Staten Island, NY – On the first day of the spring signing period, head men's basketball coach
Bashir Mason has announced that 6'11" 250-pound center DeAndre Wilkins of Edenton, NC and 6'7" 230-pound forward Ja'Mier Fletcher of Pittsburgh, PA have signed National Letters of Intents to continue their academic and athletic careers at Wagner College, and will compete as freshmen in the 2019-20 season.
DeAndre Wilkins
6-11, 250 Center
Edenton, NC/ Great Bridge Christian Academy (VA)
DeAndre Wilkins is a physical post player with excellent size and vast potential. A native of Edenton, NC, he played his senior season at Great Bridge Christian Academy in Chesapeake, VA for head coach Donald Hand, a former standout guard at the University of Virginia. As a senior, Wilkins averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds per game for a talented 27-6 Eagles squad that featured several Division I prospects. Prior to embarking on his one year at Great Bridge Christian, Wilkins attended Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, NC, where he averaged eight points and four rebounds per game. During his career, Wilkins has further honed his talents competing for the Team United AAU Club team.
Bashir Mason on DeAndre Wilkins
"We haven't had a guy like DeAndre Wilkins in our program since Naofall Folahan (2010-14), our all-time leading shot-blocker. We've had some really good shot-blockers and inside players but no one with his size. He has really good feet and runs very well for a man his size, moves well laterally and will be a good rim protector with his size. In evaluating and recruiting DeAndre, what we saw immediately was a guy who can help us on defense and in rebounding right away. He's still developing his offensive game but I think he's going to be a really good player for us in our league."
Ja'Mier Fletcher
6-7, 230 Forward
Pittsburgh, PA / Steel Valley HS / First Love Christian Academy (VA)
Ja'Mier Fletcher is a big, strong and physical force from western Pennsylvania, who enjoyed a highly-productive high school career where he scored more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Before transferring to First Love Christian, where he averaged a double-double, at 12.7 points per game, and 10.5 rebounds against a national prep school schedule, Fletcher was standout at Steel Valley High School in Pittsburgh where he was regarded as one of the top big men in the WPIAL after averaging 19 points and 17 rebounds. Known for his high motor and relentless work ethic, Fletcher once poured in 26 points and pulled down 19 rebounds in leading Steel Valley to a Section4-AAA double-overtime victory over West Mifflin High School. Additionally, Fletcher has further honed his skills competing in AAU basketball as a member of the Ohio Basketball Knights.
Bashir Mason on Ja'Mier Fletcher
"Ja'Mier will give us skilled, strong and mobile inside play and someone who's very crafty around the basket. Defensively, he'll really help us and I know he'll rebound the basketball effectively on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he has a real good touch and feel around the rim, has good hands, even has a nice jump hook. Though he's a natural righty shooter, he often shoots lefty around the rim. We're super excited to have Ja'Mier joining our basketball family here at Wagner, a young man who was very heavily recruited, had a lot of schools on him, and he has a really bright future."
Wilkins and Fletcher will meld in the front court with a third big man, 6'7", 190-pound Massachusetts forward
Darion Jordan-Thomas from Woodstock Academy (CT), who signed a National Letter of Intent with Wagner during the early signing period back in November.
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