HAMILTON, N.Y. Colgate University head basketball coach Emmett Davis has announced the signing of six student-athletes for the mens basketball program.
Joining the Raiders are 6-4 shooting guard Todd Checovich (New Hampton Prep) from North Hampton, N.H.; 6-7 power forward Kendall Chones (Fork Union Military Academy) from Orange Village, OH; 6-6 small forward Kyle Chones (Fork Union Military Academy) from Orange Village, OH; 6-5 shooting guard/small forward Dan Gentile (Bergen Catholic H.S.) from Midland Park, NJ; 6-8 power forward/center Simon Knight (St. Marys College H.S.) from Berkeley, CA; and 6-1 point guard Jon Simon (Sunnyslope H.S.) from Phoenix, AZ.
"Recruiting is the lifeblood of any program and we've been fortunate enough to have six all-rookie players including two Patriot League Rookies of the Year, in the last five seasons, said Davis. We think this is a solid recruiting class and we are hopeful this trend will continue."
Todd Checovich, 6-4, G, North Hampton, NH (New Hampton Prep)
Last season, Todd played at New Hampton Prep where he averaged 12 points per game, and grabbed four rebounds per outing led team in 3-pointers made he is a 2001 graduate of Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, N.H., where he earned second team Class L all-state honors averaged 18 points per game, five rebounds per game and seven assists per game en route to Seacoast Player of the Year he was the teams MVP while leading the squad to the state semifinals with a 20-4 record following his graduation he attended Phillips Exeter Academy in Andover, Massachusetts for one year, where he was team MVP while averaging 20 points per game.
Davis on Todd - "Todd Checovich is a mature, physically strong guard who can shoot the deep three. His post graduate years at Phillips Academy and New Hampton school have prepared him well to compete at the Division I level."
Kendall Chones, 6-7, F, Orange Village, OH (Orange H.S./Fork Union Military Academy)
Kendall is a 2002 graduate of Orange High School in Ohio, where he was first team Division II all-state led his team to a 18-5 record with a 12-0 conference mark scored over 1,500 points in his career averaged 24 points per game and 12 rebounds in his senior season named first team all-Northeast District, District 11 Player of the Year, and was Cuyahoga Valley Conference MVP selected all-Cuyahoga Valley Conference three straight seasons last season he attended Fork Union Military Academy, where he helped his team compile a 28-2 record averaged 14 points per game and 10 rebounds per outing.
Davis on Kendall - "Kendall Chones is a strong physical player who can score and rebound as evidence by his double/double average the past two seasons."
Kyle Chones, 6-6, F, Orange Village, OH (Orange H.S./Fork Union Military Academy)
Kyle is a 2002 graduate of Orange High School in Ohio, where he was second team Division II all-state led his team to a 18-5 record with a 12-0 conference mark scored over 1,100 points in his career averaged 20 points per game and seven rebounds in his senior season led the area in three-pointers made with 89 was first team all-Northeast District his senior year and selected all-Cuyahoga Valley Conference three straight seasons last season he attended Fork Union Military Academy, where he helped his team compile a 28-2 record averaged 11 points per game.
Davis on Kyle - "Kyle Chones is a versatile, small forward who can shoot the three, drive the ball and defend both perimeter and inside players alike."
Kendall and Kyle, and brother, Kameron are triplets. Kameron is going to play at Brown University. Their father, Jim, played for Marquette University and in the NBA for several seasons.
Dan Gentile, 6-5, G-F, Midland Park, NJ (Bergen Catholic H.S.)
A 2003 graduate of Bergen Catholic High School in his senior season, he was first team all-league and all-suburban area also third team all-Bergen County led team to a 25-4 record and three titles NNJIL Division C League, County Championship and North Parochial Class A Championship averaged 10 points, five rebounds and three assists per game in his junior year, Bergen Catholic won the Parochial Class A State Championship and qualified for the New Jersey State Tournament of Champions finishing 26-6.
Davis on Dan - "Dan Gentile has shown he can compete successfully at a very high level. He earned first team all-league honors on a talented 25-4 Bergen Catholic team in North Jersey bodes well for Colgate. Dan is an excellent shooter and a tenacious defender."
Simon Knight, 6-8, F-C, Berkeley, CA (St. Marys College H.S.)
Knight comes to Colgate from St. Marys College High School in Berkeley, Calif. he was first team all-Metro East Bay, Northern California averaged 18.2 points per game and 13 rebounds per outing was MVP of the Modesto Christian Tournament and helped his team win four straight BSAL League titles in his sophomore year his team won the Class D4 California State Championship and in his junior year they were 34-3.
Davis on Simon - "Simon Knight will bring a big body with toughness to the program. His willingness to rebound and defend will fit in well with our overall philosophy. His double/double average for scoring and rebounding will be welcomed."
Jon Simon, 6-1, G, Phoenix, AZ (Sunnyslope H.S.)
He is a 2003 graduate of Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix, Arizona in his senior year he was first team Class 4A all-state scored 2,080 points in his career averaged 24 points per game in his senior season and shot 41 percent from 3-point range he was MVP of the Green Way Christmas Tournament team finished with a 24-5 record and third in the region as a junior he was first team all-state leading the team to the Class 4A state championship was third team all-state in his sophomore season.
Davis on Jon - "Jon Simon is an excellent shooter and passer who was a prolific scorer in high school. His fundamental skills and leadership the past two seasons guided his team to one state title and a 53-6