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Jahleer Black of Hunter Huss High is among six new players coming to Catawba Valley Community College to play basketball./GASTON GAZETTE PHOTO (released by CVCC Sports Information)
HICKORY – Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) announced Friday it has added six men’s basketball players for the 2018-19 season, five new ones and one returning after missing two years.
In a press release, the Red Hawks said they have signed Jahleer Black of Hunter Huss, Zach De La Cruz of Franklin, George Paul of Harding, Cole Johnson of Knightdale and Jeremiah Keith of Combine Academy. Keenan Rankin, out the last two years, will return to the roster as well.
Black, a wing-forward, averaged 10.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season, helping Hunter Huss to 18-9 and reach the second round of the state 3A playoffs.
“(Black) is a very serious-minded student athlete who competes very hard,” CVCC head men’s coach Bryan Garmroth said in the press release. “He’s a very good athlete and has multiple skills.”
De La Cruz is a shooting guard who averaged 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game as Franklin went 16-8 and reached the state 2A playoffs.
“Zach is a good athlete who can really shoot the ball,” Garmroth said. “He can also put the ball on the floor and score. Besides his ability to shoot, I like his strength and athleticism.”
A 6-foot-4 wing player, Johnson helped Knightdale win 19 games last season and make the third round of the state 4A playoffs.
“Cole can really shoot the ball,” Garmroth said. “He can also get the ball to the basket.”
Keith is a 6-foot-3 wing, who played at Combine Academy in Charlotte.
“Jeremiah is a skilled player who can shoot and drive to the basket,” Garmroth said.
A former Harding standout, Rankin returns to CVCC this fall after missing half of the 2015 season and all of the past two seasons following a car accident that broke his femur.
“We are very excited to have him back,” Garmroth said of Rankin. “He will give us an experienced point guard who can score the ball as well.”
Paul, also from Harding, returns to the court after sitting out the past two seasons following major knee surgery.
“George is strong and a good shooter,” Garmroth said.
- Reported by CVCC Sports Information