MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama men's basketball team has signed a pair of 6-9 twins for the 2006-07 campaign. Detroit, Mich., natives, Charles and Philip Tabet, increase the recruiting class a total of nine players for next year. USA only had one player that was taller than 6-7 on the 2005-06 roster.
"We are very excited about Charles and Philip coming to South Alabama," Jaguar head coach John Pelphrey said. "They are outstanding people and students who have a world of basketball potential...We certainly look forward to both of them making contributions to helping our team as freshmen."
The twins come from the same high school that produced Chris Webber and Shane Battier, giving the Jaguars five freshmen for next year.
"These guys are unbelievably good kids," Country Day head coach Kurt Keener said. "They are quality people and their best basketball is still ahead of them."
The twins transferred to Country Day in the middle of their junior year prior to attending Birmingham Brother Rice High School. There they started their sophomore and junior years until they transferred and were named to the All-Catholic Team for metro Detroit during their sophomore year and were honorable mention all-state, too.
After sitting out, Charles played in 19 games as a senior and averaged 10.2 points per game, 9.5 rebounds a game and 3.4 blocks. He shot 52 percent from the field and was a 61 percent free throw shooter.
"We asked Charles to be the anchor in the middle for our team," Keener said. "He is a tenacious and aggressive defender and he would deny his opponent in the middle and also has great defensive skills."
Philip only played in five games as a senior before injuring his knee. He averaged 7.5 points per game and was in double figures the last two games before the injury.
"Philip is very athletic and his style is quite different than Charles'," Keener said. "Philip is a slasher and has the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket."
"Because of his size, he is a tough match-up for many opponents as he can step out and hit the 15-17 foot shot," Keener added. "These guys seem to feed off of each other and play better when they are both on the court at the same time."
In addition to the Tabet brothers, USA signed three players during the early signing period, including guards Darren Cloud from Evansville, Ind., and Brooks Taylor from Monette, Ark., and small forward Anthony Wilson from Minneapolis. Wilson played at Mt. Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C.
Also available this fall will be Kenny Hooks and Daon Merritt who sat out the 2005-06 season after transferring from Oregon State and Richmond, respectively. Along with them, USA will have the services of Ernest Little and Kendaris Pelton for the second semester after they transferred from UAB and Southern Miss, respectively.
The Jaguars have six returning players after one of the most memorable seasons in school history. USA returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight year after winning the Sun Belt West Division crown and SBC Tournament title. The Jaguars lost to eventual national champion Florida in the first round in Jacksonville, Fla.
