USU men’s basketball signs strong class for 2016-17

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men’s basketball head coach Tim Duryea announced the 2016-17 signing class on Wednesday, a group that is being regarded as one of the best in school history. The list includes guard Koby McEwen (Wasatch (Utah) Academy), power forward Klay Stall (Basha (Ariz.) High School) and wing Daron Henson (Cathedral (Calif.) High School).

“I’m really proud of this class and the work that our staff put in,” Duryea said. “I’m really impressed with the quality of prospects, the quality of families and the quality of kids that they are. I really look forward to coaching them and watching them improve.”

McEwen, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard, is listed among ESPN’s Top 100 recruits and is listed as the 19th-best point guard in the nation, 10th-best player in the region and second-best player in the state. McEwen is in his senior year at Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant), where he turned in 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior. He logged season highs of 30 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists and five steals during the year, en route to being named to the 2A all-state team by the Salt Lake Tribune. McEwen played AAU with CIA Bounce and was also being recruited by Baylor, Ole Miss, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Tech, New Mexico State, Texas Tech and Wake Forest. McEwen had a breakout performance at the Adidas Nation event in Long Beach, Calif., over the summer, averaging 21 points, five rebounds, three steals and 2.8 assists against some of the nation’s best.

“Koby is a big, strong, athletic point guard,” Duryea said. “He is a tenacious competitor, a very solid shooter and his work ethic for improving is as good as any player that we have ever recruited. He has an insatiable appetite for basketball, for being in the gym and working out. He has the ability to be a tremendous defender and will be one of the better rebounding point guards that we have ever had here.”

Stall, a 6-9, 225-pound post averaged 11.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game for Basha High School in Chandler, Ariz., as a junior. Stall scored in double figures in 21 of 29 games last season and pulled down double-digit rebounds 18 times, leading to season highs of 20 points and 23 rebounds. During his career, Stall has averaged 9.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game and was named honorable-mention all-Arizona Division I by the Arizona Republic as a junior. Stall was also being recruited by Eastern Washington, Fresno State, Northern Arizona, Portland State, San José State and UC Santa Barbara.

“Klay is a big guy that is really on the come, as far as his development and skill set,” Duryea said. “He suffered an unfortunate knee injury last April, but it will be fully healed when he comes in for our summer program. He is a skilled big guy, who can catch it, shoot it and has a tremendous touch around the basket. He has the chance to be, with improved strength, a five-man in our system that will fit perfectly.”

Henson, a 6-8, 190-pound wing averaged 13.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for Alemany High School in Mission Hills, Calif. as a junior last season, earning all-area second-team honors by the Los Angeles Daily News and first-team all-Mission League by the Los Angeles Times. Henson had five 20-point outings during the year, including a season-high 25, while pulling down a season-high 10 rebounds. During his prep career, Henson has averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He was also being recruited by Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, San Diego State and UTEP. Henson is playing his final season of high school basketball at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles, Calif.

“Daron is a long, athletic, versatile player that can play the three or the four,” Duryea said. “He is a tremendous shooter for a 6-8 kid, really a tremendous shooter. He is a kid that has a lot of really good basketball in front of him, comes from a solid family and is just a really likable kid. He’ll be a solid contributor for our program.”

Utah State will open its 2015-16 season on Friday, Nov. 13, traveling to Weber State to face the Wildcats at 7 p.m. in the Dee Events Center.

Single game tickets for the 2015-16 season are now available and begin at $17. USU men’s basketball season ticket renewals, new season tickets and mini-plans are also available. Fans can purchase season tickets, starting at $230 and three-, four-, six- and nine-game mini-plans for as little as $30. For more basketball ticket information, fans can contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office over the phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or 435-797-0305 during regular hours of operation. Fans can also buy their tickets in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or online by clicking on the “Buy Tickets” tab at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

Utah State men’s basketball news and information is available on Facebook facebook.com/USUmen’sbasketball and on Twitter @Aggiehoops. Fans can also get USU men’s basketball highlights on YouTube at youtube.com/UtahStateAthletics. Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program at Twitter @USUAthletics, on Facebook at facebook.com/USUAthletics, or on Instagram @USUAthletics.

-USU-

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