(San Francisco) – San Francisco Basketball announces the signings of 6-5 guard Joe Edmonds (Oklahoma City, OK), 6-9 forward Matt Christiansen (Oklahoma City, OK), 6-3 guard Tim Derksen (Tucson, AZ) and 6-8 forward Frank Rogers (Salinas, CA) to National Letters of Intent (NLI) as announced today by head coach Rex Walters.
"We are excited about these four young men joining the basketball program here at the University of San Francisco," Walters said. "All of these young men bring different skills and abilities to the team that we need. However, Matt, Joe, Tim and Frank come from great high school and junior college programs where they have been coached both on and off the floor. I look forward to coaching them and helping their development over the coming years. It's a great day for the program, and I know how excited I am as well as our coaching staff and team."
JOE EDMONDS – 6-5, 195, Guard (Oklahoma City, OK/Bishop McGuinness)
Edmonds continues an outstanding career at Bishop McGuiness High School in Oklahoma City. Edmonds paired with incoming Don Matt Christiansen to lift the Irish to back-to-back Oklahoma Class 4A State Runner-Up showings in 2009 and 2010. As a junior, Edmonds averaged 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game and drew national attention and was ranked No. 4 in the state of Oklahoma and No. 103 nationally at his position by ESPN. Edmonds competed for the Athletes First AAU team.
QUOTING JOE EDMONDS: "I am really excited to be a Don. I am getting the chance to compete in a great conference with an amazing coaching staff and to play with a group of guys who I am very comfortable with and share the same passion for winning. I am receiving a Jesuit education in one of the greatest cities in the world too. I would like to thank everyone at USF, my parents, my teammates and my coaches in Oklahoma City who have helped me get to this point. I can't wait to be on the Hilltop next year. Go Dons!"
QUOTING COACH WALTERS: "Joe is smart and tough with good feel for the game to go along with a nice stroke. Joe does a lot of things well and is all about helping his team find a way to get things done. He's a great student and young man that people will enjoy following and supporting."
MATT CHRISTIANSEN – 6-9, 235, Forward (Oklahoma City, OK/Bishop McGuinness)
Christiansen also enjoys a standout prep career at Bishop McGuinness in Oklahoma City. Christiansen teamed with incoming Don Joe Edmonds to lift the Irish to back-to-back Oklahoma Class 4A State Runner-Up finishes in 2009 and 2010. A four-year starter at McGuinness, Christiansen captured All-State Honorable Mention selections following his freshman and junior campaigns. Christiansen averaged 15.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per contest A four-time all-tournament selection, including the 2010 All-State Tournament Team, Christiansen was rated as the No. 2 player in the state of Oklahoma and No. 45 nationally at his position by ESPN. Christiansen attended the 2011 Reebok All-American Camp and competes for the Athletes First AAU team.
QUOTING MATT CHRISTIANSEN: "My experience thus far with USF has been eye-opening on so many levels. The camaraderie within the team is what has me most excited about my commitment. The team isn't just about the players. The coaches and staff are all dedicated to a common goal of bettering their players and each other through the sport we love the most. I'm excited for the immense potential the Dons have and can't wait to dedicate the next four years of my life to doing what I can to help the cause. Go Dons!"
QUOTING COACH WALTERS: "Matt brings size, skill and toughness that our team will need next year. He has a nose for the ball and a nice skill set in the low and high post. Our fans will really enjoy watching him work and get after it as well as get to know a very well spoken and funny young man."
QUOTING TONDRELL DURHAM (HIGH SCHOOL COACH): "The University of San Francisco will be very excited to sign two quality basketball players. Matthew Christiansen is a very solid post player and rebounder who averaged 11.4 rebounds per game as well as scoring 14.7 points per game. Joe Edmonds is a combo guard who can play the wing as well as the point guard position. Joe averaged 14.5 points a game. Joe and Matthew are not only very good basketball players but model individuals' on and off the court."
TIM DERKSEN – 6-3, 185, Guard (Tucson, AZ/Amphitheater High School)
Derksen continues to build an impressive prep resume and has earned national attention after averaging 17.0 points, 11 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game as a junior for Amphitheater High School. Entering his senior year for the Panthers, Derksen, whose team has never lost a home game since his arrival, is ranked No. 6 overall in Arizona and No. 61 nationally at his position by ESPN. Following his junior campaign, Derksen earned Gila Co-Region and Southern Arizona Player of the Year accolades and was selected to the 4A Division 2 All-State First Team. Derksen lifted the Panthers to the three best records in school history – 26-7 as a freshman, 29-3 as a sophomore and then lifted AHS to a 29-2 slate en route to the state championship. Derksen earned 2011 State Championship Player of the Game honors after leading the Panthers to the title. Derksen competes for the Arizona Magic Pump & Run AAU team.
QUOTING TIM DERKSEN: "The coaches at San Francisco showed that they really cared about me and told me they wanted me to be successful not only on the court but in my future, and the players there have already become like family to me."
QUOTING BEN HURLEY (HIGH SCHOOL COACH): "There are some players with great talent but who have little or no work ethic and that talent alone takes them to a certain level. There are some players who possess limited talent but who have great work ethic and that hard work takes them to a certain level. Then there are players like Tim Derksen who possess unlimited talent and who have a passionate work ethic. These are the special players a coach dreams of and these are the players that go on to achieve great things."
QUOTING COACH WALTERS: "Tim just finds a lot of ways to impact the game. All he has done is win on both the high school level and the AAU circuit. He will be able to play multiple positions for us and is that pass, handle, shoot kid that has a nose for the ball. Tim is also a very good student and will be fun to coach."
FRANK ROGERS – 6-8, 210, Forward (Salinas, CA/Cabrillo College)
Rogers compiled a strong prep resume at Salinas High School and earned 2011 Monterey County Player of the Year honors after averaging 14.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game as a prep senior. A three-time all-tournament selection and the 2011 TCAL Tournament MVP, Rogers propelled SHS to the 2011 quarterfinals of the Central Coast Section Division with a 23-2 overall record. Rogers competed in the Central Coast Cagers AAU program and is currently playing at Cabrillo College.
QUOTING FRANK ROGERS: "I am excited about becoming a Don next season. I really enjoy being around all of the players and coaches. Overall, it just feels like the right place for me to be"
QUOTING TONY MARCOPULOS (CABRILLO COLLEGE HEAD COACH): "We are happy for Frankie and we are happy for Coach Walters. Frankie is convinced he will be successful at USF and he is looking forward to playing for Coach Walters."
QUOTING COACH WALTERS: "I have had a lot of fun watching Frank develop and become a player. He doesn't know how good he can be. He rebounds the ball and has a defensive presence inside along with good hands and touch around the rim and on the perimeter. He is getting great coaching this year at the Junior College level."
