(11/14/96)
TCU Basketball head coach Billy Tubbs announced today the signing of four student-athletes to letters-of-intent.
The group includes Ryan Carroll, a 6-5 F/G from Longview (TX) High School. Carroll earned all district 15-AAAAA honors last season by averaging 14 points and 4.5 rebounds per outing. He is mentioned by Adidas Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook as a Star of the Future.
"Carroll has the ability to play either a guard or a forward position," said coach Tubbs. "He is a very good perimeter player and has good athletic ability."
John Day, a 6-10, 235 F/C from Lon Morris (TX)CC represents a big inside player who also possesses a good outside game. The former McCullough High School standout averaged 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds last season.
"Day gives us the size we need for our inside game," said coach Tubbs. "Plus, he's a strong rebounder and can move outside and shoot three-pointers."
Thomas McTyer, a 5-10 guard from Las Vegas (NV) Durango High School, is a true point guard. He averaged 8 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals as a junior last season while helping Durango earn its 2nd consecutive Nevada state title. McTyer is the cousin of current TCU point guard Prince Fowler.
"McTyer has a true point guard mentality," said Tubbs. "He has great speed, quickness and he sees the floor well. We lose two of our three point guards after this season, so he should fit right into our system next season."
Lee Nailon, a 6-9, 235 forward from Butler County (KS) CC, is considered one of the premier Juco players in the country. He is listed as the top power forward in the juco ranks according to the Sporting News and is tabbed by both Adidas Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and Dick Vitale's College Basketball as a first-team junior college preseason all-American. A sophomore at Butler County (KS), Nailon plyed at Southeastern CC (IA) a year ago, where he averaged 23.7 points while hitting 62 percent from the field and grabbed 8.1 rebounds per game. He is a native of South Bend, IN.
"Nailon really fills a gap in our program," said Tubbs. "He is the player I feel is so vital to his recruiting class ... a real impact player."
"With these four players we have taken great strides in filling our needs for next season," said Tubbs.