April 27, 2009

Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State University head men's basketball coach Joe O'Brien has announced the signing of Broderick Gilchrest, a 6-0 point guard out of Frank Phillips College, to a letter-of-intent for the 2009-10 season. He joins Eric Segert of Oldsmar Christian Academy in the recruiting class of 2009-10.

Gilchrest played for one season at Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas, where he averaged 12.8 points per game and 5.9 assists per game, a figure that was good for sixth nationally among JC Division I schools, and second in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. He also averaged 2.0 three-pointers per game (9th), 2.0 steals per game (10th), and hit .410 from the three-point line (9th). His assist-to-turnover ratio was 2.09-to-1, good for 9th nationally as well. Overall he shot .467 from the field, solid for a three-point shooting point guard.

Gilchrest played and started in 28 games for the Plainsmen, who went 16-14 last year, and his 165 assists easily led the team, and his 12.8 scoring average was second. He also was a solid free throw shooter at .706 for the year. Twice, in wins over Bacone and Wayland Baptist, Gilchrest recorded 17 assists, including a 17-assist, zero-turnover game in just 21 minutes of a 115-57 thrashing of Wayland Baptist.

"Broderick's signing is a big addition to Bengal Basketball," said O'Brien. "His accomplishments and stats speak for themselves. He brings speed and multiple offensive skills to our team at the point guard position. In addition to being a talented player, he is an outstanding young man and a good student. We are now solid at every position, have a high experience level, and good overall size."

Gilchrest, who prepped at Hamilton High School in Memphis, TN, played one season for Middle Tennessee State, playing in 32 games as a freshmen, averaging 1.8 points and 0.6 assists for the Blue Raiders. At Hamilton he averaged 23 points, six assists and four steals and was named to First Team All-State by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and the Associated Press team. As a junior he helped lead Hamilton to a 39-0 record, the 2007 Tennessee Class AAA State title, and a #7 ranking by USA Today, and a #10 ranking by SI.com, averaging 14.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.2 steals.

Gilchrest officially becomes the fourth player from Memphis on the team, joining senior Amorrow Morgan, sophomore Sherrod Baldwin, and freshman walk-on Todd Starks. Gilchrest takes the scholarship vacated by Kal Bay, who opted to leave the program. Idaho State does have one scholarship remaining.

NOTES: Tom Taylor of Nampa, who would have been a junior next year, has opted to leave the program and look at smaller schools. Joe O'Brien elevated former walk-on Michael Lacey, who medically redshirted last season, to scholarship status. Also associate head coach Steve Swanson will be leaving the program in late May to pursue his doctorate back east, and O'Brien is working on replacing Swanson.