Men's Basketball Signs Three in 2003-04 Recruiting Class
4/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CONWAY, SC -- Coastal Carolina’s men’s basketball squad has signed Chad Ferguson (North Las Vegas, NV-Cheyenne), Noah Nichols (Upper Marlboro, Md.-McNamara) and Jack Leasure (Rochester, NY-McQuaid Jesuit) to National Letters of Intent, head coach Pete Strickland announced today. Leasure signed today, while Ferguson and Nichols signed in the early signing period this past fall.
“While Chad, Noah and Jack are very talented, this class excited me with their saavy more than anything else,” CCU head coach Pete Strickland said. “They are all tough-minded winners, with two of them leading their teams to state titles. This is our biggest incoming class in four years and yet it is its basketball accumen that sets it apart.”
Ferguson is a 6-8 forward out of Cheyenne High School in Las Vegas, where he was a teammate of Lorenzo Wade, who signed with Louisville. He spent the past year at Laurinburg Prep in Laurinburg, N.C. As a senior, Ferguson helped lead the Desert Shields to a 31-1 record, the lone loss to nationally-ranked Oak Hill Academy, and the school’s first-ever Class 4A state title. Playing center at Cheyenne, Ferguson averaged 10 points and six rebounds a game as a senior.
“Chad’s versatility impresses me, along with his toughness and shooting ability,” Strickland stated.
Nichols, a 6-8 forward/center, was named to the 2003-04 All-Tournament Team at the Junior Orange Bowl Classic after helping the Mustangs to the tournament title. He also earned a spot in the Prince Georges’ County All-Star game.
“Playing in the toughest high school league in America, Noah has distinguished himself as a warrior,” Strickland continued. “His mobility also sets him apart when he matches up with other posts.”
A 6-3 guard, Leasure averaged 25 points and four assists a game his senior season, earning First Team All-Greater Rochester team for the second consecutive season and leading the Knights to a 17-5 record, the City-Catholic League title and a berth in the sectional semifinals. He was a key part of the 2003 Beach Ball Classic championship squadHe was selected to the Ronald McDonald House Senior-select All-Star Game, along with earning City-Catholic League All-Star status. He helped the Knights to the 2002-03 Class A state title by scoring a team-high 16 points in the championship game. His junior squad with a 27-1 mark, the most wins in school history, and a No. 7 ranking by USA Today. For his career, Leasure finished with 1,009 points in three years, along with a 68-9 record for his squad.
“Jack had me sold when he hit eight three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone against the top team in Baltimore, Torrey Butler’s former high school,” Strickland said. “Jack is a proven winner, as evidenced by his 2004 New York State title and 2003 Beach Ball Championship.”
