Matta Signs Pair for 2005-06 Season – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio-Thad Matta filled the Ohio State roster for the 2005-06 men’s basketball season with the addition of junior college guard Sylvester Mayes and high school center/forward Brayden Bell, the first-year head coach of the Buckeyes announced Tuesday.
Mayes, a 6-foot-2 inch, 195-pounder from Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla., and Bell, a 6-10, 240-pound native of Salt Lake City, Utah, both signed national letters of intent to play for the Buckeyes during the fall national signing period.
Mayes will have two years in an Ohio State uniform. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists a game as a freshman at Redlands, where he was the first player off the bench for head coach Steve Eck. Mayes helped lead the Cougars to a 35-2 overall record and runner-up spot in the national junior college championship.
Last year Mayes was named to the Region 2 all-tournament team and was an honorable mention Bi-State/West All-Conference choice as a sixth man.
Eck said Mayes is unselfish with the ball and wants to contribute to a successful team.
“He shoots the ball pretty well and can penetrate but he also is a good passer,” Eck said. “He wants to win. There is no question there.”
Eck, who had nine players move on to the Division I level after last season, said Mayes should not have any difficulty making the transition to the Big Ten.
“He can shoot it, drive it and guard one-on-one,” Eck said. “He plays defense and is a physical player. He is a good strong kid.”
Mayes was ranked as the nation’s 19th-best prospect by Hoop Scoop coming out of Fort Wayne (Ind.) Wayne as a senior in high school. Mayes was an underclassman at South Bend (Ind.) Clay. He transferred to Wayne as a senior, where he averaged 26.9 points per game.
Matta said Mayes, much like current Buckeye and junior college transfer Je’Kel Foster, is a proven winner.
“Sylvester Mayes is a combination guard who comes from a great junior college program,” Matta said. “Steve Eck does a tremendous job teaching the game. Sylvester is going to adjust well to the Division I level. It should be easy for him.
“He has shooting ability and is a capable scorer. We like how he distributes the ball,” Matta said. “He comes from a winning program much like Je’Kel.”
Mayes scored 28 points to lead the Cougars to a 101-62 win over LaBette (KS) CC last week. Last year Mayes shot 58 percent from the field, 46 percent from the 3-point range and 71 percent from the foul line. The Cougars are currently ranked No. 5 in the country in NJCAA Division I. He scored 14 points in their season opener in a 105-63 win at home over the Newman JV.
Bell averaged 17 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two assists as a junior at Brighton High School.
The center/power forward prospect has the ability to play the post as well as step out and score from the perimeter, Lyndon Johnson, his coach at Brighton, said.
“It’s a great opportunity for him to play in the Big Ten,” Johnson said. “The Ohio State program is on the rise. I know Coach Matta will quickly get Ohio State where it needs to be.”
Johnson said Bell’s size is not what draws the most attention.
“Brayden is 6-10 but his best attribute is his ability to shoot the ball,” Johnson said. “He faces the basket and shoots it well from 20 feet in. He shot 40 percent from 3-point range and averaged about two 3-pointers a game last year. He can do a lot of things facing the basket.”
Johnson said Buckeye fans would be able to depend on Bell.
“He plays consistent,” Johnson said. “You know what you are going to get each time out.”
Matta anticipates Bell will contribute early in his career because of his developed frame and skill level.
“We really like his scoring and shooting ability,” Matta said. “At 6-10, 240 pounds he has the ability to score from distance and post up inside.
“He comes from a good high school program,” Matta said. “He is a guy who comes in with the size and ability to play at an early age.”
Bell was all-region and second team all state a year ago. Brighton was 19-5 in 2003-04, losing in the state semifinals. The squad is rated among the best teams in the West (No. 18) this season in at least one early scholastic publication, Johnson said.
Bell and Mayes join Bowling Green transfer Ron Lewis as the newcomers to the Ohio State roster next year. Lewis is sitting out the 2004-05 campaign at Ohio State. He is eligible to practice but not to participate in games per NCAA transfer rules. He will have two years of eligibility at Ohio State beginning with the 2005-06 season.
Lewis averaged 14.6 points per game in two seasons at Bowling Green. He made 81 percent of his foul shots (340-420) and recorded 164 assists for the Falcons.
