UTEP Adds Four to 2014 Men’s Basketball
Signing Class

Steve Kaplowitz.
Steve Kaplowitz.
loading...

EL PASO, TEXAS – UTEP Head Coach Tim Floyd announced on Wednesday that guards Marqywell Jackson (Detroit, Mich.), Earvin Morris (Memphis, Tenn.) and Lew Stallworth (Newhall, Calif.) and forward Terry Winn (Monroe, La.) have signed national letters of intent to play for the Miners beginning with the 2014-15 season.

UTEP has now landed a total of seven signees, including guards Omega Harris (Bethany, Okla.), Chris Sandifer (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Trey Touchet (Lafayette, La.), who all put pen to paper back in November.

“Our needs became obvious in late December in the fact that we had three scholarship perimeter players,” Floyd said. “We feel like we have really enhanced our backcourt and our ability to post up with both perimeter players and inside players. One thing that has always been very important to us is whether our players impacted winning where they were. For the most part these guys have won at a high level.

“The three young men we signed in the fall went on to have great years. Omega Harris’ team lost in the state finals and he was runner-up for Player of the Year in the state. Trey Touchet lost in the state semifinals on a team that had lost four starters from the previous year. He was the back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year in Louisiana. Chris Sandifer was an explosive scorer as a senior, including a 51-point game against Long Beach Cabrillo High School.”

Jackson was rated a four-star recruit by Rivals, averaging 26 and 24 points per game his junior and senior year respectively.

“Marqywell has great length for a perimeter player,” Floyd said. “He is very good in the open floor. He has really good upside. He has the ability to be a good defender. He can really, really score. I think he’s a guy that can really shoot it and come off pindowns, which is something we need moving forward. He really rebounded it well from the guard spot as a senior.”

Morris averaged 14.4 points this season at Tallahassee Community College, shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 46.9 percent from three-point range. He will have two years of eligibility with the Miners.

“Earvin is a very versatile player who can play different positions and score in a lot of ways,” Floyd said. “He is a very instinctive passer, has the ability to shoot the three and can create his own shot. He played at a very competitive level in junior college. He can come in and help our team score in a variety of ways. We love his ability to post in addition to being able to face the basket. He has a very nice mid-range game, which is rare in today’s game.

“Earvin made tremendous improvement from his freshman year to his sophomore year of college under the direction of coach Eddie Barnes. He displayed a willingness to be coached which translated into a great sophomore season.”

Stallworth was appointed the 2014 Foothill League Player of the Year after averaging 20 points per game at William S. Hart High School, which has posted a combined mark of 51-6 over the last two years.

“Lew is a safe passer who does a great job of getting in the lane and finding open teammates,” Floyd said. “He can make the open three. He is a very good foul shooter. He is a very tough defender. We love the fact that any team he plays on wins. Kenny Smith was his AAU coach and actually coached him beginning in elementary school. He has always been a mentor to Lew, and he even told me that he modeled his game after Kenny’s. He is a very vocal player who will be an extension from the coaching staff and a great leader at the point guard position.”

Winn averaged a double-double (24 ppg/13 rpg) in his lone season at Westwind Preparatory Academy after playing at Melrose High School in Memphis as a senior.

“Terry is somewhat of a midsize player who can help us at multiple positions,” Floyd said. “He will help us defend against undersized players. He can score both in the post and make plays in the open court. He made a lot of improvement to his game with his year at Westwind. He has great feet and will really be able to defend. He is also a very explosive athlete. He has a strong ability to rebound out of his area.”

Harris collected 18.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 3.1 apg as a senior at Putnam City West High School. He was tabbed The Oklahoman’s Big All-City Boys Player of the Year. Touchet averaged 18.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals at St. Thomas More High School, shooting 61 percent from the floor, 42 percent from outside and 79 percent from the charity stripe. Sandifer, who played at Taft High School this season, was recently named MVP of the Battle of the Valley senior all-star game in Los Angeles, scoring 27 points for the West squad.

2014 UTEP Basketball Spring Signing Class

Marqywell Jackson
Guard, 6-5, 180, Detroit, Mich. (East English Village Prep Academy)
Rated a four-star recruit by Rivals … regarded as the no. 4 player in the state of Michigan and a national top-150 player by 247sports.com … listed as the no. 53 high school prospect in the country by Hoop Scoop … top player at his position in Michigan by Prep Spotlight, as well as most versatile player in the state … three-time All-State, All-City (first team as a junior and senior) and All-Metro honoree … two-time team MVP … played for coach Juan Rickman at East English Village Prep Academy, which started as Detroit Crockett High School before changing its name following his sophomore season … posted a double-figure scoring average all four years of his prep career – 11 ppg as a freshman, 14 ppg as a sophomore, 26 ppg as a junior and 24 ppg as a senior … high point game was 39 versus Cousino High School his junior year … also averaged nine rebounds and four assists as a senior, and seven rebounds and three assists as a junior … played for the Detroit Stars AAU team, where he was a teammate of the Miners’ Vince Hunter and Matt Willms … ran cross country in high school as well … first name is pronounced Markwell.

“I’m excited that Marqywell is going to play for Tim Floyd. I think the best is yet to come for him. He has a chance to be a very good college player. He can score, he’s versatile and he has a good, natural feel for the game. Coach Floyd can help him continue to develop as a player and evolve as a person.”
- East English Village Prep Academy Coach Juan Rickman

Earvin Morris
Guard, 6-4, 175, Memphis, Tenn. (East HS/Kent State/Tallahassee CC)
Transfer from Tallahassee Community College who will have two years of eligibility with the Miners … second team All-Panhandle Conference in 2014 … started 22 games for the Eagles, leading the team in scoring (14.4 ppg) and steals (1.1 spg) … second on the squad in rebounding (4.2 avg.) … shot 50.5 percent from the field, 46.9 percent from three-point range and 75.3 percent from the line … scored in double figures 19 times, with his top output of 22 points coming at Gulf Coast State College … played at Kent State during the 2012-13 season … appeared in 17 games for the Golden Flashes, including one starting assignment … played for coach Sam Bachelor at Memphis East High School, leading the team to a state championship his senior year … scored 24 points in the AAA sectional, then posted 16 points and 10 rebounds in the state championship game to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team … led Class AAA in scoring and rebounding as a junior with 16.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg … rated a three-star prospect by Rivals … McDonald’s All-American Game nominee … played for the Memphis Magic AAU squad … also a standout receiver for Memphis East HS.

“Earvin already brings Division I experience to UTEP, plus he has played in the Panhandle, which is considered to be the best junior college league in the country. He had a year of maturation with us. He was able to take his game to another level. He’s a guard who can score in a lot of different ways. He brings toughness at a very high, competitive level. He’s a winner from the time he steps on the floor until the time he steps off it.”
- Tallahassee Community College Coach Eddie Barnes

Lew Stallworth
Guard, 6-1, 175, Newhall, Calif. (William S. Hart HS)
Appointed the 2014 Foothill League Player of the Year … selected to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 2A team … three-time first team All-Foothill League … led Hart High School to a 26-3 record and its first league championship in seven years as a senior … averaged 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals per outing … shot 50 percent from the field and 85 percent from the line … averaged 18 ppg, four rebounds, three assists and two steals as a junior for a 25-3 team en route to being tabbed second team All-CIF and first team All-Santa Clarita Valley … three-year varsity letterwinner … also played for the Aim High travel team, created by former NBA star Kenny Smith.

“He is a hard working kid who has achieved all of his success through his own dedication and determination. He is a total gym rat who lives and breathes basketball.”
- William S. Hart High School Coach Tom Kelly

Terry Winn
Forward, 6-7, 235, Monroe, La. (Melrose HS/Westwind Preparatory Academy)
Averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and three assists last season at Westwind Prep … shot 51 percent from the field and 76 percent from the line … earned second team All-Tournament honors at the Southwest Prep Showcase in Gilbert, Ariz. in January of 2014 … collected 9.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg as a senior at Melrose High School in Memphis, shooting 55 percent from the floor … played his junior year at Ouachita High School in Monroe, La., where he was a second team All-District pick.

“I have coached in junior college, Division I, the NBA Developmental League and Europe, and Terry is one of the top players I have ever had. He is a true warrior. He is an undersized power forward with a relentless nose for the ball. He rebounds amongst the trees. I love him and I’d go to war against anybody with him. UTEP has gotten a good one. He is a tough player.”
- Westwind Preparatory Academy Coach Jai Steadman

Jeff Darby
Senior Associate Athletic Director/Communications and University Relations
UTEP

More From 600 ESPN El Paso