Texas State men’s basketball coach Danny Kaspar.

STAFF REPORT

Texas State men’s basketball coach Danny Kaspar has said that he expects to do the bulk of his recruiting in Texas and its surrounding states. But his first recruiting class with the Bobcats doesn’t quite look that way.

Of the six players Kaspar has signed so far, only two are Texas high school players. The rest come from California, New York, Nevada and Florida.

Head coach Danny Kaspar has announced that six players have signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Texas State. Kaspar, the 2013 Hugh Durham Mid-Major Coach of the Year, was hired as the new Bobcat men’s basketball coach on April 4.

“We are very excited about this group of signees,” Kaspar said. “I feel we were very fortunate to sign the quality and quantity of players with such a late start in the recruiting process.”

The two high school players are Kendell Ramlal, a 6-foot-8 forward from Houston Episcopal, and Kevin Gilder-Tilbury, a 6-7 forward from Cypress Falls. Gilder-Tilbury was one of 10 finalists for the 2013 Guy V Lewis Award which is given annually to the Boys High School Player of the Year in the Greater Houston Area.

The other big man in this recruiting class is Emani Gant, a 6-8 forward from Barstow Community College (CA). Gant is a native of Los Angeles.

Kaspar also signed three guards, all of whom played at prep school.

Victor Bermudez, a 6-foot-4 guard from North Las Vegas, comes to Texas State from Sheridan College, where he was an All-Region XI performer. Bermudez originally committed to the University of Hawaii out of high school, but decided to go to University Park Academy Prep in Houston instead. At University Park Academy, Victor averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Brooklyn native Naiel Smith is a 6-foot-4 guard from Queens City Prep (NC), where he averaged 25 points, five assists and seven rebounds per game. Smith played three years at Tilden High School (NY), before transferring to West Oaks Academy (FL) for his senior season.

Amari Bryant, a 6-foot-2 guard from Pembroke Pines, FL, comes to Texas State from Elev8 Sports Academy (FL). Before Elev8, Bryant competed at No. 4 ranked Believe Prep Academy (FL). Bryant played high school ball at Pembroke Pines Charter (FL).

“Our three guard signees should provide us some immediate help,” Kaspar said. “Victor Bermudez can really shoot the ball and knows how to play without the ball in his hands. Naiel Smith has great size for a point guard and can really see the floor well. Amari Bryant can play either guard spot and his versatility will be very helpful to us. I look forward to working with these young men.”