A Sea Of Red

Dunton Signs Two Recruits In Men's Hoops

November 21, 2006
Lynchburg, Va.



Liberty Head Men’s Basketball Coach Randy Dunton has announced that Nathan Campbell and Ehimen Orukpe have signed national letters of intent for the 2007-08 academic year.

Campbell (6-6, 215, F, Cary, N.C.) is currently attending the prestigious Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., where he is averaging 13.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg through the first seven games of the season. Campbell is the first player to ever sign with Liberty out of Hargrave Military Academy, which has sent numerous of its alumni into the SEC, ACC and NBA, including Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks who attended Wake Forest after his days at Hargrave.

“Nathan and his family are overly excited about the opportunity to play at Liberty,” said Hargrave Military Academy Head Coach Kevin Keates. “With Nate’s size, strength and shooting ability, he will be able to play several positions and will be a great addition to their program.”

“Coach Kevin Keates and his Hargrave Military Academy program have long been recognized as one of the top prep programs in the country,” said Dunton. “This season will be valuable experience competing against some of the nation’s best talent.”
Prior to attending prep school at Hargrave, Campbell was a four-year starter at Cary High School in Cary, N.C., where he averaged 12.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg his senior season.

“Nathan Campbell’s commitment to our program is exciting. At 6-6, 215 his versatility, toughness and shooting touch will provide additional scoring and rebounding punch from the forward position,” said Dunton. “Nate is very effective scorer from the blocks and now is transitioning with greater confidence playing at the perimeter.”

With the help of Liberty assistant coach Dominic Okon, the Flames were able to tap back into the Nigeria talent pool. Okon, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, was instrumental in the recruiting process of Orukpe.

Orukpe (7-0, 220, C, Delta, Nigeria) is currently playing for the Ebun Comet, one of the elite amateur club teams in Nigeria which showcased such talent such as former Flames great Peter Aluma. Orukpe is currently averaging 12.0 ppg and 9.0 rpg a game for Ebun. Orukpe’s current coach, Ayo Bakare, coached the 1998 Nigerian National Team, which included former Flame Julius Nwosu.

“I am excited about the opportunity for Ehimen to be a member of the Liberty Flames Basketball program; he is a fine young man,” said Bakare. “He will follow the in foot steps of Peter Aluma and help Liberty win in the Big South Conference.”

“Ehimen’s signing is a significant accomplishment for our program,” said Dunton. “First, the addition of an athletically gifted shot blocker will greatly enhance our defensive capabilities. Secondly, both high-major and mid-major programs have been committed to recruiting internationally in Nigeria in recent years. It is a huge step for Liberty Basketball to again attract the highest level of Nigerian talent. Thirdly, Ehimen is a student-athlete who embodies all of the characteristics of that we desire to see in the Liberty University community. Needless to say I view this as a big sign in more ways than one and appreciate Coach Okon’s effort in the recruiting process.”

Orukpe choose Liberty over Auburn, Western Kentucky, Illinois State and Winthrop.

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 58&TeamID=

Anytime we slap Greg Marshall around and beat him to a recruit i am very happy. I can just picture his purple face thinking " They ruined my season with a humiliating loss on the road and now they beat me to a 7 footer....bleeeeeeep"

So what's the deal with Eaze? I thought we had a verbal from him but he wants to be an engineer. I also thought he might be looking to stick with Orukpe too.

still a shot...a pretty good one at that, since his boys here

An athletic 7'0" post! That will be big especially if his coach compares him to Aluma. i heard Peele from Winthrop was over there and thought they had the inside track.
But Eropee's a Flame.

Let's just hope the NCAA doesn't take its eyes off the "HS Diploma Mills" and focus them on the way athletes are compensated in these types of Elite Teams. It has bitten more than one school. Let's hope we dont' draw any attention. (I wonder if you stretched SCAR out if he would be 7')

Does it concern anyone that neither of these recruits average 15 pts per game?

Ohh... but one is tall and reminds us of some former greats... Don't talk about skill and ruin the moment

you're complaining about a guy averaging 12 and 9 in Nigeria?

Frankly, many of the guys in Lahaye averaged that in High School.

I don't think you can really compare an elite amateur club in Nigeria with Podunk High School's basketball team.

Nor can you compare Hargrave with Podunk High.

everybody on the Hargrave Post grad team is going to play D-1, these post grad teams are basically all-star teams

Yee-ha, gotta love the dawning of the Eminem era in Lynchburg.

Hey, considering how small our lineup is, I'll take anyone that size... except Russell.

givemethemic wrote:everybody on the Hargrave Post grad team is going to play D-1, these post grad teams are basically all-star teams

Yeah buddy...having spent a year around the PG basketball team, the boys at HMA basically treat it like a college team. They have been in the top 5 in the nation among PG programs and even finished number 1 in I believe 2003

dunton doing a fanastic job of adding talent. if hiring okon opens up the nigerian and other international
recruiting options then that is big. sherard has got us brewington, mclean and bannister. so as coastal struggles with Asbury and high point with Chowan maybe we will be find success again in bsc play.

I fully expect us to be major players in the Big South.

Okon already has paid very nice dividends.

And Brokeback, you no little of what you speak in regard to the Nigerian club. I'll leave it at that.

I wonder if there is any chance Orukpe can make it over here early to assimilate to American culture.

lureal wrote:dunton doing a fanastic job of adding talent. if hiring okon opens up the nigerian and other international
recruiting options then that is big. sherard has got us brewington, mclean and bannister. so as coastal struggles with Asbury and high point with Chowan maybe we will be find success again in bsc play.

High Point held its own against Marlyand today...

“I am excited about the opportunity for Ehimen to be a member of the Liberty Flames Basketball program; he is a fine young man,” said Bakare. “He will follow the in foot steps of Peter Aluma and help Liberty win in the Big South Conference.”

We're famous! A guy in Nigeria has HEARD of the Big South Conference!

...and you guys want out!

Bakare knows the Big South and Liberty in particular quite well. He was involved with us ever since Julius Nwoso came over back in 1989.

I just thought Id ask...do I have to contact Coach Dunton directly if I want to tell him about a possible recruit or is there some chain of command I have to go through so as to not violate some NCAA rule?

There is no violiation of rules if someone tells a coach about a player. If that person is a booster by definition of the NCAA (anyone that supports the program financially or otherwise to put it simply), then they have to be careful about how they interact with that player once they become a "recruit' of Liberty. So in short, you are in the clear. Send coach an email or something to let him know about talent. You may find that they are already aware of the person esp. if they are from the VA Beach area like you BJ.

Thanks SCAR. this kid is an unbelievable scorer. You can read about his exploits in the thread I created for him as I get results

I emailed coach Dunton and this is what he wrote back:

BJ-
First thanks for taking the time to give me a heads up on Ryan Barbosa. We are in need of a scoring guard with Larry Blair's graduation. BJ Jenkins will be a very good player in the
years to come but a guard who can go create his own shot is priority in recruiting. Sounds like Ryan is a great shooter and with our inside guys it is important to be able to stretch the
court. Please forward me personally any information the sooner we get on Ryan the better. Coach Sherard will call Stonebridge HS today as well. We will have four scholarships for
the 2008 class.
Good things are happening with our team and program. It is important that you feel the connection to helping us achieve the vision. Don't hesitate to contact me if there is any thing
that I can assist you with in your time at Liberty or as you move on in building your future. May God open the doors as you seek his will. And may the Flames scorch opponents.
Thanks again, BJ!
Coach D

Not bad.

Maybe FF can do the recruiting from now on? Ha.