Four Highly Sought-After High School Prospects Sign with the Cougars
PROVO -- Four highly regarded high school recruits have signed a letter-of-intent to play basketball at BYU next season, BYU head coach Steve Cleveland announced Friday.
Rated one of the top-20 recruiting classes nationally and the third-best class in the West, BYU received official commitments from top prospects David Burgess (Irvine, Calif.), Lee Cummard (Mesa, Ariz.), Chris Miles (Provo, Utah) and Trent Plaisted (San Antonio, Texas).
"I am very excited about this year's recruiting class," Cleveland said. "I believe this group of student-athletes represents a solid foundation for the program's success in the coming years."
Burgess is a 6-foot-10, 260-pound center considered one of the best big men in the country. He was the only high school player to compete on the USA Basketball World Championships Team that finished 7-1, losing only to eventual champion Australia, and went 5-0 to win the 2003 Global Games in Dallas. Burgess averaged 16.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks last year as a junior at Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif., leading the team to a 21-6 record. During the season, he recorded game highs of 31 points, 20 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and nine blocks.
A Street & Smith All-America High Honorable Mention pick, Burgess was a 2003 All-CIF First Team selection and garnered 2003 league MVP and all-county honors. He was all-league and All-CIF as a sophomore while averaging 12 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Entering his senior season, he already has helped Woodbridge claim two CIF championships and one state crown. He played for the Southern California All-Stars during the summer and was an all-star and the leading rebounder at the adidas ABCD Camp. Among the many schools that recruited Burgess were Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida, UCLA, Kansas, Kentucky, Washington State and Utah.
"David is an intelligent and strong low-post player who will have an immediate impact on our program," Cleveland said. "He is an aggressive rebounder and has a solid understanding of offensive low-post play. I'm excited about coaching David and helping him reach his full potential as a player."
Cummard is considered one of the top shooting guards in the West and has been rated the No. 1 prospect by some recruiting experts. The 6-foot-6, 175-pound wing player averaged 17 points and six rebounds as a junior last year at Mesa (Ariz.) High School while leading the Jackrabbits to the state tournament quarterfinals before a double-overtime loss. A good athlete with a natural feel for the game, he has all-around abilities and good leadership qualities. SI/CNN calls the versatile Cummard the fifth-best small forward in the West.
Known as a fierce competitor, Cummard has good ball-handling skills, excellent shooting range and the toughness to rebound and finish in traffic. A Street & Smith All-America Honorable Mention, he was a member of the East Valley All-Region First Team as a junior after earning second-team honors as a sophomore. He was recruited by Arizona State, UCLA, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Iowa State, Utah State, Utah, New Mexico, Miami, Gonzaga, Oklahoma State, San Diego State and Texas Tech.
"Lee is a versatile athlete who possesses outstanding offensive skills," Cleveland said. "He has great instincts on the floor and plays with a real passion for the game. I love his confidence and aggression level. Lee is a special player who will have a major role in our program."
Miles is Utah's reigning 4A State MVP and 4A State Tournament MVP out of Timpview High School in Provo. The local standout averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and five blocks for a balanced Thunderbird team that won the state title in 2003 and is ranked No. 25 in the nation entering this season. He was invited to the NBA Players Camp during the summer, where he was rated No. 47 among the nation's top high school players. He has been ranked as high as the No. 2 post player in the West.
A Street & Smith All-America High Honorable Mention selection, the 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward is a quick and versatile player, tough defender and outstanding shot-blocker. He is on track to become the No. 2 all-time shot-blocker in Utah high school history during his senior season behind former BYU and current NBA center Shawn Bradley. Gonzaga, Utah State, Utah, Kansas, Oregon State, Connecticut, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Wyoming and Texas Tech also recruited Miles.
"Chris is an excellent defender and has developed into an outstanding shot-blocker," Cleveland said. "He runs the floor as well as any big man I've coached. Chris has shown real improvement with his offensive skill development and will be a major contributor in the program."
Plaisted is a 6-foot-10, 220-pound forward who led Clark High School in San Antonio to the 2003 District 28-5A title and regional quarterfinals in Texas' largest classification. The only junior named to the All-District 28 First Team, Plaisted averaged 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds as a junior while helping his team (which is preseason No. 2 in Texas this season) achieve a 31-7 record. A left-handed shooter and young player who just turned 17 in October, he has earned MVP honors at numerous tournaments and has been nominated for McDonald's All-America recognition.
He averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds this summer on his AAU team, the San Antonio Bulls, where he was given the opportunity to play more on the perimeter. Rated the No. 10 player in Texas, Plaisted impressed at the Texas Elite Camp and made a national name for himself at the 2003 Kingwood Classic in Houston. Long and athletic, Plaisted runs the floor well and has a soft shooting touch to 18 feet. He is a good shot-blocker and solid rebounder. Among schools recruiting Plaisted were Florida State, Stanford, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Washington State, Texas A&M, Utah, Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas Tech, and Vanderbilt.
"I love Trent's ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket," Cleveland said. "He's left handed and very crafty around the basket. Trent will play on the perimeter and continue to develop his outside shooting skills. Trent is 6-foot-10 with great feet and has the potential to be an outstanding defender."
Player Name Ht. Wt. Pos. Hometown (High School)
David Burgess 6-10 260 C Irvine, Calif. (Woodbridge High School)
Lee Cummard 6-6 175 G Mesa, Ariz. (Mesa High School)
Chris Miles 6-10 225 F Provo, Utah (Timpview High School)
Trent Plaisted 6-10 220 F San Antonio, Texas (Clark High School)