EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team announced the signing of guards Melvyn Little and Evan Brinkmeyer for the 2010-11 season. Little and Brinkmeyer are the first and second players to sign with USI this spring.
Little, a six-foot-three shooting guard, signs a national letter of intent with USI after two seasons at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. He was named first team All-Ohio Community Athletic Conference and All-NJCAA Region XII after averaging 14.8 points per game in 2010-11. Little also averaged 2.8 steals and 3.5 rebounds per contest for the Surge, who finished 21-10 last season.
During his first season at Cincinnati State Tech, Little averaged 9.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per contest.
“In the GLVC, shooting guards are mandatory,” said USI Head Coach
Rodney Watson. “Melvyn is a career 40-percent three-point shooter after two years at Cincinnati State.
“As a freshman, he was a key member of a team that finished second in the NJCAA Division II national tournament,” continued Watson. “He attended Louisville Trinity High School where he averaged 14 points on a team that finished 22-8. Melvyn's personality, character, and interest in education and basketball seem to be a great fit with our program.”
Brinkmeyer committed to USI after accepting a Presidential Scholarship, a full four-year scholarship available to qualified Indiana valedictorians and salutatorians. He was one of four 4.0 students on a Reitz High School team that went 14-9 last year.
The first team Evansville Courier & Press All-Metro performer averaged 21.8 points per contest as a senior. Brinkmeyer scored 501 points last season, good enough for second in the Panther record book behind former RHS and USI standout Cris Brunson.
Brinkmeyer also finished fifth on the RHS all-time scoring list with 1,099 points.
“Evan Brinkmeyer is a tough competitor along with being a USI Presidential Scholar, which is an excellent combination for success,” said Watson. “He had a fine career at Rietz High School and we truly believe his best basketball is ahead of him.
“Evan has a scorer's mentality,” Watson continued. “A good work ethic will enable Evan to make the necessary adjustments needed to be a GLVC college basketball player.”
The Screaming Eagles finished the 2010-11 campaign with a 24-6 overall record, 14-4 in the GLVC. USI was second in the GLVC East Division, which sent each of the five teams to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Eagles also appeared in its 16th NCAA II Tournament in the last 19 seasons.
