Aggie Hoops Inks Atlanta Area Forward
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M men's basketball program announced Wednesday the signing of Davonte Fitzgerald, a highly-rated forward from the Atlanta, Ga., metro area to a National Letter of Intent.
"We're all excited to add Davonte to our basketball family," Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy said. "He's the type of big, athletic scorer that will fit well in our style of play. We needed to add size and athleticism for the SEC and he's is a great fit for this league. I'm thrilled he's going to be an Aggie."
The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks as a junior a season ago at Tucker High School in Tucker, Ga., while earning first team all-region honors. The long, athletic wing scorer is described as similar to former A&M standout Khris Middleton, who enjoyed a successful three-year career in Aggieland before being picked by the Detroit Pistons in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Fitzgerald helped lead Tucker High School to a 23-6 overall record a season ago as the Tigers claimed the Region 6A-AAAA Championship and reached the second round of the state tournament.
"Davonte is an outstanding basketball player," Tucker High School head coach James Hartry said. "I've been a head coach for 15 years and he's one of the most high class and high character individuals I've had the privilege of coaching. The way he carries himself, the way he speaks, the way he practices and the way he plays are all first class. I give all the credit to his parents and his family for the type of person he is. He's a better person than he is a basketball player and that's saying something. Davonte is coming into his own as a basketball player and he could be a pro someday, those are the type of skills he has."
Rated as three-star prospect by Rivals.com and ESPN, Fitzgerald choose A&M over Auburn, Central Florida, Charlotte, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Oregon State, Virginia Tech, Santa Clara and South Florida, among others.
ESPN.com named Fitzgerald as the 10th best prospect in Georgia and the 32nd best forward nationally, while Scout.com projected him as the 44th top prospect in the country at the position.
