Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Signs Three to Letters of Intent
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
November 11, 1998
East Lansig, Mich. - Michigan State Head Basketball Coach Tom Izzo has announced that three players have signed national letters of intent to attend MSU next fall and play for the 1999-2000 Spartan basketball team.
The signees include Jason Richardson (G/F, 6-6, 210, Saginaw/Arthur Hill HS), Jason Andreas (C, 6-10, 230, Sugar Creek, OH/Garaway HS) and Adam Wolfe (F, 6-8, 215, Westerville, OH/South High School).
"I think this is an excellent start to what could be a great recruiting class," said Izzo. "We've gotten some size, some athletic ability, some shooting and covered many of the areas we thought were essential for this class. We'd like to sign one more player, hopefully in the early signing period. If not, we'll hold off until the spring."
The following are brief sketches on each player
JASON RICHARDSON
Guard/Forward, 6-6, 210
Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill High School
Averaged 18.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.3 blocks per game as a junior in helping Saginaw Arthur Hill High School to a 20-4 record and its first district championship in 32 years ... Shot 64 percent from the floor and 48 percent from three-point range ... Rated as the No. 6 senior by Recruiters Handbook and No. 8 by analyst Bob Gibbons ... During the summer of 1998, he was named as the most valuable player of the 224-team Adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas ... Scored 20 points in that tournament's championship contest ... Was named to the all-star team at the ABCD Camp in New Jersey ... Was a first-team selection to the Saginaw Valley All-Conference Team ... All-Area honoree as chosen by the Saginaw News ... All-state pick as chosen by both Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.
Coach Izzo on Richardson: "I, along with my staff, the team and the fans, are excited to have Jason Richardson join our program. I feel Jason may be as good an athlete as we've ever had at Michigan State. With much improved shooting skills and a tremendous work ethic, I feel his future here could be great. Jason comes from a winning program and has proven he is not only a great player, but a great person as well."
JASON ANDREAS
Center, 6-10, 230
Sugar Creek, Ohio/Garaway HS
Averaged 14.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots per game as a junior in helping his team to a 21-3 mark ... Captured first-team acclaim on the Inter Valley All-Conference Team for the second straight year in 1997-98 ... Second-Team honoree to the Eastern District squad ... His father, Dan, lettered in basketball at Ohio State from 1968-70 ... An uncle, Bill, was a three-year starter in hoops for the Buckeyes from 1973-75 ... An excellent student, he is one of 21 candidates nationwide for the High School Heisman Award recognizing accomplishments in academics.
Coach Izzo on Andreas: "We are pleased to have a player of Jason's size, strength, skill and academic excellence that he possesses join the program. Jason was limited last year because of an injury which also forced him out of action for most of the summer. After watching him his sophomore year, we feel that he could be a very valuable addition with his ability to shoot the ball, run the floor and hopefully bang inside."
ADAM WOLFE
Forward, 6-8, 215
Westerville, Ohio/South HS
Averaged 18 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as a junior for Westerville South High School in helping that team to a 20-3 won-lost slate ... Shot 60 percent from the floor and 38 percent from three-point range ... Named player of the year in the Ohio Capital Conference last year ... Captured first-team recognition to the All-Central Ohio team ... Was a third-team all-state selection in '97-98 ... Has led his team in charges taken the last three years ... Four-year starter and two-time all-league selection ... In his first three seasons as a starter, his high school team has compiled a 55-12 record.
Coach Izzo on Wolfe: "It was exciting for us to land another player from the state of Ohio who comes from an excellent high school program at Westerville South. We believe that he will be a solid addition, not only with his size, but also his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter or inside. He played exceptionally well at Five Star Camp this summer which left a lot of coaches vying for his services."
