Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Basketball Signs Four To Letters Of Intent
11/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2001
Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser announced today that the Demon Deacons have received four letters of intent to play at WFU next season.
The four-man class is considered one of the deepest and talented groups in the nation by several recruiting publications.
The signees include 6-9 Eric Williams (Wake Forest, NC/Rolesville HS), 6-2 Justin Gray (Charlotte, NC/Oak Hill Academy), 6-5 Richard Joyce (Mt. Airy, NC/Oak Hill Academy) and 6-9 Chris Ellis (Marietta, GA/Marietta HS).
Williams is ranked as the nation's 29th-best high school prospect by Student Sports and he is ranked No. 49 by recruiting analyst Brick Oettinger. Williams is a big, powerful player who averaged 22 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocked shots per game last year as a junior. He also shot a remarkable 85 percent from the floor.
Ellis, an extremely athletic post player, averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots per game last year at Marietta High School. The son of former NBA player Dale Ellis, is listed at 158 by recruiting analysts.
Joyce averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds as a junior and helped Mount Airy finish 21-6 last year. He is ranked 146th by recruiting analysts.
Gray, a point guard rated the 48th best prospect in the class of 2002 according to PrepStars, led his AAU team to the semifinals of the AAU Nationals this past summer.
Gray and Joyce are currently teammates at powerful Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, VA. Five other Oak Hill players were expected to sign letters of intent including Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse), Antywane Robinson (Temple), Eric Wilins (Miami, FL), Ian Johnson (Davidson) and Chadd Moore (Cincinnati).
