May 9, 2003
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette men's basketball program, led by ninth-year head coach Fran O'Hanlon, has signed three players for the 2003-04 season. The Class of 2007 includes a point guard from Bryn Mawr, Pa., a shooting guard from Bloomington, Ind. and a power forward from Miami, Fla.
"This is a solid recruiting class for our program," O'Hanlon said. "Some of our incoming student-athletes will be called upon to contribute immediately and some we'll look to for major contributions over the course of their careers.
A native of Bryn Mawr, Pa., point guard Marcus Harley (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Harriton) comes to Lafayette from Harriton High School. The 5-11 Harley left his program as its all-time leading scorer with 1,618 career points. In his senior season at point guard, Harley earned All-State First-Team recognition, adding to his conference MVP honors the past two seasons.
Harley averaged 23 points, three assists, three rebounds and two steals per game in his senior season. His 686 points helped lead Harriton to a 25-5 record and a district championship. Harriton also played its way to the state quarterfinals where it lost to eventual state champion Lancaster Catholic.
Under the direction of head coach Clyde Jones, the Harriton program and Harley have enjoyed tremendous success in his three seasons on the varsity squad. In his sophomore season, his first as a starter, Harriton won the Delaware Valley American League championship and advanced to the district quarterfinals. Harley averaged 13.0 points per game and helped guide his squad to a 20-5 mark. Another 20-win campaign was in store for Harley in his junior year, as the team moved on to the state quarterfinals where it lost to the eventual state champion. Harley averaged 18.6 points per game.
"Marcus Harley is a prolific scorer who led his team to the state quarterfinals the last two seasons," O'Hanlon said. "He possesses excellent quickness and is a playmaker from the point guard position.
Power forward Jamaal Douglas (Miami, Fla./Palmer Trinity) comes to Lafayette from Miami, Fla. where he attended Palmer Trinity High School. Originally from Nasssau, Bahamas, Douglas averaged 14.7 points and 12.2 rebounds per game in his senior season on his way to All-State Second-Team honors and an All-Dade County First-Team naming from the Miami Herald. Palmer Trinity finished the season with a 26-5 record and a No. 5 ranking in the state of Florida.
The 6-6, 240-pound Douglas ended his career at Palmer Trinity with 1,111 points and 926 rebounds in three seasons as a starter. As a sophomore, Douglas averaged 9.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game to help lead his squad to a district title and to the "Sweet 16" in the state tournament. In his junior season under head coach Mike Zavada, Douglas contributed 11.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for a 16-12 squad.
"Jamaal Douglas brings good size to the post," O'Hanlon said. "He is strong around the basket and we will look for him to help us with our rebounding and inside scoring."
Shooting guard Grant Gibson (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South) will bring his game east from a place synonymous with college basketball, Bloomington, Ind. Playing for Bloomington South High School, the 6-3, 190-pound Gibson enjoyed his best high school season as a junior. He was the team's leading scorer with 14.7 points. On his way to All-Conference honors, Gibson also added 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 81 percent from the line. The team finished 12-9 squad and lost in overtime in the sectional playoff.
Gibson's senior season under head coach Bloomington South head coach J.R. Holmes was marred by a back injury that forced him to miss 12 of the team's 24 games. Gibson showed his versatility, stepping in to play the power forward spot in his last season. The team finished 15-9 and advanced to the Section Championship finals, leaving Bloomington South as one of just 16 teams left in the state.
"Grant Gibson is the typical Indiana basketball player because he has an all-around solid game and possesses a good basketball IQ." O'Hanlon said. "He passes well, is a good shooter and moves well without the ball."
Lafayette is coming off a 13-16 campaign in which the Leopards advanced to the Patriot League Tournament semifinals for the second straight season and sixth in the last seven tries.
