BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University basketball team received national letters-of-intent from four highly-acclaimed players Wednesday as the Bulldogs added Darius Gibson, Marcus Johnson, Jamal Shabazz and Gerald Smith to their roster for the upcoming 2014-15 campaign, it was officially announced by Head Coach Bennie Seltzer.
 
"We're excited about this group of guys," said Seltzer. "We've covered a lot of our bases, in the case of our needs and the holes that we had to fill. We signed a veteran group in that we've added three guys that played in junior college. They're coming in as 20 and 21-year-old young men and they've all played in really good leagues."
 
A total of four players officially signed to play at Samford on Wednesday, three of which are nationally-touted junior college transfers, while Alabama high school star Gibson joined the Bulldogs from Carbon Hill High School.
 
Darius Gibson, a 6-foot-2 guard from Lexington, Ky., transferred to Samford from Barton County (Kan.) Community College where he started every game last season for the Cougars. A tough competitor with an uncanny feel for the game, Gibson led his squad in scoring 14 times and proved to be the team's leading rebounder in four contests.
 
With a solid 1.9 assist/turnover ratio in 2013-14, Gibson was also able to create his own scoring as he tallied a 53-percent shooting mark from the field at Barton County Community College.
 
Gibson competed at Tates Creek High School and signed with Eastern Arizona Community College following his prep career. As a true freshman at EACC, Gibson started every game of the season and averaged 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per outing for the Gila Monsters.
 
During his freshman season, Gibson helped lead Eastern Arizona Community College to a 20-10 overall record.
 
"Darius is a tough competitor and he knows what it takes to win," Seltzer said. "This year alone, he shot over 300 free throws and his junior college league was one of the best in the nation. Last season, his team won 20-plus games at Barton County Community College and he's the type of player that just has a nose for getting to the basket. He has that toughness and he will also provide some great experience for us."
 
Marcus Johnson recently signed with Samford after spending a pair of quality seasons at Wallace State Junior College in Hanceville, Ala. As a true freshman at WSJC, he immediately burst onto the scene by averaging 9.9 points for the Eagles, while dishing out a team-high 88 assists in 30 starts.
 
Last season, as a sophomore, Johnson averaged 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He also shot 44.7 percent from the field and registered 14 double-digit scoring performances. Against Northeast Mississippi Community College on Dec. 11, Johnson tallied a season-high 26 points as he finished 10-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
 
A native of Raleigh, N.C., and graduate of Millbrook High School, Johnson helped lead Wallace State Junior College to a 28-7 overall record as a freshman. Additionally, he captained the Eagles to their third Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC)/Region 22 state tournament championship in the last five years, including two in the last three seasons.
 
"Marcus is a combo guard and can play either the one or the two," said Seltzer. "He led his team to the national championship tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., and that's among the highest level of competition around. He's going to provide a lot of experience. He's played in 60-plus games in junior college, so he'll bring that knowledge and experience to our team as well."
 
Jamal Shabazz, an athletic 6-foot-6 guard/forward from Pflugerville, Texas, transferred to Samford from Lamar State College where he averaged 9.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Shabazz also started in 31 of the team's 32 contests and drained 42.9 percent of his 3-point attempts.
 
Shabazz finished his sophomore season at Lamar State College ranked No. 27 in the nation with 183 defensive rebounds. He was also listed at No. 32 in the country with 277 total boards.
 
At Pflugerville High School, Shabazz earned all-district and all-state honors in both his sophomore and junior seasons. During his junior season, Shabazz averaged 11.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, as he helped lead the Panthers to a stellar 29-5 overall record, including an unblemished 12-0 mark against district opponents.
 
Shabazz did not compete for PHS as a senior, because his eligibility had been exhausted after playing varsity as an eighth grader at Summit Christian Academy. Not just a gifted athlete, Shabazz always excelled in the classroom and was selected to advance two academic grades in elementary school.
 
At one point, Shabazz was on pace to graduate from high school at 16 years old. In his first game at Lamar State College, Shabazz tallied a double-double by scoring 10 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
 
"Jamal played in one of the top junior college leagues in the nation where his team won well over 20 games and where he was a starter in every single game," Seltzer said. He's going to provide some tremendous athleticism as well as some toughness. He's also a strong rebounder and shot-blocker and he gets up and down the floor. He's a great guy and will come in with tons of experience."
 
Gerald Smith, who excelled at Carbon Hill High School, averaged 23.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 3.1 assists per game as a senior for the Bulldogs. In the 2013 state championship tournament, the 6-foot-5 guard scored 32 points against Bibb County, including eight straight points in the fourth quarter. Smith also drained four 3-point baskets in the contest.
 
As both a junior and senior at CHHS, Smith earned 4A Second-Team All-Alabama honors, while garnering honorable mention accolades as a sophomore. Smith concluded his prep career ranked amongst the top-25 seniors in the state by several recruiting services.
 
Smith concluded his high school career with 2,033 points, 1,253 rebounds and 387 blocks. His team won 113 games in four years. As a junior, Smith averaged 18.7 points, 14.0 rebounds, 5.0 blocks and 3.4 assists per game.
 
"Gerald carried his team last year," Seltzer said. "He did everything that was asked of him by his high school coach. He rebounded the ball well and would constantly guard bigger players. He did everything. Even though he'll be just a freshman this season, he played all four years of high school at the varsity level. He will make a sudden impact with his athleticism and his ability to shoot the basketball. He always plays hard and has a great passion for basketball."
 
All four members of Samford's 2014-15 signing class will be eligible to compete for the Bulldogs in the fall.
 
"I really like this group of guys," said Seltzer. "We added a lot of maturity and toughness, and that's exactly what this team needs."
 
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2014-15 Samford Basketball Signees
 
Name                       Cl.       Pos.     Ht.          Wt.        Hometown (Previous School)
Darius Gibson            Jr.       G          6-2         180         Lexington, Ky. (Barton County Junior College)
Marcus Johnson         Jr.       PG       5-11        185         Raleigh, N.C. (Wallace State Junior College)
Jamal Shabazz          Jr.       G/F       6-6          205         Pflugerville, Texas (Lamar State College)
Gerald Smith             Fr.       G          6-5          190         Carbon Hill, Ala. (Carbon Hill HS)