Terry signs elite class to reload MW Champs

FRESNO, Calif. --- Fresh off winning the 2016 Mountain West Tournament championship and making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001, the Fresno State men's basketball team has reloaded for the 2016-17 season with the signing of six recruits to join two Division I transfers as part of its 2016 recruiting class.

"This class has a good balance of athleticism, speed, size and skill set," Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry said. "I'm excited to develop this group of guys coming into our program while competing at a very high level."

The two Division I players – Jaron Hopkins (Mesa, Ariz.) and Deshon Taylor (Riverside, Calif.) – redshirted the 2015-16 season at Fresno State while practicing with the team.

Hopkins, who will be a redshirt junior guard, played his first two collegiate seasons at Colorado while appearing in 67 games with 26 starts for the Pac-12's Buffaloes.

"Jaron is a versatile, big guard, who brings experience playing at a high level in the Pac-12 conference," Terry said. "He has a really good basketball IQ and adds experience to our backcourt."

Taylor will be a redshirt sophomore next season as he played his freshman season at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), where he averaged 7.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals per game for the Kangaroos. He played in 33 games with 10 starts as the third-leading scorer on the team.

"Deshon also brings experience at the D-1 level after competing in the WAC as a freshman," Terry said. "His intangibles will help our team as he can really handle and shoot the basketball with a strong defensive prowess."

The six other signed prospects feature one junior college transfer in Jacob Holland (Los Lunas, N.M.) and five incoming freshmen in Darryl McDowell-White (Brisbane, Australia) , William McDowell-White (Brisbane, Australia), Johnny McWilliams (San Marcos, Calif.), Lazaro Rojas (São José dos Campos, Brazil), and Bryson Williams (Fresno, Calif.).

Fresno State enters the 2016-17 season with excitement that the returning core players and strong new additions will put the Bulldogs right back in contention to defend its tournament championship and compete for a regular season title.

The intensity the 'Dogs showed on defense last season was critical to the stretch run, which fueled Fresno State to a nine-game winning streak entering the NCAA Tournament as the conference tournament champion.

In addition to the Bulldogs' returning letterwinners, the newest class of Bulldogs includes three international players. Prior to this class, there had been 20 student-athletes from outside the United States that had been part of the Fresno State men's basketball program.

Darryl and William McDowell-White are the first two Australians to ever play for the men's basketball program while Lazaro Rojas is the third Brazilian to be a part of the team.

There are two California natives – Bryson Williams and Johnny McWilliams – in this recruiting class. Williams and McWilliams each committed to Fresno State back during the early signing period last November before having stellar senior seasons as dynamic scorers and defenders for their high school programs.

Meanwhile, junior guard Jacob Holland will bring veteran experience and depth to the backcourt.

Season tickets for the 2016-17 season are currently available through the Bulldog Scholarship Fund by calling 559-278-7160.

2016 Fresno State Basketball Recruiting Class

Jacob Holland – Guard
6-4, 195 pounds
Los Lunas, N.M.
Otero Junior College

Jacob Holland, a 6-4 shooting guard, has transferred to Fresno State after playing his first two collegiate seasons at Otero Junior College.

As a sophomore, Holland averaged 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while playing in 30 games. He scored over 20 points four times, including a season-best 27 points in Otero JC's 93-78 road win at Eastern Wyoming College on Dec. 3.

During his freshman season, Holland played in 28 games when he averaged 6.5 points and 1.8 rebounds. He scored in double-digits in five of his team's last seven games of the season as a freshman.

"Jacob is an older backcourt player after his two-year junior college run," Terry said. "He brings toughness defensively and he's a more than capable scorer."

Darryl McDowell-White – Guard
6-1, 175 pounds
Brisbane, Australia
Wishart State School

Darryl McDowell-White joins the Fresno State men's basketball program from Brisbane, Australia.

Darryl and his brother, William McDowell-White have both signed as part of the Bulldogs' 2016 recruiting class. They are two of the three international players in this year's class, along with Lazaro Rojas (Brazil). All three will enroll at Fresno State as freshmen.

McDowell-White's father – Darryl White – is one of the best Australia Rules Football (AFL) players of all time. White won the AFL Premiership three times with Brisbane Lions and is a member of the AFLNT Hall of Fame.

"Darryl can shoot the ball really well," Terry said. "He has a good basketball savviness from playing in international competition."

William McDowell-White – Guard
6-5, 185 pounds
Brisbane, Australia
Ignatius Park College

William McDowell-White is the first five-star recruit signed during Terry's tenure at Fresno State.

McDowell-White has played in prestigious all-star showcases, including the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit (World Team), 2016 Basketball Without Borders (NBA All-Star Weekend) and the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championships.

McDowell-White drew interest from and chose Fresno State over Arizona State, Texas A&M, Michigan State and Kentucky.

"Will is a big guard and has an elite level vision, especially for a guy of his size," Terry said. "He also plays with a great pace of play."

Johnny McWilliams – Guard
6-6, 195 pounds
San Marcos, Calif.
San Marcos High School

Johnny McWilliams, who is from San Marcos, Calif., earned league Player of the Year honors as the all-time leading scorer in San Marcos High School history. He led the Knights to the CIF semifinals and a state playoff appearance two years in a row.

McWilliams scored 36 points in his final game and averaged 25 points and 6.5 rebounds during his senior season. He also earned all-CIF honors three times in his prep career.

"Johnny excites us as a young guard, who has a chance to be really good defensively and offensively for us," Terry said. "He also has good size."

Lazaro Rojas – Forward/Center
6-11, 235 pounds
São José dos Campos, Brazil
Score Academy (Florida)

Lazaro Rojas, who is originally from São José dos Campos, Brazil and attended Score Academy in Florida this past season, will be the third Brazilian to join the Fresno State men's basketball program.

The other two were Renato Cesar (Sao Bernardo, Brazil / 2005-07) and Fernando Tomasiello (Sao Paulo, Brazil / 1986).

Rojas drew interest from and chose Fresno State over Alabama, Colorado State, Maryland, North Carolina State and Ohio State.

"Laz is a young guy with size, who has a chance to develop and stretch defenses," Terry said. " He can really shoot the ball for a guy of his size and age."

Bryson Williams – Forward
6-8, 225 pounds
Fresno, Calif.
Roosevelt High School

Bryson Williams, a 6-8 forward from Fresno, Calif., chose to stay home to play for the Bulldogs after averaging 33.8 points and 18 rebounds per game during his record-setting career at Roosevelt High School. He led his team to a Central Section Division III title with 29 points, 23 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in Roosevelt's 60-36 victory in the championship game.

Williams finished his high school career as Roosevelt High's all-time leading scorer with 2,302 points, which ranks as the fifth-most in Central Section history and the most-ever in the city of Fresno. He also set a city record with a career-best 53 points in a single game.

As a senior, Williams was named the North Yosemite League Most Valuable Player and the Fresno Bee's Outstanding Offensive Player for the 2015-16 season.

"Bryson is a skilled, hard-working young player, who has a chance to develop into a really good player in facing the basket and with his back to the basket," Terry said. "He should give us a good post presence and his rebounding ability will also be important for our program."

Fresno State Athletics

Terry signs elite class to reload MW Champs

Related News

Players Mentioned

Jacob Holland

Jaron Hopkins

Jaron Hopkins

Darryl McDowell-White

Johnny McWilliams

Lazaro Rojas

Deshon Taylor

Deshon Taylor

Bryson Williams

Related Videos