WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The coaching staff of the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team have announced three more additions to the 2012-13 recruiting class.

They are Malik London, a 6-foot, 8-inch power forward from Chillicothe, Ohio; Isiah Rogers, a 5-foot, 9-inch point guard from Gahanna, Ohio; and Aaron Orchard, a 6-foot, 6-inch walk-on forward from Rogersville, Mo.

London averaged 13.6 points, 10 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per game as a senior for Chillicothe High School and was a 2012 Ohio Division 2 All-State second team honoree.  London was two-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and ESPN this past season, and he is ranked the 67th power forward in the country by ESPN in 2012.

“Malik is an exciting player to watch,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Yancey Walker said.  “He is an explosive athlete who can score and block shots.  We feel as though he truly solidifies our front line.  We are excited to add him to the Grizzly family.”

London received recruiting interest from Cleveland State, Cincinnati, Xavier, Dayton, Nevada, Ball State, Clemson, James Madison, Wake Forest, Akron, Bowling Green and DePaul, Walker said.

Rogers averaged 16.5 points and five assists per game as a senior for Westerville South High School near Columbus, Ohio.  He was a 2012 Ohio Division 1 All-State honorable mention player, earned second-team all-district honors and was selected to play in the 2012 City vs. OCC All-Star Game.

“Isiah possesses the ability to score and distribute the ball, like all good point guards do,” Walker said.  “He is a winner, and we feel that being used to winning brings an edge to that particular athlete and to our team.”

As a three-year starter, Rogers helped guide Westerville to a 64-8 record.  As a four-year varsity letterman, the team went 80-13.  He received recruiting interest from Niagara and Eastern Michigan, both NCAA Division I teams.

Orchard averaged 9 points, six rebounds and two blocks per game for the Logan-Rogersville Wildcats this past season.  He is a second-team All-Central Ozark Conference and a second-team all-district player, and he participated in the Grizzly All-Star Classic this past spring, where he placed second in the dunk contest and was runner up in the MVP voting.

“Aaron is a hard worker, and he will do a great job as he gets stronger and adjusts more to the college game,” Walker said.  “Aaron gets a lot done by doing the little things.”

The trio join 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.; 6-foot, 5-inch guard Jonathan Tshibuy of Montreal, Canada; 6-foot, 3-inch guard Devaugntah Williams of Canton, Ohio; 6-foot, 3-inch guard Delvonte Pierre of Lawton, Okla.; 6-foot, 11-inch forward Aleinocov Azulphar of Norwalk, Conn.; 6-foot, 2-inch Desmond Dorsey from Jeffersontown High School in Louisville, Ky.; 6-foot, 8-inch forward Ed Seay of Merrillville, Ind.; and 6-foot, 5-inch BJ McLaughlin of Hazelwood Central High School in St. Louis, Mo., for the Grizzlies’ freshman class next season.

Serving as elder statesmen for the Grizzlies’ 2012-13 season are sophomores Keaton Jackson, a 6-foot, 9-inch forward from Vancouver, Wash.; and Kris Frazier, a 6-foot, 7-inch forward from Cleveland, Ohio, who joined the team in January.

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.

Filed Under: Basketball