MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee men's basketball coach Kermit Davis has announced the completion of the 2007 signing class with the addition of Dexter Powell, who has signed a national letter-of-intent to continue his career with the Blue Raiders.
Powell, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound guard/forward, spent the last two seasons at Wabash Valley Community College, where he averaged 14.7 points and seven rebounds for coach Dan Sparks' Warriors.
The versatile Powell played high school basketball at Rome High School in Rome, Ga., before signing to play his first two years of college basketball at Wabash Valley in Mt. Carmel, Ill.
"I believe the two years (at Wabash Valley) has better prepared me for the next two years at Middle Tennessee," Powell said. "I'm very excited about this decision and signing to play at Middle Tennessee. I really enjoyed my visit to campus, and I liked the players and coaches. It's a place where I felt wanted, and Middle Tennessee has a great group of players returning."
Davis believes Powell will be another solid player in the fold. Toughness, not numbers; however, is what impresses the veteran Blue Raider coach most about his latest signee. That quality was most evident during the last stretch of Powell's season when he tried to play the last five weeks with a severe high ankle sprain.
"He was trying so hard to keep playing through that injury and all the pain," Davis said. "He was having a great year before he got hurt, and he still had a solid season. I like a lot of things about (Powell), but I believe the thing I like most is that he's a tough guy. He is a really versatile player with good perimeter skills, he can defend several positions, and he can shoot it well. He's just a team guy, and I believe he is going to be a nice fit with our team."
Wabash Valley assistant coach Jon Craig said the Blue Raiders are getting an active player, who will make his presence known in several different areas.
"Dexter is a solid player," Craig said. "With him you know what you're getting every day. He is an active rebounder and, offensively, he is a guy you can put at every position, and he can guard most every position. He knows how to play the game."
Powell is the sixth member of the 2007 signing class. He joins Antwaun Boyd, a 6-2 guard from Anderson, Ind.; Keith Dodd, a 6-9 forward from Cleveland, Tenn.; Broderick Gilchrist, a 6-foot- guard from Memphis, Tenn.; Uriah Hethington, a 6-9 forward from Cairo, Ga.; and Josh Sain, a 6-5 guard/forward from Jackson, Tenn.
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