LSSU signs a power forward and shooting guard

SAULT STE. MARIE – Michael Smutny, a 6-9 power forward from Saline, Mich., and Rashaun Carroll, a 6-0 shooting guard from Lansing, Mich., have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Lake Superior State.

Smutny will be a three-year starter at Saline High School this season. He averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game in 2010-11. He maintains a 3.9 grade point average and is a two-time winner of the Southeastern Conference Sportsmanship Award.

“We obviously love his size, but don’t think he’s done growing yet,” LSSU coach Steve Hettinga said. “He’s very athletic and has a high basketball IQ. Once he develops into our system, we think he’ll have a great career here. He’s very long and lanky, and needs to put on some muscle. But he has a soft touch and shoots the ball well from 15 feet, but we think he can develop further on his range.”

“I like their program, the way they push the ball down the floor, and the way they play the game,” Smutny told alleyesonhoops.com. “Education comes first, however, and I’m convinced they have a good engineering program for me with a strong ‘hands-on’ approach. Coach Hettinga seems like a great guy and their players were great to be around…it just seemed like a good fit for me.”

Carroll, also a three-year starter with a 3.4 GPA, earned All-Capital Area Conference First Team honors as a junior after averaging 17.0 points and 6.0 assists per game for Lansing-Waverly High School. He also played for the Grand Rapids Storm AAU Club.

“He’s a great scorer and a good combination guard,” Hettinga said. “I think he can play multiple positions (at the point or shooting guard). That alone gives us some flexibility as far as where we’re going recruiting-wise. He takes pride in playing defense. We think he can step right in and make an immediate impact on our program next year.”

LSSU must replace All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference guard Kyle Hunt and center Mike Boylan, who are seniors. Hettinga is leaving his options open when on the recruiting trail.

“We’re maybe looking at a power forward, but getting these two guys gives us the flexibility to go different directions,” he said. “We’ll look at signing one more recruit, two at the most. We filled our needs. Now it’s the next best player of the draft board, so to speak.”