MSSU Men's Basketball sign Kentucky high school product - KOAM TV 7

MSSU Men's Basketball sign Kentucky high school product

JOPLIN -- Missouri Southern men's basketball coach Robert Corn has announced the signing of Stephen Atkinson to a National Letter of Intent to play basketball and attend Southern beginning in the fall of 2011. 

Atkinson is a 6-6, 190 pound forward out of Benton, Ky. where he played for coach Gus Gillespie at Marshall County High School and helped the Marshalls to a 28-7 record this past year, a district and regional championship and a spot in the State Elite Eight. 

He averaged 19 points and ten rebounds, while 50 percent from the field, 38 percent from long-range and 80 percent from the free-throw line. He was the District and Region MVP and scored over 1,000 points in his career. 

He was the Paducah Sun Purchase Region One Player of the Year and was the Froggyland Sports Player of the Year. 

"We are really excited to add Stephen to our basketball program," Corn said. "Stephen comes from an excellent high school program and has been very well coached by Coach Gillespie. They had an excellent year this year and we like to recruit winners. We like Stephen's ability to shoot the ball plus he has very good ball skills on the perimeter. He is a very sound defensive player who understands how to play the game. By signing Stephen and Morgan Smith, our early signee, we are continuing to bring in quality high school student-athletes."