It?s Official: Oregon Men?s Basketball Signs All-American Malik Hairston
EUGENE, Ore. ? The University of Oregon men’s basketball team has signed prep All-American Malik Hairston of Detroit, Mich., to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Ernie Kent announced Thursday. Recruiting service Rivals.com ranks Hairston as the seventh-best high school player in the nation, while by he is ranked No. 9 by The Insiders.com.
"This concludes a remarkable recruiting class for Oregon," said Kent, who was in Kansas City, Mo., attending the National Association of Basketball Coaches board of directors’ meetings. "Malik is one of the top 10 players in the country.
"He has demonstrated talents and abilities on the court that will allow us to be a very athletic and versatile basketball team in the coming seasons. And he possesses the character and intellect that we strive for in our program."
Hairston, a 6-6, 200-lbs. wing, led Renaissance High School to the 2004 Class B state championship and a perfect 27-0 record under coach Mike White. He averaged 20.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 4.0 blocks and 2.5 steals per game as a senior. In the championship game, a 61-42 defeat of DeWitt, Hairston had 17 points, four rebounds and five blocks. Renaissance was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally by USA Today.
Following his senior season, he was named a McDonald’s All-American, as well as first team all-state and all-Metro by both the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press. He finished third in the state’s Hal Graham Mr. Basketball voting. He played in the 2004 McDonald’s All-America game -- where he scored 11 points with three rebounds and three assists -- the Jordan Capital Classic and on the USA Hoop Summit Team.
As a junior, he averaged 22.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game as Renaissance went 21-4. He was an all-state second team selection by the Detroit Free Press, and an all-Metro first team selection by the Detroit News. For his career, Hairston averaged 18.7 points, 12.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game.
"As a rising junior, (Hairston) was easily one of the five most gifted offensive players," said Dave Telep of The Insiders.com "He scored like Carmelo Anthony did at the same age."
Hairston is also a member of the USA Men’s Junior National Select Team, which recently defeated the World Team 99-79, and participated in the 2003 USA Basketball Developmental Festival.
Hairston, whose father played college basketball for Georgia’s Morris Brown College, joins fellow high school signees Maarty Leunen of Redmond, Ore., Chamberlain Oguchi of Richmond, Texas, and Bryce Taylor of North Hollywood, Calif. -- who are all ranked in Rivals’ top 100 seniors -- and sophomore Kenny Love of Casper College in this year’s recruiting class.
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