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BYU head basketball coach Dave Rose on Wednesday night announced the signing of five high school players to national letters of intent, and confirmed the return of Kyle Collinsworth to the program at the conclusion of his LDS Church mission.
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The new players are Lone Peak High School stars Nick Emery and Eric Mika, Idaho prepster Braiden Shaw, Oklahoma high schooler Jakob Hartsock and Wisconsin prep product Luke Worthington. BYU says "Mika and Worthington plan to play for the Cougars next season," while the other three signees are headed out on missions after the upcoming high school year.
Collinsworth last played as a true freshman during the 2010-11 season; he is currently serving his mission in Russia.
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Emery is ranked 61st in the ESPN.com Top 100 for the Class of 2013, while Mika is ranked 76th. BYU's 2013 recruiting class is ranked 16th nationally by ESPN.com, with Mika ranked 8th among centers, Emery 14th among shooting guards and Worthington 47th among power forwards.
CBSSports.com lists Emery 71st nationally, and 19th among shooting guards; Mika is ranked 11th among centers.
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Wednesday's commitments bring to 11 the number of grants-in-aid ticketed for players on the projected 2013-14 roster:
Agustin Ambrosino
Nate Austin
Matt Carlino
Kyle Collinsworth
Raul Delgado
Ian Harward
Tyler Haws
Eric Mika
Josh Sharp
Anson Winder
Luke Worthington
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BYU has an outstanding scholarship offer to Chicago high school phenom Jabari Parker; his father says Parker will make his official visit to BYU on the weekend of November 24th, will commit to the school of his choice soon thereafter and sign in the spring.
Parker is rated 2nd nationally in the aforementioned ESPN.com and CBSSports.com lists.
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You can read BYU's press release and player profiles below:
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PROVO, Utah - BYU basketball head coach Dave Rose announced today that prep players Nick Emery, Jakob Hartsock, Eric Mika, Braiden Shaw and Luke Worthington have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Cougars. Rose also announced that Kyle Collinsworth will return to BYU next summer after the completion of his two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia.
"Our staff and current players are extremely excited about this group of student-athletes that have signed today," Rose said. "This class represents a great deal of dedication from our staff. I'm personally grateful for the work our coaches have put in and the trust these players have in us as coaches. With the addition of these players to our program, BYU basketball has a bright future."
A local product from Lone Peak High School in Alpine, Utah, Emery is one of the most decorated players in the history of Utah high school basketball and ranked among the top 100 recruits in the nation by ESPN.com (61st) and Scout.com (81st). In three seasons starting for Quincy Lewis at Lone Peak, Emery has led the Knights to back-to-back 5A state titles in 2011 and 2012 and accumulated 1,488 career points and 208 threes. As a junior the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 21.6 points, 3.4 threes, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.4 steals while leading Lone Peak to a 22-3 record, the 5A state title and a No. 24 national ranking. During the summers Emery has played for the Utah Reign and for the Salt Lake Metro under Golden Holt, Marty Haws and Dave Hammer.
"Nick is a prolific scorer with unlimited range," Rose said. "He's an intense competitor on both ends of the floor. Nick always plays on attack and is great off the dribble. He's a winner in everything he does on and off the court. We're excited to have Nick in our program."
Hartsock, the younger brother of former Cougar and All-WCC performer Noah Hartsock, plays for Tim Bart at Bartlesville High School in Bartlesville, Okla. As a junior in 2011-12 the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks while shooting .496 from the field, .366 from three and .780 from the free throw line. He earned third-team all-state honors while leading Bartlesville to a 22-4 record and a trip to the 6A Oklahoma state tournament. ESPN.com ranks Hartsock as the No. 55 power forward in the country and the No. 3 recruit in the 2013 class in Oklahoma.
"Jakob will be a great addition to our program," Rose said. "He's an explosive forward with deep range. He can stretch the defense and finish above the rim. Jakob's midrange game is very similar to his older brother Noah. He has the size and skill level to play and guard multiple positions at the next level."
Mika, who will play at Lone Peak this season, is ranked 76th and 72nd among all prospects by ESPN.com and Scout.com, respectively. He is also ranked eighth and 10th among all centers by the same organizations. Mika, 6-foot-9, played his freshman and sophomore seasons at The Waterford School in Salt Lake City. As a sophomore he averaged 17.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocks and earned first-team all-state honors. He transferred to Lone Peak after his sophomore season and had to sit out last season due to Utah High School Activities Association transfer rules. Mika has played for the Utah Reign travel team and for the Utah Pump-N-Run under John Palica.
"Erik is rated as one of the top big men in the country," Rose said "More importantly, he is a perfect fit for how we play at BYU. He has the ability to run the floor, attack the rim, and score with his back to the basket. These attributes combined with his great work ethic and his fierce competitiveness will be key to his growth as an individual and the future success and growth of our program."
Shaw plays for Tom Seifert at Eagle High School in Eagle, Idaho, and is ranked as the top recruit out of Idaho in the class of 2013 by ESPN.com. As a junior in 2011-12 the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 11 points and eight rebounds and earned 5A All-State Second Team honors from the Idaho Statesman. Shaw also earned All-Southern Idaho Conference honors and SIC All-Academic recognition. Shaw played for the Hoop Dreams Idaho travel team coached by Ed Boyce.
"We are excited about Braiden," Rose said. "His natural ability fits our program perfectly. He's very skilled, runs the floor very well, is long and athletic and has great basketball instinct."
Worthington plays for Ray Curry at Homestead High School and, according to ESPN.com, is ranked No. 47 nationally among power forwards in the class of 2013. Last season the 6-foot-9 forward led Homestead to a 15-5 record while averaging 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Worthington plays for the Wisconsin Playground Elite travel team coached by Duane "Ike" Wilson. A two-sport star, Worthington also plays football for Homestead and has led his team to the state championship game, which will be played later this week.
"Luke played against the top talent in the country all summer long," Rose said. "He proved himself to not only be one of the most fearless and physical big men in the country but also one of the top rebounders. He is blessed with a nose for the ball. As a star lineman for his state champ HS football team he will also certainly add physicality, leadership and more winning attitude to our program for years to come."
While all five have signed National Letters of Intent, Emery, Hartsock and Shaw plan to serve two-year missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prior to enrolling at BYU in the fall of 2015. Mika and Worthington plan to play for the Cougars next season.
Collinsworth, a 6-foot-6 guard who prepped at Provo High School, started 27 games as a freshman for a record-setting BYU squad in 2010-11. He averaged 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game and posted season highs of 16 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks. Collinsworth and the Cougars enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history, winning a BYU-record 32 games and claiming the Mountain West Conference regular season title with a 14-2 record. Appearing in the polls from start to finish, the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 3 by the AP and USA Today and finished the season No. 10 and 13 in the respective polls. BYU earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1981.
"Kyle was an integral part of our success prior to his mission," Rose said. "Our staff loves Kyle's versatility. He's a great ball handler and decision maker and has a unique gift to make plays with the ball in his hands. At 6-foot-6 his length and his athleticism make him one of the true special players in the country. Kyle is a difference maker. With the experience he gained his freshman year he'll bring great leadership to our program and we are thrilled to have him back."
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Nick Emery
6-2, 180, G, Lone Peak
Plays for Quincy Lewis at Lone Peak High School
Career totals of 1,488 points and 208 threes and averages of 20.7 points and 2.9 threes per game
Career highs of 39 points, 8 threes, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 8 steals
As a junior averaged 21.6 points, 3.4 threes, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.4 steals and led Lone Peak to a 22-3 record, the 5A state title and a No. 24 national ranking (Maxpreps.com)
Named the 5A MVP by the Deseret News, first-team all-state by the Salt Lake Tribune and Valley Player of the Year by the Daily Herald
MVP of the 2012 Brandon Jennings Invitational
As a sophomore averaged 21.7 points and 2.8 threes per game and led Lone Peak to a 24-1 record, the 5A state title and a No. 21 national ranking (Maxpreps.com)
Named the 5A MVP by the Deseret News, Utah Gatorade Player of the Year and first-team all-state by the Salt Lake Tribune
As a freshman averaged 18.5 points and hit 2.4 threes per game and led Lone Peak to a 17-6 record
Named second-team all-state by the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune
In the class of 2013 is ranked No. 61 by ESPN.com, No. 81 by Scout.com and No. 106 by Rivals.com
Ranked No. 14 among point guards in the class of 2013 by ESPN.com
Ranked No. 17 among shooting guards by Scout.com and No. 28 among shooting guards by Rivals.com
Plays for the Utah Reign Travel Team
Named a top performer at the 2012 Philly Hoop Group Jamfest
Attended the CP3 Elite Guard Camp run by Chris Paul and the NBPA Top 100 camp at the University of Virginia
Also played for Salt Lake Metro and was coached by Golden Holt, Marty Haws and Dave Hammer
Recruited by Utah, Stanford, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Washington State, UCLA and Washington
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Jakob Hartsock
6-7, 205, F, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Plays for Tim Bart at Bartlesville High School
Ranked the third best player in the class of 2013 in the state of Oklahoma and No. 55 among power forwards nationally by ESPN.com
Named third-team all-state by Tulsa World
As a junior averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks per game while shooting .496 from the field, .366 from three and .780 from the free throw line
Led Bartlesville to a record of 22-4 and a trip to the 6A state tournament
Younger brother of Noah Hartsock, an All-WCC forward for BYU in 2012
Also recruited by Missouri State, Utah and Utah State
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Eric Mika
6-9, 220, F, Alpine, Utah
Plays for Quincy Lewis at Lone Peak High School
Ranked No. 76 in ESPN.com's top 100 recruits
Ranked No. 72 in Scout.com's top 100 recruits
Ranked No. 8 among centers by ESPN.com
Ranked No. 10 among centers by Scout.com
Ranked No. 15 among centers by Rivals.com
Played his freshman and sophomore seasons at The Waterford School in Salt Lake City
Averaged 17.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocks as a sophomore at Waterford
Named first-team all-state as a sophomore at Waterford
Also recruited by Weber State, Utah State, Utah, Stanford and Boston College
Plays for the Utah Reign Travel Team
Played with the Utah Pump-N-Run for John Palica
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Braiden Shaw
6-8, 210, F, Eagle, Idaho
Plays for Tom Seifert at Eagle High School
Named the top recruit in the class of 2013 by ESPN.com
Named to the 5A All-State Second Team by the Idaho Statesman
Earned All-Southern Idaho Conference and SIC All-Academic Team honors
Averaged 11 points and 8 rebounds as a junior at Eagle High School
Also recruited by Boise State, Utah State and Utah
Father Kelly Shaw played for BYU's junior varsity squad in the 1980s
Played for Hoop Dreams Idaho travel team coached by Ed Boyce
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Luke Worthington
6-9, 240, F, Mequon, Wisconsin
Plays for Ray Curry at Homestead High School
Ranked the No. 7 prospect in the class of 2013 in Wisconsin and No. 47 among power forwards nationally by ESPN.com
Averaged 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks as a junior
Led Homestead to a record of 15-5 overall and 10-3 in league play
Named first-team All-North Shore Conference
Recruited by BYU and Wisconsin to play football
Recruited by Butler, Dayton, St. Louis, DePaul, George Washington, Tulane, Lehigh, Citadel, UNC Greensboro, Holy Cross, Weber State, UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, Bucknell and Toledo
Plays football at Homestead and led team to State Championship game (to be played this week)
Played for Wisconsin Playground Elite coached by Duane "Ike" Wilson
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