WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Yancey Walker, head coach of the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team, announced today he has signed another player to the 2012-13 squad.

He is Devaugntah Williams, a 6-foot, 3-inch guard from Canton, Ohio.

“Devaugntah is a great addition to our team.  We are excited about him joining the Grizzly family,” Walker said.  “One of my favorite things about him is that he is appreciative of the opportunity to be a Grizzly.  Athletically, he has the ability to have an instant impact on both ends of the floor.  We also really liked his ability to score efficiently, as he demonstrated throughout his senior year.”

A product of Canton McKinley High School, Williams averaged 22 points and nearly four rebounds a game this past season.  He scored more than 20 points in 12 games and went for 30 or more in three others.  His 573 points this past season are fifth most in school history and helped lead the team to an elite eight appearance in the Ohio Division I State Tournament.

Williams was named the 2012 Stark County Player of the Year and was a second team Ohio Division I All-State honoree by the Associated Press.  He also was a first team All-Federal League honoree and was nominated to play in the North/South Ohio All-Star Game and the Stark Summit Plain Rotary All-Star Game.

Walker pointed out Canton McKinley High School is the all-time winningest high school program in Ohio and the fifth winningest high school program in the nation.  The school’s proud tradition and success has produced six NBA players, including Nick Weatherspoon, Phil Hubbard, Gary Grant, Eric Snow, Michael Hawkins and Keith McLeod.

Williams joins 6-foot, 5-inch guard Desmond Buerge of Carthage, Mo.; 6-foot, 1-inch guard Wesley Staten of Sioux City, Iowa; 6-foot, 5-inch guard Arroyo Edwards of Milwaukee, Wis.; and 6-foot, 5-inch guard Jonathan Tshibuy of Montreal, Canada, for the Grizzlies’ freshman class next season.

For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website at http://www.wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/bb.htm or call the Grizzly Basketball office at 417-255-7993.

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