BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The CSUB men's basketball team added some much–needed size to its frontline Wednesday, announcing the signing of Odessa (Texas) College big man Rashad Savage to a national letter of intent.
Savage, a 6–6, 225 power forward, was the leading rebounder (9.4 rpg) and third–leading scorer (9.5 ppg) for an Odessa program that has produced such laudable stars as Larry Johnson and Craig Ehlo. He earned first team All–Western Junior College Athletic Conference honors for his efforts.
“Rashad fills three of our greatest needs in this recruiting class: size, strength and toughness,” says CSUB Head Coach Keith Brown. “He is a first team all-conference player in one of the strongest community college conferences in the country.”
Savage scored in double figures 13 times and rebounded in double figures 16 times, including 11 double–doubles in 30 games. He scored a career–high 29 points as part of a 29/13 double–double against Eastern Arizona on Nov. 13. He grabbed a career–high 20 boards as part of a 13/20 double–double versus Frank Phillips College on Jan. 18.
“Rashad was a double–double performer at Odessa and we expect him to provide the same for us,” says Brown. “He is strong, mobile, active and a highly competitive rebounder.”
Savaged prepped at Imhotep Charter School in Philadelphia. He earned all–city and all–state honors after averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior in 2008.
Brown is both quick and effusive in his praise at the concerted effort to bring Savage to Bakersfield.
“This is one of those examples where effort, experience and relationships have culminated in very positive outcome” he says. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for (Odessa Head Coach) Dennis Helms. I've had a relationship of almost twenty years with the former head coach and current counselor of Rashad, as well as the former director of athletics, all of whom have a good feel for our program and community and have supported the process.
“Rashad has a tremendous level of support, starting with his mother, Rachel Bolden, and grandmother in Pennsylvania as well as the people at Odessa. This support for Rashad is also a good indication of the type of young man he is.”
Savage is the fourth member of CSUB's 2011 recruiting class. Earlier this signing period, CSUB signed big man Kregg Jones from the Army–Navy Academy in San Diego, guard Cody Kale from Rocklin High School and combo guard Ivan Matip from Besant Hill School in Ojai.
