School and Year (1995-96) Hutchinson Community College, KS
Height and Weight 6'9" 240lbs
Position Center/Power Forward
Ratings #6 (among JUCO Power Forwards)
Academically Eligible yes
Status Alabama
02-15-96...Junior College standout Demetrius Alexander has been
getting alot of attention from Purdue lately. Kendrick has traveled to
Kansas to meet with him and a followup visit by either Kendrick or Keady
is expected soon. Alexander plans to visit the Purdue campus before
the April signing period. "Right now Demetrius is as far away from
making any kind of final decision as any kid in the country," states
Hutchinson assistant Darby Rice. "He's just not talking about it."
Although Purdue is searching for a center, this big man is
versatile at both PF and C. Assistant coach Rice compares his game to
Roy Hairston's..."He's a more physical player than Roy. Roy had to
shake the three-point shot out of his system to get where he is now.
Demetrius, on the other hand, can play better with his back to the basket."
Rice adds, "Demetrius is more of a player like Ben Davis was for us.
Demetrius can get alot of rebounds and score alot of points. Roy was that
slasher-type with more of an all-around game for the junior college
level."
Purdue has made Alexander's short list which also includes
Alabama, Arizona, Texas Christian, Oklahoma State, Illinois, St. Louis,
Houston, and Kansas State.
2-17-96...Alexander has narrowed his list to six possible
schools. Still in the running are Purdue, Illinois, Texas Christian,
Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Alabama.
4-5-96...Alexander will visit Purdue either the weekend of April
13-14 or 20-21 according to Hutchinson coach Randy Stange. "Demetrius
is still looking," Stange said Thursday night. "He still has no idea
where he wants to go. I do know he's very open about Purdue. He really
likes Coach Keady, and he'll visit Purdue with an open mind."
Strange said Alexander has made official visits to Oklahoma State and
Texas Christian and still is considering visits to Illinois and Alabama.
"He's a big, strong, very skilled player," Stange said. "The thing
that was so impressive about this season was how very consistent he was."
4-6-96...Alexander will visit Purdue the weekend of the 13-14. He
will visit Illinois on April 6-7, then Purdue the following weekend,
and wrap his visits up on the 20-21 at Alabama. An assistant at
Hutchinson says Alexander is in no hurry to make a decision and will
wait until after the Alabama trip to make that final choice. I saw some
film on him and he is similar in size to Hairston, but a little thicker
around the middle. Even wears the number 44.
4-9-96...It was revealed that the recruitment of Alexander has been
heavy to date. Frank Kendrick traveled to Kansas to see Alexander on
March 19th, and Keady followed with a visit to see him on March 20th.
4-13-96...Illinois has reportedly fallen on Alexander's list after
being unimpressed by last weekends official visit. Oklahoma State has
also been rumored to be out of the running. Arizona, originally a
strong possibility, is not likely anymore. Ben Davis has had several
contacts with Alexander, but Arizona hasn't expressed any recent
interest. Hutchinson coach Randy Stange commented that Arizona
would have to sign Alexander without an official visit, because he
will not be visiting the campus.
4-16-96...The next stop on Alexander's schedule is the
University of Alabama. The official visit that WLFI reported
would happen last weekend to Purdue did not occur. Alexander still
hopes to visit Purdue before his final exams in early May. "We're
hoping he's made a decision before finals start, because he needs
to be able to focus completely on taking care of business in the
classroom," Hutchinson assistant Don Bickham said. Of the five
remaining schools on Alexander's list, Alabama and Purdue are the
only ones that he has not yet visited.
4-23-96...Alexander's official visit will finally occur this
weekend as he travels to West Lafayette for his final NCAA-allowed
official visit. He has already visited Illinois, Texas Christian,
Alabama, and Oklahoma State. Alexander hopes to make a decision
before Hutchinson's final exams begin next week.
* 4-24-96...It was reported in todays St. Louis Post Dispatch
* that Demetrius Alexander has signed a letter of intent with Alabama,
* following a weekend visit. The letter is in route to the university,
* who will announce the signing officially when they receive the document.
* One of the reasons listed by Alexander was the fact his father grew
* up in Mississippi and he had a chance to visit with some of his relatives
* while going to Alabama. The article did not mention Purdue at all, but
* did say Alexander chose not to attend Illinois because of Lon Kreuger.
* He wasn't sure how Kreuger would utilize him, and he didn't have the time
* to get to know the new coach. Also, Alabama was one of the few schools
* that had recruited Alexander since his freshman season. Although
* all the schools on Alexander's list had the space for him, he liked
* Alabama's track record with power forwards. "In the position I'm playing
* they've sent a lot of players to the next level," Alexander said,
* pointing to forwards Robert Horry, Derrick McKey and Antonio McDyess.
* "They've done really well in that area of the program."
Season thru PPG FG% FT% 3P% RPG APG SPG BPG RECORD RANK
----------------------------------------------------------------
02-13-96 19.5 10 23-2 4th (USA)
04-1-96 20.0 11 27-5
Awards and Honors
------------------
95-96 season JUCO conference Co-Player of the Year w/ Brandon Hughes
93-94 season Missouri Mr. Basketball
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