Houston men’s basketball landed four new recruits for the early signing period.
John Linden High School senior Desmond Wade was a Second-Team All-State selection for New Jersey his Junior Season when he averaged 13 points and nine assists per game.
The 5-8 point guard from Linden, New Jersey led his team to two consecutive Group 4 State Championships with his ability to manage the game on both sides of the court and push the tempo on offense.
"No one pushes the ball faster than Desmond, and he is a very good shooter from the field and free throw line. He is smart, extremely well coached and one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the country. He is a former football standout who loves to get physical on both ends of the floor."
Wade led his team to an 81-13 record his first three seasons.
He chose to sign his letter of intent to come to Houston over Colonial Athletic Conference powerhouse George Mason and Iona College. In the end it came down to the Cougars’ style of play and connections to New Jersey.
"I loved Iona and everything about it, so this was a real tough choice for me," Wade said to The Home Tribune News in New Jersey Thursday. "But I just felt Houston was the place for me. They play up-tempo and they like to attack offensively and defensively and that’s my game.
"Coach Tom Penders is a proven guard coach, their assistant coach Jerry Hobbie is a New Jersey guy (Johnson Regional and St. Patrick high schools) and I just love the environment there, the people, the players."
Wade was the only high school recruit reeled in by the Cougars during the early signing period.
Houston’s three other recruits, Aubrey Coleman, Sean Coleman and Horace Dixon are all junior college sophomores.
Aubrey Coleman averaged 24 points, four steals, four rebounds and five assists as a freshman at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, Miss.
Penders said the 6-4 guard is a slasher and a determined scorer who also knows how to get it done on defense.
Sean Coleman is a 6-8 forward from Blinn Community College in Brenham, who signed with Houston after being recruited by Washington State, Oregon State and Iowa.
Dixon is a 6-8 forward from Angelina College in Lufkin.
Penders said the team expects to sign one more player during the spring.
