UNO Spring Signing Central
NEW ORLEANS – University of New Orleans head men's basketball coach
Mark Slessinger announced the addition of junior college transfer Eddie Denard on Tuesday afternoon.
A forward from Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, Denard also played a season at the University of Illinois-Chicago, an NCAA Division I institution. The native of Chicago signed his National Letter of Intent before concluding his on-campus visit, becoming the eighth member of Slessinger's recruiting class.
“We are so excited to have Eddie as a part of our basketball family here at UNO,” said Slessinger. “He is a quality student-athlete that is excited to be a part of the renaissance of New Orleans basketball. “
“Eddie played on an incredible team that made the Public School Final Four his senior year of high school, had a growing year at UIC followed by a solid year at Kirkwood under a wonderful coach in Doug Wagemester going 27-5 and ranked #2 in the nation. “
Slessinger envisions Denard making an immediate impact on the glass.
“Eddie will bring an immediate inside/outside presence at the forward position,” said Slessinger. “ We love his motor and how hard he will play.”
“He adds immediate rebounding on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. We feel that Eddie will play extremely hard and make sacrifices to help our team win and rebuild very quickly.”
In his lone season at KCC, Denard appeared in all 31 games, averaging 7.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest. The 6-6 forward grabbed 38.7 percent of his rebounds on the offensive glass while shooting 43 percent from the field.
During his season at UIC, Denard saw action off the bench in 10 games.
The stint at UIC followed a successful prep career at Foreman High School, where he directed the squad to 87 wins in four years. The mark included a 27-5 senior campaign which featured conference and regional championships for the school.
Denard earned All-State, All-Area and All-Conference accolades for his final season at the prep level. That year, he averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.5 steals in addition to shooting 63 percent from the field.
“What excited me the most about the University is how the coaches and players treated me like family from the start,” said Denard. “I felt welcome and the city speaks for itself.”
“New Orleans is a great city to be in. I have only been here for a few days, but this is a city is one I could see myself living in.”
Denard echoed his new coach in what he can bring to the table.
“I can bring versatility, rebounding and leadership to this team,” said Denard. “Every team I have been on, I have been a leader. Hopefully I can bring that to New Orleans and help us be on top.”
UNO posted a 17-15 record in 2011-12 and will begin the 2012-13 campaign as an NCAA Division I Independent on Nov. 9 at Lakefront Arena. The institution intends to begin playing in a conference in 2013-14.
2012 UNO Men's Basketball Recruiting Class (as of May 15, 2012)
Corey Blake, G, 6-5, 210, Lecompte, La. (Alexandria HS/Southern-Shreveport)
Eddie Denard, F, 6-6, 230, Chicago, IL (Foreman HS/Illinois-Chicago/Kirkwood CC)
Cory Dixon, F, 6-8, 215, Argyle, Texas (Argyle HS/Northwestern St/Collin County CC/Hutchinson JC)
Evans Ganapamo, G, 6-6, 185, Mandeville, La. (Mandeville)
Andre Gonzaque, G/F, 6-5, 210, Alexandria, La. (Holy Savior Menard Central)
Kevin Hill, F, 6-7, 190, Westwego, La. (John Ehret)
Isaac Mack, G, 6-1, 180, Indianapolis, Ind. (Arsenal Tech/Panola College)
Tradarrius McPhearson, G, 6-1, 195, Edwards, MS (Raymond HS/East Mississippi CC)
EDDIE DENARD BIO
KIRKWOOD CC
Coached by Doug Wagemester… Appeared in 31 games, averaging 7.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists per game for Kirkwood CC... Shot 43 percent from the field... Of 238 rebounds, 92 (38.7 percent) came on the offensive glass.
ILLINOIS CHICAGO
Saw action in 10 games off the bench ... Played a season-high eight minutes against Roosevelt (11/15/10) ... Played at least three minutes in five other contests ... Pulled down one rebound each against Roosevelt, Green Bay (1/15/11) and Milwaukee (2/12/11)
HIGH SCHOOL
Helped Foreman collect 87 wins in four years, including a 27-5 mark with a conference and regional championship his senior season ... Was named Honorable Mention All-State, All-Area and was a member of the Red North All-Conference team as a senior ... Graduated as the school's all-time leader in double-doubles, and led Foreman in both rebounding and field goal percentage as both a junior and senior ... Averaged 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game in his senior campaign, while shooting 63 percent from the field ... Season best outputs were 23 points and 16 rebounds versus Robeson ... As a junior, totaled 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per contest on a 66 percent mark from the field ... Scored a season-high 19 rebounds against Von Steuben, and pulled down a season-best 17 boards versus Curie ... As a sophomore, was an All-Chicago Public League honoree.
PERSONAL
Born Jan. 19, 1992 ... Grew up on the West side of Chicago ... Son of Aubrey Denard and Claudette McDonald-Denard ... Interdisciplinary Studies major and minor in Communication Arts.
