Griz ink another basketball player
By the Missoulian
The Montana Grizzlies have another men’s basketball player in the fold - head coach Wayne Tinkle announced Thursday that Jovanni “Jio” Sims has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Griz starting in 2006-07.
Sims, a 6-4, 205-pound forward from Milwaukee, Wis., attended prep school the last two seasons at Genesis One in Mendenhall, Miss.
“He’s an absolutely great kid who will lend himself to being a great teammate because of his personality and work ethic,” Tinkle said. “He’s probably one of the most athletic wing players that we’ve had in our program in the last 25 years.”
“The coaches and players have been great in my transition to Montana,” Sims said. “I’m comfortable in Missoula. I’ve been able to talk to people around the community. I know this is the place for me.”
At Genesis One, Sims averaged 12.5 points, five rebounds and three steals per game in his fifth year campaign. His prep school coach was Victor Evans.
“Jio brings great basketball intangibles to the floor,” Evans said. “He’s a tough-minded player who does the little things that don’t always end up on the stat sheet.”
Sims is one of the Grizzlies’ most touted recruits in recent history. Hoop Scoop online ranked him as high as No. 75 on a list of top 150 fifth-year players in the class of 2006. Sims was one of eight Genesis One players to be ranked by Hoop Scoop this past year. Sims’ teammate Michael Washington, a 6-10, 235-pound center heading for Arkansas, was ranked No. 7 on the same list.
“Jio was my favorite player on the team,” Evans said. “He’s a difference maker on the defensive end, but he’s also a better offensive player than people give him credit for.”
Tinkle said Sims should help the Griz on both ends.
“Aside from his athleticism, the most impressive thing about Jovanni is his ability to defend,” said the first-year head coach. “Most kids that age haven’t quite learned how to play defense. He was obviously coached very well because he is a hound on that end of the floor.”
By the Missoulian
The Montana Grizzlies have another men’s basketball player in the fold - head coach Wayne Tinkle announced Thursday that Jovanni “Jio” Sims has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Griz starting in 2006-07.
Sims, a 6-4, 205-pound forward from Milwaukee, Wis., attended prep school the last two seasons at Genesis One in Mendenhall, Miss.
“He’s an absolutely great kid who will lend himself to being a great teammate because of his personality and work ethic,” Tinkle said. “He’s probably one of the most athletic wing players that we’ve had in our program in the last 25 years.”
“The coaches and players have been great in my transition to Montana,” Sims said. “I’m comfortable in Missoula. I’ve been able to talk to people around the community. I know this is the place for me.”
At Genesis One, Sims averaged 12.5 points, five rebounds and three steals per game in his fifth year campaign. His prep school coach was Victor Evans.
“Jio brings great basketball intangibles to the floor,” Evans said. “He’s a tough-minded player who does the little things that don’t always end up on the stat sheet.”
Sims is one of the Grizzlies’ most touted recruits in recent history. Hoop Scoop online ranked him as high as No. 75 on a list of top 150 fifth-year players in the class of 2006. Sims was one of eight Genesis One players to be ranked by Hoop Scoop this past year. Sims’ teammate Michael Washington, a 6-10, 235-pound center heading for Arkansas, was ranked No. 7 on the same list.
“Jio was my favorite player on the team,” Evans said. “He’s a difference maker on the defensive end, but he’s also a better offensive player than people give him credit for.”
Tinkle said Sims should help the Griz on both ends.
“Aside from his athleticism, the most impressive thing about Jovanni is his ability to defend,” said the first-year head coach. “Most kids that age haven’t quite learned how to play defense. He was obviously coached very well because he is a hound on that end of the floor.”
