July 29, 2009

MARS HILL, N.C. - Head Coach Thomas Nash has announced the addition of nine new players for the 2009-10 men's basketball team.  The signing class is comprised of one junior, three sophomores, five freshmen and includes many players who will be asked to contribute right away.

One such player is the lone junior signee, Dion Malachi.  The 6'6" forward comes to Mars Hill from Louisburg Junior College, where he averaged 10 points and seven rebounds a game.  A native of Shelby, N.C., Malachi enjoyed a standout career at Shelby Crest High School, where he was named All-State, All-Conference and Team MVP as a senior averaging over 18 points and 14 rebounds a game.  He also played in the prestigious North Carolina East-West All-Star Game and was nominated for the McDonald's All-American game.  Malachi, whose explosive athleticism should help the Lions in the post, is the nephew of college basketball great David Thompson.

Also competing for time in the post will be sophomore Robin McElroy, a 6'8" native of Kennesaw, Ga.  As a senior at Harrison High, McElroy was named all-conference averaging 18 points and 11 rebounds a game.  He was also invited to the Cobb County/Buy Incorporated All-Star game where he took home MVP honors with a 23 point and 11 rebound performance. McElroy redshirted for the Lions last season after spending a semester at Tallahassee Community College.

Providing depth at multiple positions will be versatile sophomore Brittion Smith.  The 6'4" forward arrives on campus after averaging 12 points and seven rebounds for Eastern Mississippi Community College.  Smith also led EMCC in made field goal percentage and managed four games of 20 points or more.  Originally from Atlanta, Ga., Smith is a great athlete who should help the Lions all over the floor next year.

Another player capable of making an impact in a variety of ways for the Lions will be sophomore Petar Kostic.  A 6'4" forward originally from Serbia, Kostic competed last year for powerful Indian Hills Junior College, a national tournament Final Four participant.  Along with being a very skilled player, Kostic is a spectacular leaper, an ability he has used to win many competitions.  Three times named the best dunker in his native Serbia, Kostic has most impressively won the European dunk championship on two different occasions.  He will play on the wing and in the post for Mars Hill.

Three of the Lions five incoming freshmen are local products, including redshirt freshman Jarrod Conard.  A 6'1" transfer from Presbyterian, Conard averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds a game at Pisgah High School, earning All-Western Athletic Conference Honors.  Conard was also named to the WNC Blue-White game where he took home the MVP award.  Conard should provide scoring and depth on the perimeter.

Austin Patton is another local signee coming to Mars Hill from nearby T.C. Roberson High School.  The 6'3" guard averaged 13 points and five assists a game, earning all conference honors and an invitation to the WNC Blue-White game.  A good shooter with the ability to handle the ball and defend, Patton should compete for time at guard.

Rounding out the local additions is Cody King, a 6'4" guard from Enka High School.  Battling through the effects of a severe back injury, King averaged 10 points a game for the Jets.  In his final home game, King showed a glimpse of his talent scoring 34 points while canning a school record eight three pointers.  His sweet shooting stroke will be a nice weapon for the Lions. 

The Lions stayed in the state for their freshman post prospect, 6'7" Concord native Zac Rose.  The Cannon School graduate was a team captain and averaged 10 points and eight rebounds a game.  Named one of the seven best prospects in North Carolina by Hoop Group, Rose should help the Lions in the paint right away.

Finally, the Lions will welcome Almir Krdzalic from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  A native of Bosnia, the 5'11" point guard enjoyed a fantastic senior year, leading his team to an undefeated season and state championship.  Averaging 12 points, six assists, and four steals a game, Krdzalic was named All-State and All-Conference as a junior and senior.  The ultra quick Krdzalic will provide help at the lead guard spot right away.

Mars Hill College is a NCAA Division II institution and a member of the South Atlantic Conference. The league is comprised of schools in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

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