TOWSON, Md. ? Towson head basketball coach Pat Kennedy stunned some and surprised others when he announced the signings of forwards Isaiah Philmore of the John Carroll School in Bel Air and Erique Gumbs of Caravel Academy in Bear, Del. to national letters of intent.
Both Philmore, a 6-7, 210 pound small forward, and Gumbs, a 6-9, 225 lb. power forward, are expected to make immediate impacts for the Tigers next year.
Philmore is a major reason the Patriots are considered legitimate title contenders this season in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association's very competitive “A” Conference. He averaged 18.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game on a Patriots' squad that posted a 20-12 mark and finished fourth in its first season in the A Conference.
“Isaiah possibly ranks as the single highest recruited player coming out of high school that Towson has ever signed,” said Kennedy. “He should have a major impact on the (Colonial Athletic Association) and college basketball in general. His size, speed and diversity of skills make him an exceptional player at his age. He'll have an opportunity to take Towson to great heights.”
Philmore, the number 35-ranked small forward on the ESPNU 100 list and a three-star recruit on the Rivals.com recruiting network, was a first team All-Metro and All-Conference selection and Harford County Player of the Year as a junior. He was heavily recruited by a mix of ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA and Atlantic 10 schools.
“The John Carroll community is excited to have Isaiah continue his academic and athletic career close to home at Towson University,” said Patriots' coach Tony Martin. “He is a true competitor who plays with a high motor. His desire to win is contagious and his work ethic makes him a great leader by example.”
Gumbs averaged 13.5 points and 11.0 rebounds last year in helping Caravel to a 22-4 record that included the Delaware State High School Championship.
“Erique is an all around outstanding student-athlete,” said Kennedy. “He has had much success in his academic career and his basketball development in recent years has been outstanding. Over the course of his college career he will undoubtedly become one of the finest big men in Towson history.”
Gumbs chose Towson over a number of CAA, Atlantic 10, Big Ten and Big East schools.
“He's been a work in progress,” said Dwayne Coverdale, who coached both Philmore and Gumbs on the same AAU Delaware Sharpshooters squad. “Erique really started to increase his level dramatically in the last 18 months. He's a very skilled post player, and very good with his back to the basket. His best days are ahead of him.”
