La Salle's Lemons commits to Rockets
3/8/2012Cincinnati La Salle senior guard Josh Lemons committed Tuesday to the University of Toledo men's basketball team, becoming the second prospect to choose the Rockets in the last few days.
He's expected to play either guard position in college, and like power forward Aubrey Williams, who committed Saturday, Lemons fills an area of need moving forward. His commitment indicates UT expects the NCAA to return at least one scholarship after revoking three last spring for the program's poor APR score.
Lemons is 5-foot-10, 155 pounds and "college strong already," said his high school coach Dan Fleming. La Salle won last year's Division I state championship, with Lemons and a host of his teammates holding Columbus Northland star Trey Burke to just 10 points in the title game. Burke, now at Michigan, was named the Big Ten's co-freshman of the year.
Lemons was named player of the year in the Greater Catholic League-South for the second straight season, averaging 18 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3 steals. La Salle, ranked second the state poll, lost in a district semifinal to Fairfield.
Lemons was named All-Ohio second team last year. He originally committed to Southeastern Louisiana and also considered Northeastern.
"He's a winner," Fleming said of Lemons. "He's been from a winning program. He plays basketball all the time, and basketball is very important to him."
Fleming and Williams are expected to sign national letter of intents with UT next month, joining center Nathan Boothe who signed in the fall.
UT coach Tod Kowalczyk cannot comment on unsigned recruits, per NCAA rules.