OU men's basketball signs 3 players

Ottawa University men’s basketball team has signed three players for the 2008-09 season.

The Braves are coming off an NAIA National Tournament “Sweet 16” appearance and a regular-season conference championship.

The signees are DeMarcus Doucette, Tony Anderson and Isaac Johnston.

DeMarcus Doucette

Doucette is from Allen Texas and attended New Mexico Military Institute this past year.

 The 6-foot-1 point guard lettered two years in basketball for the Colts. He helped lead them from an 0-21 season to a 20-11 record the next year and a trip to the state tournament.

Doucette led the Colts to the state quarterfinals in 2007. He was also selected to participate in the 2008 All-Star game.

 “DeMarcus is a very talented point guard that is a very good player now but we think his best basketball is ahead of him,” Ottawa coach Andy Carrier said. “He fits in well with our fast style of play and will contend for varsity playing time fairly quickly.”

Doucette plans to major in business administration.

Tony Anderson

Anderson is from Lawrence and is a transfer from Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla.

 The 6-7 forward played two seasons at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Okla. and averaged nine points and five rebounds per game for the Jets while helping them to a conference championship in 2006. He played just one semester for Barry University and appeared in five games before transferring at semester to OU.

 Anderson played his high school ball at Lawrence High School in and helped lead his team to the Kansas 5A State Tournament in 2005. He was also selected to play in the Northeast Kansas All-Star Game.

 “Tony is a player we tried to recruit to Ottawa for three years and we are thrilled to finally have him in our program. He is the caliber of student, the caliber of person, and the caliber of player that we need to have a chance to remain on top in the [conference],” Carrier said. “He will have an immediate impact on our front line in terms of defense and rebounding and is an added inside presence offensively.”

Anderson plans to major in communication.

Isaac Johnston

Johnston is a 2008 Leavenworth High School graduate. The 5-10 guard earned two letters for the Pioneers. He helped lead Leavenworth to the 6A Sunflower League Championship game in 2007. Johnston earned honorable mention All-Sunflower his senior season. He was the high school teammate of current Brave Olive’ Palu.

“Isaac is a true point guard. He is extremely quick, tough, and distributes the ball well. He played in a great high school program at Leavenworth where he has developed not only skills but leadership qualities, so he knows how to win. We think he will have a chance to compete for varsity playing time even as a freshman.”

Johnston plans to concentrate on general studies before deciding a major.