Lakers complete men's basketball recruiting class for 2008-09

SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State second-year men's basketball coach Steve Hettinga has announced his recruiting class for the 2008-09 season. The Lakers have signed guards Cameron Bell of Bloomfield Hills and Kyle Hunt of Macomb, and will bring in Alpena Community College guard Matt Carr of Gaylord.

Carr, who is 5-10, 175 pounds, earned Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Class B All-State First Team honors in 2006 and was named to the Michigan Community College Athletic Association All-Eastern Conference Third Team in 2008. He was ACC's second-leading scorer last season, averaging 15.8 points, 1.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He made a team-leading 79 three-pointers and shot a team-high 85.3 percent at the free-throw line.

"I like the leadership and maturity that Matt Carr brings to our team," Hettinga said. "He has a blue-collar type work ethic. He is a little bit older, which is good for us. He's had to fight for everything he has gotten in his life and will be a positive addition to our team."

Bell, at 6-3, 180 pounds, averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.6 assists per game for Bloomfield Hills-Andover High School in 2007-08. He helped lead Andover to back-to-back Oakland Activities Association titles with his versatility and physical strength. Bell earned All-OAA First Team honors and all-state honorable mention in 2006-07 and 2007-08. He is a three-time team most-valuable player, top defender and Sharp Shooter award winner.

"I would describe Bell as a long, lanky guard who really snuck under the radar," Hettinga said. "We were very happy to get this guy so late in the recruiting season. I think he can be a major impact player in the conference by his junior or senior season."

Hunt, a 6-2, 185-pounder, was the most-valuable player in the Macomb Area Conference in 2007-08. He also earned All-Macomb County and all-state honorable mention last season while averaging 18.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.2 steals per game. He finished fourth in career scoring at Henry Ford II High School with 1,046 points, third in career free-throw percentage at .791, third in career steals with 176 and first in varsity games played with 76. He set single-game school records for steals (10), free-throw attempts (20) and free throws made (16, twice).

"Kyle comes from a school with a good basketball tradition," Hettinga said. "I like his versatility and ability to play both guard positions. He's a very good shooter."

Hettinga's first recruiting class will join a veteran group that led LSSU to a 12-16 record and the Lakers' first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal appearance since 1996. All of the top players from last year's team return, including four seniors with four years of starting experience.

"I'm really happy about getting all three of them," Hettinga added. "Our depth has increased, and they are really good kids off the floor. All three come from good families. They are all basketball people and have been taught the game the proper way. We are happy to have them in our family."