Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Basketball Team Signs Jalen Ross
4/23/2012 2:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Point guard played at Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, N.C.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Head Men's Basketball Coach Rob Murphy is pleased to announce the signing of point guard Jalen Ross to a national letter of intent to attend EMU. Ross, a 5-foot-11 floor general, will be a freshman during the 2012-13 season and a valuable contributor for the Eagles.
"We're excited about Jalen's leadership abilities along with his overall basketball skill set,” Murphy said. “Jalen's high basketball IQ, along with his understanding of the game, will make him an early contributor in our program."
As a senior at Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, N.C., Ross was a PACIS (Piedmont Athletic Conference of Independent Schools) All-Conference selection and MVP of the Pizza Hut Invitational during his senior year. He averaged 10.1 points per game and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 88 percent from the free throw line. In his final season, he helped GDS to the NCISAA 3A State Championship Game.
“I just felt really comfortable with the coaching staff and the direction they were headed with the program,” Ross said. “I know they have high goals of playing in the NCAA Tournament. After talking with the coaches, I know I'll have an opportunity to compete at a high level.”
Several of Ross' family members have Michigan ties.
His mother, Kim Key, graduated from Ann Arbor's Pioneer High School and was a four-year women's basketball starter at Saginaw Valley State (1980-84). She finished her career ranked in the school's top 10 in assists, steals, field goals made and games played. His grandfather, Sam Key, was a point guard at Western Michigan from 1955-59 and drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1959.
Ross's father, Frank Ross, scored more than 1,900 points for the American University men's basketball team and was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1987.
In Murphy's inaugural season, the EMU men's team won the Mid-American Conference West title for the first time in school history. Murphy was named the MAC Coach of the Year and NABC District 14 Co-Coach of the Year.
"We're excited about Jalen's leadership abilities along with his overall basketball skill set,” Murphy said. “Jalen's high basketball IQ, along with his understanding of the game, will make him an early contributor in our program."
As a senior at Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, N.C., Ross was a PACIS (Piedmont Athletic Conference of Independent Schools) All-Conference selection and MVP of the Pizza Hut Invitational during his senior year. He averaged 10.1 points per game and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 88 percent from the free throw line. In his final season, he helped GDS to the NCISAA 3A State Championship Game.
“I just felt really comfortable with the coaching staff and the direction they were headed with the program,” Ross said. “I know they have high goals of playing in the NCAA Tournament. After talking with the coaches, I know I'll have an opportunity to compete at a high level.”
Several of Ross' family members have Michigan ties.
His mother, Kim Key, graduated from Ann Arbor's Pioneer High School and was a four-year women's basketball starter at Saginaw Valley State (1980-84). She finished her career ranked in the school's top 10 in assists, steals, field goals made and games played. His grandfather, Sam Key, was a point guard at Western Michigan from 1955-59 and drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1959.
Ross's father, Frank Ross, scored more than 1,900 points for the American University men's basketball team and was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1987.
In Murphy's inaugural season, the EMU men's team won the Mid-American Conference West title for the first time in school history. Murphy was named the MAC Coach of the Year and NABC District 14 Co-Coach of the Year.
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