ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University head coach Jason Taylor has announced that Matthew McClain, from Charleston Collegiate School, and Kendall Henry out of the Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach will join the Trojan men's basketball team for the 2013-14 campaign.
"Both of these players have huge upsides and are great fits for Anderson University," said Taylor. "They will have an impact on our program, our university and our community during their four-year careers."
McClain, a 6-foot-5, 212-pound wing forward from John's Island, S.C., helped lead Coach Jay Godbolt's Charleston Collegiate squad to a stellar 26-5 record and an appearance in the South Carolina Independent School Association Class AA state semifinals last season.
As a senior, he averaged 13.8 points and more than eight
rebounds per game, while garnering SCISA Region I-AA All-Region
honors and was named to the Region I-AA All-Conference Tournament
Team. McClain was the "Charleston Collegiate Dunk Contest" Champion
and was named the team's Most Improved Player.
McClain played AAU basketball for Team TMP and Head Coach Antoine
Saunders and is the son of Sheri McClain-Brown and Harold
Brown.
"Having just turned 17 Matthew is probably the youngest incoming player I have ever coached," added Taylor. "He also has one of the highest upsides of any player we've brought in. He is just scratching the surface with his ability."
Henry is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound wing from Myrtle Beach, S.C., who
averaged a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds a game,
while helping lead head coach Darren Gore's Saints' squad to two
SCISA Class A State Championships in three seasons (2011 and
2013).
He is a three-time SCISA All-State and All-Star honoree and was
named Region Player of the Year twice. Henry also earned SCISA
Class A Player of the Year accolades as a senior last season and is
the school's all-time leader in both points (1,507) and rebounds
(803). He was the 2013 High School Sports Report SCISA Player of
the Year and became the first player from a private school to earn
a spot on the Sun News' Toast of the Coast six-man roster.
Henry was named to the Coastal Basketball Coaches Association All-Area Second Team and was the WPDE-TV 15 All Hoop Zone SCISA Player of the Year last season.
He is the son of Nancy Henry and Patrick Henry III.
"Kendall is a tough young man and a winner," noted Taylor. "He is
focused and knows what he wants to achieve as a student-athlete and
has the work ethic to accomplish it."
The duo joins forward Tony Dargan, who signed with the Trojans
during the early signing period in November.
