May 8, 2012

SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State men's basketball coach Paul Lusk announced late Tuesday (May 8) that Spring, Texas, native Michael Simpson has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Bears this fall.

Simpson is a senior at Klein Collins High School just outside of Houston and is a wing player with great shooting range and great leaping ability. He averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists for coach Scott Harmatuk's Tigers his senior season while making 81 percent of his free throws.

Lusk said the 6-foot-5, 190-pound standout is a welcome addition to the 2012 recruiting class.

"We are very excited to have Michael join our program," Lusk said. "He is a long, athletic, and skilled wing player who has a great stroke from the perimeter. He adds another skilled player to our recruiting class and gives us a versatile scoring threat."

Simpson averaged 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals as a prep junior and ended his career with over 1,000 points. He was a two-time all-district selection and was ranked No. 37 on the Greater Houston Top 150 Seniors List.

An honors student with a 3.6 grade-point average, he also played AAU ball for the elite Texas Pro team and helped Kelin Collins High, a Class 5A program, to a 19-14 record in 2011-12.

Simpson is MSU's second commitment this spring, along with Tevin Bracey (G, 6-3, 180, Bronx, N.Y., Gompers High, Westchester CC). The spring National Letter of Intent signing period runs through May 16 for basketball. Simpson and Bracey join a trio of fall signees -- Bruce Marshall (C, 6-10, 205, Fr., Fayette, Mo., Fayette High), Marcus Marshall (SG, 6-2, 180, Fr., St. Paul, Minn., Johnson High) and Gavin Thurman (PF, 6-7, 210, Fr., Wichita, Kan., Heights High) -- on the list of five Missouri State roster additions for the 2012-13 season.