Thursday, September 29, 2011

Denzel Douglas Verbally Commits to Play Basketball Next Season at the University of Idaho


Casper College point guard Denzel Douglas, from Los Angeles, CA, verbally committed to the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID, to play for Coach Don Verlin.  The 5’11 point guard visited the Vandals last weekend, and has decided he will attend the school next season! As a freshman at Casper College, Douglas started 26 games and averaged 24 minutes per contest.  Denzel averaged 7.4 points per game, while dishing out 4.4 assists a game.  In addition to becoming a more mature and savvy player on the floor, Denzel and his partner at the point guard position, Dominique Brooks (Seattle, WA) will have to be the “floor generals” that the Thunderbirds need to get to the National Tournament for the first time since 1996. Coming from Westchester High School in California, this electric player will join a few teammates from his high school team at the Division I level. Jordin Mayes is at the University of Arizona, Dwayne Polee is with San Diego State University, and Kareem Jamar plays at the University of Montana with former Thunderbird and Casper native, Art Steward.
Don Verlin and his staff really gained interest in Denzel at the Full Court Press Junior College and Top Unsigned Senior Showcase in Long Beach, CA, which was hosted at Cabrillo High School over the weekend.  Douglas came out as one of the top performers, as well as one of top point guards, at the event. Others universities who joined in the recruitment of the super quick point guard were: University of Detroit, Cal-St. Fullerton, Montana, and UC-Santa Barbara.
According to Coach Davidson, “the Vandals are not only getting a young man capable of having a big impact on the floor, but off of it as well.  He is a great kid and we have high hopes for him in his sophomore season.”
The Idaho Vandals, with the RPI ranking of 137 last season ended up 17-13 on the year and 9-8 in conference play (WAC). They need to replace two senior point guards with this years class, which Douglas will have the opportunity of doing after he finishes his sophomore season with Joel Davidson and the Casper College Thunderbirds basketball program.