McMurry Men Add 1 More Player
By: Dave Beyer, McMurry Sports Information
Updated: July 9, 2012
ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University men's basketball has announced the addition of Thomas Brandsma (Colleyville, Texas) to its incoming 2012-13 recruiting class. Brandsma, a 6'5" forward, comes to the War Hawks from Colleyville Heritage High School (class of 2012).
Brandsma is the latest player to commit to join the McMurry program under first-year head coach Chris Beard. Beard was the associate head coach at Texas Tech and a Bob Knight protge, prior to taking over the reins of the War Hawks.
At CHHS, Brandsma played under head coach Stephen Hamrick and helped the Panthers to three-consecutive playoff berths during each of his varsity seasons.
As a senior, Brandsma had a stellar campaign. The Panthers were 24-7 with Brandsma ranked in the top-10 in the DFW Metroplex area in both scoring (17.2 p.p.g.) and rebounding (7.4 r.p.g.). He also shot a sterling 62 percent from the floor.
Brandsma earned first team All-District 6-5A accolades as a senior. He was an all-tournament selection at the prestigious Fort Worth Coca-Cola Thanksgiving Tournament.
"Thomas was a pleasure to coach," Hamrick said. "He is a terrific kid with a passion for competition and basketball. He had a great work ethic and a very good skill set. I think he will be a very good (collegiate) player and fit Coach Beard's style of play well. Thomas will represent McMurry University well."
McMurry opens the 2012-13 season - its first as an NCAA Division II institution - on November 12 at home versus the University of the Southwest.
Brandsma is the latest player to commit to join the McMurry program under first-year head coach Chris Beard. Beard was the associate head coach at Texas Tech and a Bob Knight protge, prior to taking over the reins of the War Hawks.
At CHHS, Brandsma played under head coach Stephen Hamrick and helped the Panthers to three-consecutive playoff berths during each of his varsity seasons.
As a senior, Brandsma had a stellar campaign. The Panthers were 24-7 with Brandsma ranked in the top-10 in the DFW Metroplex area in both scoring (17.2 p.p.g.) and rebounding (7.4 r.p.g.). He also shot a sterling 62 percent from the floor.
Brandsma earned first team All-District 6-5A accolades as a senior. He was an all-tournament selection at the prestigious Fort Worth Coca-Cola Thanksgiving Tournament.
"Thomas was a pleasure to coach," Hamrick said. "He is a terrific kid with a passion for competition and basketball. He had a great work ethic and a very good skill set. I think he will be a very good (collegiate) player and fit Coach Beard's style of play well. Thomas will represent McMurry University well."
McMurry opens the 2012-13 season - its first as an NCAA Division II institution - on November 12 at home versus the University of the Southwest.
