Marcus Sikes

Visited 4/21/06
Verballed 4/25.

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04/17/06: "Marcus Sikes, who averaged a double-double last season at Mount San Jacinto College in California, has become the sixth - and tallest - member of University of Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin's recruiting class.

The 6-8, 235-pound forward averaged 13.1 points and 11.3 re- bounds this past season while leading Mount San Jacinto to a 24-10 record and a second-place finish in the Foothills Conference. He earned first team all-league honors and was the third-leading junior college re- bounder in the state of California. "We're very excited to be able to add someone as talented as Marcus to our roster this late in the recruiting process," Cronin said. "He's a very skilled big man. He shoots the ball extremely well and is versatile -the type of player that I like. He's a guy who can play three positions. He has the strength to play down low and the skills to play on the perimeter." - Cin Post

04/26/06: "I enjoyed myself at all three schools and all of them have great coaches," Sikes reflected late Tuesday night. "I just felt comfortable at Cincinnati, because I can relate to the coach and he can relate to me as a player. (snip) I got a good vibe and feel when I was at Cincinnati," he added. "I think I can step in early and produce there." - ScoutHoops.com

04/26/06: "Marcus Sikes, a 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward from Mount San Jacinto (Calif.) College, has committed to Cincinnati and will sign his letter of intent today, according to Mount San Jacinto head coach Patrick Springer. Sikes had visited Cincinnati Thursday and Friday and visited Minnesota Saturday and Sunday." - HoopMasters.com

04/25/06: "Marcus Sikes, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound power forward from Mount San Jacinto Junior College in California, has given a commitment to Cincinnati, according to sources close to Sikes." - www.ScoutHoops.com

04/22/06: "Visiting the Minnesota campus over the weekend was Marcus Sikes, a 6-7, 245-pound forward from Mount San Jacinto Community College, where he averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds. He visited the University of Cincinnati early last week and then Minnesota but didn't commit to either school." - Minneapolis Star

04/21/06: "Sikes, ranked sixth among junior college sophomores by hoopmasters.com, said he would be in Minneapolis for a visit Saturday. His other visits were Thursday to Cincinnati and Bradley two weeks ago. "They came out to watch me play and work out last week," Sikes said about the Gophers coaches. "(Minnesota) came into the picture a little late, so I don't know much about the program. I think I'm just going to take my time before deciding."

Mount San Jacinto coach Patrick Springer describes Sikes as an extremely versatile player capable of posting up and scoring from the perimeter. He shot 30 percent from three-point range this season.

A native of Petersburg, Va., Sikes had his best high school game as a senior when he scored 38 points to lead Notre Dame Academy against Carmelo Anthony-led Oak Hill Academy. "(Marcus) is an average athlete, but he's really skilled and understands the game," Springer said. "I think he will have an easy transition to the Division I level." - Minnesota Pioneer Press

04/20/06: "Marcus Sikes, a 6-foot-7 junior college forward who visited (Bradley Univ) two weekends ago, visited Minnesota last weekend and has at least one more visit scheduled, believed to be Cincinnati. Marvell Waithe, a 6-8 high school forward from Toronto, made his official visit to Bradley on Tuesday. Waithe also has visits ahead to other schools." - PJStar.com

04/16/06: "Sikes, a 6-foot-7, 245-pounder from Mount San Jacinto (Calif.) Community College after a year at the University of Georgia, is weighing offers from Bradley, Seton Hall, Arizona State and South Florida. "Marcus has a nice body," said Jerry Mullen, who operates a Kansas scouting service with an emphasis on junior college players. "He's a skilled, face-up type player. A great kid."

Sikes averaged 13.3 points and 11.1 rebounds for MSJC after transferring from Georgia, where he played 29 games as a freshman, averaging 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 13 minutes per outing. A native of Petersburg, Va., Sikes is more of a face-the-basket than a post-up scorer. He was 24-for-79 (30 percent) on 3-point shots last season." - www.PJStar.com

01/06/06: "The expectations have always been high for Marcus Sikes. Sikes, a 6-foot-8 forward for Mt. San Jacinto College, has been groomed to be a big-time basketball player, from age 12 when he joined one of the most prestigious club basketball teams in the nation to the day he signed scholarship papers to attend the University of Georgia." more here

12/10/05: "Marcus is probably the most mature player I've ever coached at the community college level," said MSJC Head Coach Patrick Springer. "He understands that it's a process and he's working to get better every day. He doesn't pout," Springer added. "He's been a pleasure to coach."

Now down to about 240 pounds, Sikes looked sharp at the Riverside Tournament against San Diego, hitting eight of 14 field goal attempts and imposing his will on the glass. "He's a tough matchup for a lot of junior college teams," Springer said. "He's big and strong enough to score on the block, and he has good enough ball skills to take bigger, slower guys off the bounce." - NY Insider.com