April 11, 2007
On November 10, 2006, the Rams inked the first recruit of the Bobby Collins coaching era as Paul Davis of
Davis, a 6'9", 195 pound center/forward from Bennettsville, SC just completed his senior season at Marlboro County High School where he averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks per game while shooting 54% from the field and 74% from the free throw line as he helped to lead the Bulldogs to a 19-5 record and an appearance in the 4A Lowerstate Semifinals.
 Corey Morris in action for the Northeastern High School Eagles (Photo courtesy of The Daily Advance - Photo by Justin Falls)  |
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The son of Lonnie Davis, he is a member of the All-Area Hoop Zone Team and was an All-Region an All-State selection in 2005-06 as selected by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association and the South Carolina Sports Report.
Signed nearly six months ago, Davis was the first recruit Collins and his staff brought to WSSU but was far from the last as the Rams have continued to stock the cupboard with talent with the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations announcing on Wednesday that the Rams have signed three more student-athletes to National Letters of Intent raising the 2007 recruiting class to a total of four young men.
"This is just the beginning of our Division I legacy recruiting class" Collins said. "I look forward to all these guys coming in and making an impact right away. They are all tremendous talents and good kids. Quality athletes, great basketball players and excellent in the classroom, we are fortunate to bring in student-athletes of this caliber."
The first Letter of Intent to come in on Wednesday was signed by Corey Morris. A 6'10" center from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Morris is finishing up his senior year at
Morris led the Eagles to a 26-4 season in 2006-07 and led Northeastern High to a 2A Northeastern Coastal Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship as well as a NCAC conference tournament title. He led the Eagles to a
A First-Team All-Albemarle Area selection and an Honorable Mention All-State honoree, Morris averaged 13 points, 10.5 rebounds, and three blocks per game in 2006-07 as he shot 58% from the field and 71% from the free throw line.
An unselfish player, Morris led a Northeastern H.S. team that boasted four double-figure scorers under head coach Pat Paye.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Williams Morris he chose
The Rams also announced the signing of Isiah Tucker, a 6'1", 180-pound point guard from
Tucker led Word of God Christian Academy to the NCISA 1A North Carolina State Championship by averaging 10 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, and two steals per game in 2006-07 en route to First-Team All-NCISA honors.
The teammate of North Carolina State Player of the Year Chris Lightner, Tucker excels in not only finding the open man, but creating shots for himself both off the dribble and from the perimeter. A spectacular athlete, Tucker was also a member of Word of God Christian Academy's football team where he was the starting quarterback earning a berth in the Shrine Bowl.
The brother of former
Capping off Wednesday's signees was Vaudrey "Max" Funderburke, a 6'3", 180-pound shooting guard from
A Third-Team All-CJCAA Region 10 selection during his freshman campaign at Rockingham Community College, Funderburke averaged 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals per game in 2006-07 while shooting 48% from the field, 43% from behind the three-point line, and 85% from the field.
A four-year varsity lettermen at East Mecklenberg High School, Funderburke is a member of East Meckleberg's 1000-point club where he was a Southwest 4A All-Conference selection his junior and senior seasons. The son of Sheila and Vaudrey Funderburke he chose WSSU over
The Rams, who finished the second year of a five-year transition to NCAA Division I status from NCAA Division II will become full-time members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference during the 2007-08 academic year and will participate in a full MEAC conference schedule.
For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com.
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Student-Athlete Bios:
Corey Morris
6'10"/255
Center
Northeastern H.S.
26-4 senior season...2A Northeastern Coastal Athletic Conference (NCAC) champs...NCAC conference tournament champs...2A Eastern NC sectional champs, losing in the quarterfinals...1st team All-Conference...1st team All-Albemarle Area...Honorable mention all state...13ppg, 10.5rpg, 3bpg...58% field goal...71% from free throw line...Coached by Pat Paye...Recruited by East Tennessee State, Tennessee Chatanooga, NC A&T...Parents Mr. and Mrs. William Morris.
Isiah Tucker
6'1/180
Point Guard
Word of
Played under coach Levi Beckwith...27-3 his senior season, tying for first in the conference in the regular season...Runner up in NCIAS conference tourney...Won the 1A North Carolina Independent Schools Association (NCISA) state championship...Averaged 10ppg, 7apg, 7rpg, 2spg...First team all conference...Teammate Chris Lightner was state player of the year...Sonn of Aleshia and Anthony Tucker...Brother of PJ Tucker who played at the University of Texas and is now a member of the NBA's Toronto Raptors....An independent shrine bowl quarterback...Being recruited by Appalachian State, Western Carolina, and Howard University.
Vaudrey "Max" Funderburke
6'3"/180
Shooting Guard
Played one season at Rockingham Community College for Coach Charles Jackson...Has three years of eligibility left...Played in CJCAA Region 10 conference...22ppg...7rpg...5apg....2spg...48% from the field...85% from FT line....43% from three-point line...Third-Team all conference...Father goes by the same name but they have different middle names...Prefers to be called "Max"...Mom's name is Sheila...Recruited by Queens, UNCG, Belmont Abbey and UNC-Pembroke...Four year varsity letterman at East Mecklenberg High School...Southwest 4A All Conference selection (in junior and senior seasons)...Scored over 1000 points in high school career.
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