Coach Bobby Hurley has landed two top-100 players in the early signing period, as Sam Cunliffe (Seattle, Wash.) and Jethro Tshisumpa (Dallas, Texas) will join the Sun Devil program and have a chance to make an instant impact.
"Sam and Jethro are two excellent additions and building blocks for this program," notes Coach Hurley. "We really feel good about these two as our first fall signees. They both have tremendous upside, are hard workers and physically are ready to make an impact."
Cunliffe is a 6-6 wing who will play at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle and averaged 20 points, five boards and five assists at Bishop Blanchet High School last year.
ESPN has Cunliffe as the Washington's top prospect, which is saying a lot with the talent coming out of Seattle over the years.
Rivals has him as No. 68 overall while Scout.com has him as No. 16 small forward in the nation."Sam continues to improve, and he had an incredible summer. Athletically, he is ready to go as he plays above the rim and can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot," notes Coach Hurley. "His range is great. He is probably regarded as one of the best shooters in this class."
Tshisumpa is skilled defensively, with a great frame and can impact the game at both ends of the floor.
"Jethro is a developing player and a great shot blocker and rim protector,'' Hurley said. "He's 6-10, 260, so he's got a really great body for this level. We just have to work with his development on the offensive end of the court. He's only been playing basketball for three years, so he's going to continue to progress and get better."
With @SamCunliffe_3 and @j_tshisumpa in the fold, ESPN has Coach Hurley's first class No. 18 pic.twitter.com/JEnWywuU8s
? Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 19, 2015SAM CUNLIFFE FORWARD (SEATTLE, WASH.)
A 6-foot-6, 195-pound wing out of Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Cunliffe is an explosive athlete with the ability to score from all three levels...excels at shooting from beyond the arc, and is a proven ball-handler...as a junior at Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle, the forward averaged 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game, leading the Braves to a 13-11 record. Cunliffe is slated to close his high school career at Rainer Beach. He fielded offers from a number of Pac-12 programs, is rated a four-star, top-100 recruit according to recruiting services ESPN.com, Scout, and Rivals. ESPN.com ranks Cunliffe as Washington’s top-prospect, and the ninth-best player at the forward position.
Rainer Beach W Keith Smith, G Sam Cunliffe ink LOIs: https://t.co/TqzsfIojmr @SamCunliffe_3 @Smitty__yttimS pic.twitter.com/0AZ0TyOG3N
? KING 5 Sports (@KING5Sports) November 13, 2015JETHRO TSHISUMPA CENTER (DALLAS, TX.)
A 6-foot-10, 260-pound center out of Mountain Mission High School in Virginia, Tshisumpa is a physical, high-energy big man with the ability to rebound in a crowd and finish strong above the rim. Tshisumpa a proven rim protector, excels as a low post defender, and is considered by many as one of the top senior shot blockers in the nation. Tshisumpa is rated a top-100, four-star recruit according to ESPN.com and Rivals. 247 Sports and Scout rank Tshisumpa as the No. 12 and No. 15 center prospect respectively.
I'm no longer dreaming it official I'm a sun devils #ForksUp congrats to my boy @Maciej_Bender pic.twitter.com/HQ3mrygVXD
? jethro (@j_tshisumpa) November 11, 2015