Auburn Basketball Signs Four In Early Signing Period

[AUSportTalk 4]

AUBURN----Robert Chubb, a 6-foot-10, 220-pound center from

Peachtree City, Ga.; Kenny Gabriel, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound small forward

from Charlotte, N.C.; Andre Malone, a 6-foot-5 202-pound guard from

Atlanta, Ga.; and Earnest Ross, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard from Cary,

N.C.; have signed national letters of intent to attend Auburn University

and play basketball in 2009-10, head coach Jeff Lebo announced

Thursday.

    *We helped ourselves in shooting guard and small forward, and

we really helped ourselves with the ability to shoot at all four

spots,* said Lebo.  *We have size and some strength, and I like

the upside of all of them.  All of them can get a lot better once they

get here.*

    Chubb attended McIntosh High in Peachtree City, Ga., where he

averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds as a junior last season. He

transferred to Montverde Academy in Orlando for his senior season.

    *Chubb is a kid who is getting better and better and

better,* Lebo said. *His upside is big, and he is getting

tremendous coaching at Montverde Academy. He is playing against a lot of

big guys. Hopefully, he still has some growing up to do.*

    Gabriel signed with Auburn last year out of United Faith

Christian Academy in Charlotte, N.C., but he went to Paris (Texas)

Junior College for this season. He will have four years to play three

seasons at Auburn. Gabriel averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and three

blocks as a senior at United Faith Christian last year and 17 points and

eight rebounds as a junior.  He is averaging 15.2 points and 8.5

rebounds per game, leading Paris to an 8-0 record to start the season.

    *What is exciting about Kenny is his ability to shoot the

basketball,* said Lebo.  *He can play a lot of different positions.

He has the ability to shoot the basketball and has great range with his

jump shot.*

    Malone, who is ranked as the 19th best shooting guard in the

country by Rivals.com and the 74th best player overall, averaged 16.6

points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.1 assists as a junior at North

Clayton High in College Park, Ga., last year. He will play his senior

season at South Atlanta High.

    *Andre just gives us another deep perimeter shooter,* said

Lebo. *He has athleticism and style and his body is already ready for

this league.*

    Ross averaged 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game

last year as a junior at Panther Creek High.

    *Earnest, like Andre, has his body ready for this league and

has tremendous upside,* said Lebo.  *He can take the ball to the

basket and can shoot the ball from 3-point range and can play a

multitude of positions.*

[Jackson-Sullivan 0]

Man, I hope these guys pan out.  I miss the days of a packed house, ticket scalpers, and the excitement of watching Chris Porter bring down the house with a nasty dunk!  I love March Madness and when Auburn is involved, words can't describe how exciting it is.