Saturday 22 December 2007

Marauders Announce New Recruit for Second Half

With probably the youngest, most inexperienced rosters in Coach Joe Raso's tenure at McMaster, the Marauders still were able to put it together late in November with a pair of big road wins including a victory in Kingston against a very tough Queen's Golden Gaels side to finish the first half of the OUA regular season with a 4-4 record. Mac has taken another step toward solidifying their roster for the long term with the official announcement today that 6'9", 240 pound Terry Licorish (pictured) has joined the Marauders and will be eligible to play immediately, beginning with Mac's December 27th game in Florida against the University of Tampa, a strong NCAA Division II school. Licorish, who turned 27 years old earlier this year, has not been on an organized basketball roster for 3 1/2 seasons after being forced to sit out the entire season in 2003-04 as a medical redshirt at Mississippi State due to a dibilitating illness. Licorish had been working in Hamilton for the last 2 years and a few months ago approached Raso with the intention of coming back to school to earn a University degree. He was later accepted as a full-time student at the university and while his return to basketball was recently rumoured on several web sites, Licorish's official announcement of basketball eligibility was held back until today to ensure everything was proper as the Marauders were very careful to ensure playing eligibility, going beyond the normal requirements to proactively contact both the CIS and NCAA about all issues. Through those inquiries, it was deemed that Licorish has five seasons of eligibility remaining. Licorish was born in Montreal and later moved to Toronto where he played at Scarborough West Hill Collegiate, averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds and 7 blocks per game as a Grade 11 playing for former Brandon Bobcat Shawn Green. Licorish then played his Grade 12 year at famed Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina in 2000-01 where he averaged 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks, teaming with current Portland Trailblazer Jarrett Jack on one of the top high school teams in the U.S. The following season (2003-04), he attended Laurinburg (N.C.) Prep School, averaging 15 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks before committing to NCAA Division 1 program Auburn Tigers. Licorish never did make it to Auburn but later signed with Mississippi State and was touted as an immediate starter with the Tigers but then contracted an illness that forced him to miss the entire season. He then returned to Canada and has not played organized basketball for 3 1/2 seasons. When fit and back to playing shape, Licorish is an Eric Hammond-type athlete (for those who recall the 6'9" Hammond from the late 1980's, the former Scarborough Cedarbrae star was a dominant force with the Guelph Gryphons) who could be a difference maker for the Marauders. This is great news for the Marauders and their fans who should witiness an athletic, entertaining big man toil with Mac for several years to come.

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