University of North Texas Athletics
Argyle's Overlander Joins Odoh In Hoops Class
11/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DENTON, Texas – North Texas basketball coach Johnny Jones signed Argyle standout Clarke Overlander and Hill College big man John Odoh to play for the Mean Green in 2012-13.
Overlander and Odoh will join a Mean Green squad that welcomed the nation’s No. 30 ranked recruiting class to Denton for the 2011-12 season. North Texas, which has won at least 20 games in five straight years, opens its season at home on Nov. 11 against St. Gregory at 7 p.m.
Clarke Overlander – 6-4, 205, G, Argyle, Texas (Argyle HS)
Overlander, the District 9-3A MVP in each of the last two seasons, is the first Denton area player to sign a scholarship to play for Jones and the Mean Green.A Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All Region and All-State selection, Overlander averaged 15.5 points per game as a sophomore, and upped that to 19 per game and 50 percent 3-point percentage as a junior.
“We are excited about the signing of Clarke Overlander,” Jones said. “He is a tremendous scorer who also has the ability to create opportunities for others. He is a solid defender and rebounder, and with his addition I think it will help to create some matchup problems for our opponents. He also comes from a great basketball program and family.”
Texashoops.com ranks Overlander No. 68 on its list of the best Texas prospects in the Class of 2012, and Maxpreps.com ranks him at No. 74 in the state and among the top 500 nationally (479).
Overlander played his AAU ball for Texas Assault, which has won back-to-back National Super 64 titles – the last in August.
John Odoh – 6-11, 240, C, Oniisha Nigeria (Hill College)
A true center with size, the Nigerian had a standout season at Lincoln Trail College (Robinson, Ill.) before transferring to Hill College for the upcoming season.
“We are excited about the addition of John to our program,” Jones said. “He is a tenacious defender, block shot blocker and rebounder on the defensive end of the floor, and he is also a strong offensive presence on the block. He will be one of the first true back-to-the-basket centers that we have had in the program.”
As a freshman last year, Odoh averaged 8.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game for Lincoln Trail. The Nigerian’s 3.3 blocks per game were seventh in the nation for the 2010-11 season.
Odoh racked up seven double-digit rebound games and three double-doubles, including a 16-points, 14-rebound performance against Rend Lake in February. For the season he shot 61 percent from the floor for the Statesmen.
