Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Basketball Adds Six for 2017-18 Campaign
6/15/2017 4:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Five Michigan natives and a recruit from Tennessee to join Rob Murphy's team
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Head Men's Basketball Coach Rob Murphy has announced another strong recruiting class with the addition of four high school players and a pair of transfers for the 2017-18 season. Joining the Eagles next season will be: Malik Ellison (Flint, Mich.-Beecher), Isaiah Green (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lansing C.C.), Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln-Northeastern), Kevin McAdoo (West Bloomfield, Mich.-West Bloomfield), Jorden Peterson (Detroit, Mich.-CMA), and Tariq Silver (Clarksville, Tenn.-Northwest).
"Though keen evaluation our coaching staff has assembled a talented, versatile 2017 class that will address immediate needs while also setting up future success," said Murphy. "All six newcomers are high character student-athletes that understand the importance of academic success while competing to win championships. I'm very excited about the future of EMU basketball."
Groce, a local product from Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti, was a very productive player for the Railsplitters. The 6-8 forward averaged 17.6 points per game, as well as 11.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 3.4 steals, and 4.4 blocks as a senior. A 2016 Class A Detroit Free Press All-State Third-Team honoree, Groce posted a stat line of 27 points and 21 boards against Ann Arbor Huron in his senior year, while he also nabbed a triple double with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks against Ypsilanti High. As a junior in 2015, Groce posted 13.5 points, 5.7 caroms, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game en route to 2015 Class A All-State Honorable Mention accolades.
Silver comes to Eastern Michigan from Tennessee, where he played at Clarksville Northwest High School. There, Silver averaged 24 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks per game as a senior. The Clarksville, Tenn. native was the recipient of 2017 Class 10-AAA Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State team honors, while he was also named to the 2017 Class 10-AAA All-District Team. A member of his high school's 1,000-point club, Silver helped the Vikings to the 2017 district title.
Ellison most recently completed his high school career at Flint Beecher High School. Ellison posted a senior year stat line of 26.2 points per game, while also chipping in 5.3 assists, 4.2 steals, and 3.5 rebounds. The two-time Flint-Journal Player of the Year scored a Flint record 63 points against New Haven High School, in addition to also leading his high school to the Class C State Championships in his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Additionally, Ellison received 2016-17 Associated Press Class C Player of the Year honors, while also being selected to the 2017 Mitten Classic All-Star Game.
Green joins the Eagles after a stint at Lansing Community College, giving him two years of eligibility with the Green and White. As a sophomore at Lansing, Green averaged 18.3 points per game, in addition to 13.5 boards and four blocks. On the national level, Green ranked second in both blocks and rebounds per game at the NJCAA DII level, in addition to being fourth in field goal percentage. The Southfield, Mich. native was named a NJCAA DII All-American, while also earning 2017 NJCAA All-Star Game MVP honors after finishing the game with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks.
McAdoo earned third team Class A all-state honors as a senior and was rated as the 18th-best player in the state of Michigan by the Detroit Free Press. The bigger the game, the better McAdoo played, as he averaged 24 points, five rebounds, and four assists to lead West Bloomfield to its first Class A district championship since 2003. He had 34 points in the regional final win over Novi, scoring five points during the final 12 seconds to turn a 66-62 deficit into a 67-66 victory, paving the way for a Final Four spot at the Breslin Center. For his season long efforts, McAdoo was also selected to participate in the inaugural Mitten Student Athlete Classic at Waterford Mott High School.
Peterson joins the Eagles as a preferred walk-on after playing at Detroit's Communication & Media Arts High School. A First Team All-PSL selection in 2016-17, averaged 23.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. During his final year of high school, he shot 42 percent from behind the arc, 51 percent from the floor, and 88 percent from the free-throw line. He had 27 points and six rebounds in a one-point victory over Delta Prep and also notched 24 points and six assists against Saginaw Heritage in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Away from the court, Peterson posted a 3.9 overall GPA and was his class valedictorian in 2017.
"Though keen evaluation our coaching staff has assembled a talented, versatile 2017 class that will address immediate needs while also setting up future success," said Murphy. "All six newcomers are high character student-athletes that understand the importance of academic success while competing to win championships. I'm very excited about the future of EMU basketball."
Groce, a local product from Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti, was a very productive player for the Railsplitters. The 6-8 forward averaged 17.6 points per game, as well as 11.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 3.4 steals, and 4.4 blocks as a senior. A 2016 Class A Detroit Free Press All-State Third-Team honoree, Groce posted a stat line of 27 points and 21 boards against Ann Arbor Huron in his senior year, while he also nabbed a triple double with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks against Ypsilanti High. As a junior in 2015, Groce posted 13.5 points, 5.7 caroms, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game en route to 2015 Class A All-State Honorable Mention accolades.
Silver comes to Eastern Michigan from Tennessee, where he played at Clarksville Northwest High School. There, Silver averaged 24 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks per game as a senior. The Clarksville, Tenn. native was the recipient of 2017 Class 10-AAA Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State team honors, while he was also named to the 2017 Class 10-AAA All-District Team. A member of his high school's 1,000-point club, Silver helped the Vikings to the 2017 district title.
Ellison most recently completed his high school career at Flint Beecher High School. Ellison posted a senior year stat line of 26.2 points per game, while also chipping in 5.3 assists, 4.2 steals, and 3.5 rebounds. The two-time Flint-Journal Player of the Year scored a Flint record 63 points against New Haven High School, in addition to also leading his high school to the Class C State Championships in his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Additionally, Ellison received 2016-17 Associated Press Class C Player of the Year honors, while also being selected to the 2017 Mitten Classic All-Star Game.
Green joins the Eagles after a stint at Lansing Community College, giving him two years of eligibility with the Green and White. As a sophomore at Lansing, Green averaged 18.3 points per game, in addition to 13.5 boards and four blocks. On the national level, Green ranked second in both blocks and rebounds per game at the NJCAA DII level, in addition to being fourth in field goal percentage. The Southfield, Mich. native was named a NJCAA DII All-American, while also earning 2017 NJCAA All-Star Game MVP honors after finishing the game with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks.
McAdoo earned third team Class A all-state honors as a senior and was rated as the 18th-best player in the state of Michigan by the Detroit Free Press. The bigger the game, the better McAdoo played, as he averaged 24 points, five rebounds, and four assists to lead West Bloomfield to its first Class A district championship since 2003. He had 34 points in the regional final win over Novi, scoring five points during the final 12 seconds to turn a 66-62 deficit into a 67-66 victory, paving the way for a Final Four spot at the Breslin Center. For his season long efforts, McAdoo was also selected to participate in the inaugural Mitten Student Athlete Classic at Waterford Mott High School.
Peterson joins the Eagles as a preferred walk-on after playing at Detroit's Communication & Media Arts High School. A First Team All-PSL selection in 2016-17, averaged 23.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. During his final year of high school, he shot 42 percent from behind the arc, 51 percent from the floor, and 88 percent from the free-throw line. He had 27 points and six rebounds in a one-point victory over Delta Prep and also notched 24 points and six assists against Saginaw Heritage in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Away from the court, Peterson posted a 3.9 overall GPA and was his class valedictorian in 2017.
| 2017-18 EMU Men's Basketball Incoming Student-Athletes | |||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl-El. | Hometown-High School-Previous School |
| Malik Ellison | G | 5-8 | 160 | Fr.-Fr. | Flint, Mich.-Beecher |
| Isaiah Green | F | 6-7 | 200 | Jr.-Jr. | Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lansing C.C. |
| Ty Groce | F | 6-8 | 200 | So.-Fr. | Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln-Northeastern |
| Kevin McAdoo | G | 6-2 | 162 | Fr.-Fr. | West Bloomfield, Mich.-West Bloomfield |
| Jorden Peterson | G | 6-4 | 175 | Fr.-Fr. | Detroit, Mich.-CMA |
| Tariq Silver | G | 6-5 | 185 | Fr.-Fr. | Clarksville, Tenn.-Northwest |
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