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June 3, 2009

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DURHAM, N.C.- North Carolina Central University men's basketball head coach LeVelle Moton has announced the signing of three more student-athletes to his first recruiting class. Dijon Manns (Knightdale, N.C.), Terrance "T.J." Granger (Richmond, Va.) and Dwayne Sims (Dayton, OH) all signed on to build up Moton's first signing class to five.

The third signee to the 2009 class, Dijon Manns, a 6-8, 230-pound power forward from down the road in Knightdale, N.C., was one of just three players in Knightdale High School's short history to play all four years of varsity basketball under Head Coach Battle Watkins. In his senior campaign, Manns scored in double figures 11 times, including a season-high 20 points in an 87-48 win over Southeast Raleigh High School. He also put up a double-double against Athens Drive in the conference tournament with 14 points and 12 rebounds in the win.

Manns was named to the Greater Neuse River All-Conference team in the 2007-08 season and was a key contributor of 73 wins during his time at KHS. Manns was also a vital member of both a regular season and tournament championship in the Greater Nuese River Conference while piling up 614 points and grabbing 250 boards in four seasons.

"Dijon is a very skilled big man," said Moton. "He reminds me of Sean May with his hands, feet, and ability to shoot the ball and also post. He comes from a winning program at Knightdale High and we were able keep an eye on him throughout the season because he was a local kid.

"His parents (Teresa and Al) have done a tremendous job of instilling their core values which makes him an exceptional kid," Moton said of Manns. "I look forward to him contributing to our program immediately."

Terrance "T.J." Granger, the fourth signee of the 2009 class, transfers from Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland, Md., where the 6-9, 270-pound center played a crucial role for the Trojans, who finished the 2008-2009 season 29-7 overall and 14-2 in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference under Head Coach Mike Baker.

Granger averaged 9.4 points per game and was third on the team with 5.4 rebounds a game. He was also second on the squad shooting 56.2 percent from the field.

Granger stepped up his game in the postseason for the Trojans as he was named to the Region XX All-Tournament team after putting up a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds. That all-star performance helped vault the program to its 20th Region XX Division I tournament championship, which qualified Allegany for the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. In the first game of the District 3 National Tournament, Granger was one of three Allegany players in double-figures putting up 12 points in a 70-66 win over Monroe.

Granger is originally from Richmond, Va., where he starred at Thomas Jefferson High School before moving on to ACM, the same institution that former University of Maryland star, Steve Francis, attended. Numerous reports had Granger being sought after by many mid-major programs before expressing his desire to wear the maroon and gray.

"We obviously wanted to address our interior needs and Terrance provides us with that," said Moton. "He is a skilled player with good hands, feet, and touch that will give us an immediate inside presence to compete at the highest level. When you think of Terrance, not only do you think of a skilled big man, but you think of a high-character kid with a strong family background. We are fortunate that this kid has chosen to become an Eagle."

The fifth signee for NCCU transfers in with teammate C.J. Wilkerson, who both came from Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill, S.C. Dwayne Sims, a 6-6, 180-pound forward originally from Dayton, Ohio, averaged 10.0 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per outing in his second season with the Golden Bears. Sims also recorded six double-doubles during his second season at CJC and tickled the twine to the tune of 33 percent from the perimeter.

In his freshman season at the college, he poured in 11.0 points a game and grabbed 5.6 boards a contest for Head Coach Donald Payton's squad. The Buckeye State product was a teammate of University of Dayton star Chris Wright at Trotwood-Madison High School and Moton feels his game fits perfectly to the style of play he will implement here at NCCU.

"Dwayne's ability to shoot the basketball will extend the floor for us offensively," said Moton. "He is able to play three positions on the floor because of his length and toughness and we certainly welcome those abilities into our program."

With the addition of these three recruits, NCCU's signing class is up to five. Stay tuned for more updates from all 14 sports at North Carolina Central University, by flying over to NCCUEaglePride.com, the athletics department's official website.

NCCU's 2009 Recruiting Class

C.J. Wilkerson, 6-3, 205, Guard, Oxford, NC (Clinton Junior College)

Landon Clement, 6-2, 180, Shooting Guard, Raleigh, NC, (UNCG/Sanderson High School)

Dijon Manns, 6-8, 230, Power Forward/Center, Knightdale, NC (Knightdale High School)

T.J. Granger, 6-9, 270, Center, Richmond, VA (Allegany College of Maryland)

Dwayne Sims, 6-6 180, Guard, Dayton, Ohio (Clinton Junior College)