is a good shooter, but he did put up pretty good numbers (from official press release):

At Atlantic Christian, Minnis earned third team NCSAA high school All-America honors as a senior. He was a two-time NCSAA Northeast Super Regional honoree and TSCAC All-Conference selection. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game in 2010-11, after chipping in 17.1 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game as a junior.

Way back in July of 2010, ESPN's Adam Finkelstein had this to say about Minnis:

Deshon Minnis (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Atlantic Christian) | 2011, PG, 6-3
A big lead guard with great size and strength, Minnis has all the tools to play at a high level. Although he can be too nonchalant with the ball at times, he isn't rattled by pressure when handling the ball, makes good use of his frame to shield off the defender and always has his head up. He has a ton of explosion in his game, attacking the rim with his dribble, and he has incredible body control finishing around the rim. Minnis has a knack for hanging and maneuvering in mid-air to outlast or avoid shot blockers. His Achilles' heel offensively appears to be his jump shot. He didn't attempt anything outside the paint for as long as we watched.

And even as a sophomore, Minnis was known as a big-bodied guard who could score in the lane and set up teammates:

Deshon Minnis, 6-2 point guard, Southern: The tall, stocky point guard asserted himself early and was instrumental in teammate Hanner securing MVP honors with his assists later. Many times during the game he used his big-bodied frame to bully his way to the basket. His solid ball handling allowed him to get past slick defenders for layups in the halfcourt.

DeShon, welcome to Texas Tech and Git Your Guns Up!

This better be it.

Position	Commitment	Ht/Wt	High School/State	Rivals	Scout	ESPN	ESPN Grade
PG	Kevin Wagner	5-8/145	Estacado (Lubbock, TX)	3	2	2	88
PG	Ty Nurse	6-1/180	Midland College (Midland, TX)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
SG	Toddrick Gotcher	6-3/185	Lakeview Centennial (Garland, TX)	3	2	3	88
SG	DeShon Minnis	6-3/200	South Philadelphia High School (Philadelphia, PA)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
SF	Terran Petteway	6-5/200	Ball (Galveston, TX)	3	N/A	3	91
SF	Jaron Nash	6-8/185	Tyler J.C. (Tyler, TX)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
SF	Cameron Forte	6-6/200	McClintock (Tempe, AZ)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
PF	Jordan Tolbert	6-7/210	All Saints' Episcopal (Ft. Worth, TX)	3	2	3	88
C	Kader Tapsoba	6-10/200	Tyler J.C. (Tyler, TX)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A