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Tulsa Signs Two to Basketball Scholarships
11/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2007
Tulsa, Oklahoma - Armond Battle and Joseph Richard (Re-shard) signed national letters of intent to play basketball at The University of Tulsa, it was announced today by Head Coach Doug Wojcik.
Battle, a 6'7", 180-pound forward, is in his fourth season on the varsity squad at Benilde-St. Margaret High School in Plymouth, Minnesota. Battle has been tabbed as the top small forward recruit in Conference USA as selected by Rivals.com.
He enters his senior season as one of the top players in the state of Minnesota and was named to the preseason Class 3A second-team all-state squad.
A two-time all-conference selection, Battle averaged 20.1 points and 6.9 rebounds in his junior season, while shooting 50-percent from the field. He also chipped in 1.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds. As a sophomore, Battle scored at a 15.4 clip and added 7.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He had a field goal percentage of .520 and shot 41-percent from three-point range.
"Armond is a an extremely athletic and competitive player. He has all the skils to be an outstanding player," said Benilde-St. Margaret Head Coach John Moore. "Tulsa is getting a player who has not yet matured physically. Armond is a young play at age 17 and will not turn 18 until he's at Tulsa next August. He will have a very outstanding college career."
"Armond comes from a great school and an athletic family with an older sister who played at Ohio State. He's the type of player at the small forward position that all coaches love to have on their roster. Armond is a multi-skilled player who can shoot the basketball," said Wojcik.
Richard is a 6'6", 232-pound power forward from Arroyo Valley High School in San Bernardino, California.
A three-year letterwinner and two-year starter, Richard is also entering his third season as team captain. He has career averages of 12.1 points and 10.4 rebounds through his first three seasons.
Richard averaged 12.4 points and 11.4 rebounds during his junior campaign. He also had averages of 3.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.2 blocked shots, while shooting 53.5-percent from the field. Richard was named the MVP of the San Andreas League and earned first-team all-conference and all-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) - Southern Section honors his junior season.
As a sophomore, Richard earned second-team all-CIF merits and was a first-team all-conference performer. In each of the last two years, he was also selected as the San Bernardino County Scholar-Athlete of the Year for all sports.
"Joe's character is just as impressive as his basketball talent," said Arroyo Valley High School Head Coach Scott Smith. "He has a huge upside. He is a very athletic and physical player who is dominant down low. Joe is also a very good defender. There is no let down in his work habits on either end of the court.
"Joe is the type of player that will do whatever he's coached to do, and there is no `I' in his vocabulary. He decided early in the process that he was going to attend a school that the number one priorities were family atmosphere and character," added Smith.
Richard is also 17 years old and will not turn 18 until April.
"Joe is a big, strong and wide-body kid with huge hands and a seven-foot wingspan. He will be a power forward type for us who can really rebound the basketball. With the athletic ability that he possesses, we expect him to be able to defend three or four positions," said Wojcik.
Tulsa Basketball Signees Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School PPG RPG Armond Battle F 6-7 180 Plymouth, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret 20.1 6.9 Joe Richard F 6-6 232 San Bernardino, Calif./Arroyo Valley 12.4 11.5
