Matt McCall officially announced the signings Tuesday of three players for his 2015-16 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball recruiting class.
High school guard Peyton Woods and transfers Traevis Graham and Johnathan Burroughs-Cook became official signees Tuesday. They will join incoming freshman center Trey Kalina and forward ZaQwaun Matthews, who signed in November.
Woods averaged 22.1 points per game this past season, scored 2,467 points in his high school career and made 362 3-pointers, which is fourth in Kentucky history. He chose the Mocs over UNC Charlotte and USC Upstate, among others.
“Peyton is arguably one of the best 3-point high school shooters in this year’s class,” McCall said. “He’s got an unbelievable ability to make shots not only off catch-and-shoot situations but also off the dribble. Just a really gifted shooter.”
The other two new Mocs signed with Division I programs out of high school, Graham with Florida Atlantic and Burroughs-Cook with College of Charleston. They both spent last season at junior colleges — Daytona State and Southwest Tennessee, respectively.
Graham, a 6-foot-6 forward, averaged 8.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He will have to sit out next season but will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
“Traevis is a high-energy, high-motor kid,” McCall said. “He’ll play at the front of the press with unbelievable length and athleticism. He’s a guy that really chases balls on the glass.”
Burroughs-Cook prepped at Ridgeway High School in Memphis with current Moc Greg Pryor. He started in six games as a true freshman at Charleston, then averaged 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists last season at Southwest.
“I think Johnathan is one of the most underrated point guards in the country,” McCall said. “He’s played at this level, and he’s played on one of the top junior college teams in the nation. He’s got a terrific basketball IQ. He’s very low to the ground with great quickness in his feet and is really explosive going to the basket. You tie all those things together with the type person he is, and he is going to be a big-time player.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.