Sports
Former Mesquite basketball standouts making an impact at the collegiate level
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
Mesquite has established itself as one of the most consistent programs in the area, having made the playoffs every season for the last decade.
So it is little surprise that some of the standouts from those successful Skeeter teams are making a big impact at the collegiate level.
Long Island Univeristy-Brooklyn freshman E.J. Reed, a 2012 Mesquite graduate, was recently named the Choice Hotels/Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week for the second time.
Reed averaged 14.5 points and three rebounds per game as the Blackbirds opened Northeast Conference play.
After matching a career-high of 14 points in the opener against Sacred Heart, he set a new high two days later with 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and four rebounds against Quinnipiac.
Reed's role has steadily grown as the season has progressed, and he is now averaging 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Reed was not the only former Skeeter earning conference awards, as University of Denver senior Chase Hallam was named College Sports Madness WAC Player of the Week for Jan. 7-13 after leading the team to victories over Idaho and Seattle.
Hallam came through in the clutch against Idaho, scoring eight points in the final 3:20 as Denver puled away late. He then knocked down a career-high 5 3-pointers and scored a team-leading 17 points against Seattle.
Hallam hit 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from three-point range and is shooting 42.4 percent from behind the arc on the season. Hallam, who ranks in the school's all-time top 10 in both three-point shooting percentage and three-pointers made, is third on the team in scoring at 10.1 points per game.
Hallam has also helped Denver, who is 12-4 overall on the year, become one of the top defensive teams in the nation. The team has allowed only 47.6 points per game during its five-game winning streak and Hallam is now second on the school's all-time steals list with 168.
At Mesquite, Hallam was part of a memorable 2009 class that led the Skeeters to the Class 5A Region II championship game where they fell just short of Austin in a 47-42 loss to DeSoto.
Alongside Hallam on that MHS team were Vertrail Vaughns and Cory Remekun.
Vaughns is currently a redshirt junior at George Mason University. After starting in every game last season, Vaughns is averaging 4.4 points per game coming off the bench for GMU, which is currently 9-7.
Remekun, a senior, was a role player last year for Saint Louis, but has made 14 starts this year as the team is off to a 12-4 start.
Remekun leads the team with 24 blocks, while averaging 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
So it is little surprise that some of the standouts from those successful Skeeter teams are making a big impact at the collegiate level.
Long Island Univeristy-Brooklyn freshman E.J. Reed, a 2012 Mesquite graduate, was recently named the Choice Hotels/Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week for the second time.
Reed averaged 14.5 points and three rebounds per game as the Blackbirds opened Northeast Conference play.
After matching a career-high of 14 points in the opener against Sacred Heart, he set a new high two days later with 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and four rebounds against Quinnipiac.
Reed's role has steadily grown as the season has progressed, and he is now averaging 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Reed was not the only former Skeeter earning conference awards, as University of Denver senior Chase Hallam was named College Sports Madness WAC Player of the Week for Jan. 7-13 after leading the team to victories over Idaho and Seattle.
Hallam came through in the clutch against Idaho, scoring eight points in the final 3:20 as Denver puled away late. He then knocked down a career-high 5 3-pointers and scored a team-leading 17 points against Seattle.
Hallam hit 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from three-point range and is shooting 42.4 percent from behind the arc on the season. Hallam, who ranks in the school's all-time top 10 in both three-point shooting percentage and three-pointers made, is third on the team in scoring at 10.1 points per game.
Hallam has also helped Denver, who is 12-4 overall on the year, become one of the top defensive teams in the nation. The team has allowed only 47.6 points per game during its five-game winning streak and Hallam is now second on the school's all-time steals list with 168.
At Mesquite, Hallam was part of a memorable 2009 class that led the Skeeters to the Class 5A Region II championship game where they fell just short of Austin in a 47-42 loss to DeSoto.
Alongside Hallam on that MHS team were Vertrail Vaughns and Cory Remekun.
Vaughns is currently a redshirt junior at George Mason University. After starting in every game last season, Vaughns is averaging 4.4 points per game coming off the bench for GMU, which is currently 9-7.
Remekun, a senior, was a role player last year for Saint Louis, but has made 14 starts this year as the team is off to a 12-4 start.
Remekun leads the team with 24 blocks, while averaging 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
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