Tim O'Shea will have a few more new faces on his bench than he planned for this upcoming season.
With only one incoming freshman originally joining the team next season in guard Steven Coleman, player defections opened up two spots on the Ohio roster that the Bobcat coach quickly filled in the spring signing period.
I kind of like the way the recruiting turned out
actually O'Shea said.
First, guard Allen Hester opted to leave the Bobcats following winter quarter and return to his home in California, leaving the team with one more scholarship for next season.
O'Shea promptly filled that hole with the signing of 6-foot-3 point guard Frankie Dobbs from St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. Dobbs averaged 10 points and 10 assists per game his senior season and O'Shea said he expects the freshman to serve as Michael Allen's backup.
He understands that he will come in here and learn from one of the best point guards that I have had in my time here he said. He has all the things that go into making a good point guard. It's the perfect situation for him.
Dobbs had a 4-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and played two seasons on a varsity team at St. Edward that went 47-5 over his two seasons.
They are getting a true point and a floor leader
St. Edward's coach Eric Flannery said. He is a pass-first guard and I really think people at Ohio are going to fall in love with him and the style of play he brings with him.
In a move that could have been predicted following Hester's departure, guard Bert Whittington IV also left the team, putting O'Shea back on the recruiting trail.
O'Shea did not hesitate to find Whittington's replacement, though, signing guard Stacey Waters less than a month later on the last day of the spring signing period. -
but I feel that he was a steal for us late
O'Shea said of the Detroit native. I think he's going to come in there and compete for playing time.
O'Shea added that Waters ability to hit 3-pointers was one of the key things that sold him on Waters.
He's a really good 3-point shooter
and that was an area I thought we had to get better at ' becoming a better 3-point shooting team than we have.
Although he is known for being primarily a shooter, the former Bridgton Prep Academy player is quite versatile, former coach Whit Lesure said.
He's not single dimensional ' so for a guy who's a shooter he possesses the athleticism and ball skills to simply shoot. He still has to physically mature some to be ready for the juniors and seniors in the Mid-American Conference
but he's a guy who should be able to contribute right away.
Rounding out the class is the original signee, Coleman, from Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Fla.
I think he has a chance to be a special player in this program and conference
O'Shea said. Obviously
the challenge with younger guys like that is how quickly they can adjust to this level.
Coleman signed with the Bobcats back in November and was a McDonald's All-
American nominee. He was also named an honorable mention for the 2008 Class 6A All-State basketball team.
