University of Tennessee Athletics
Daniel West Inks With Vols
April 16, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Other Signees??
Daniel West has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Tennessee beginning with the 2008-09 season, head coach Bruce Pearl announced Wednesday.
A 6-foot-1, 165-pound point guard, West had 21 points and eight assists to lead Saginaw (Mich.) High School to a 90-71 win over Detroit Pershing in the Class A state championship game last month. The Trojans, who won their second consecutive state title, finished the 2007-08 season with a 27-1 record and ranked No. 4 in the nation by USA Today. A member of the Detroit Free Press All-State boys basketball Dream Team, West averaged 15 points, 11 assists and six steals running the point for coach Lou Dawkins.
???There is probably no position more important to look for a champion that at point guard,??? said Pearl, who has led the Vols to a 77-24 record in three seasons. ???What Daniel has accomplished at Saginaw High School speaks for itself. He has all of the qualities of a good point guard. He makes people better by distributing the basketball. He has the ability to score and he can make plays when the game is on the line. Defensively, his ability to anticipate and steal the ball should really help our press. He is also fortunate to have played for Lou Dawkins who is one of the best high school coaches in the nation.???
West is the third member of Tennessee???s signing class. He will join early signees Philip Jurick (6-0, 250, Center, Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Renaldo Woolridge (6-8, 205, Wing, North Hollywood, Calif.) in Knoxville next season.
