Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball signee Josh Tabb will attend prep school
06/20/2005 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
www.SIUSalukis.com
June 20, 2005
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Josh Tabb, a Carbondale High School grad and Southern Illinois University men's basketball signee, announced Monday he will attend a prep school during the 2005-06 school year.
The 6-foot-4 guard informed Saluki head coach Chris Lowery of his decision in a letter, in which he said, "an extra year of academic support will provide me with an opportunity to develop strategies that will prepare me for a four-year institution, such as Southern Illinois University, and obtain a degree for life after basketball."
"I would like to also take this opportunity to thank Coach Lowery, along with some (SIU) faculty members, for helping me and my family make a decision that was best for me at this time," Tabb wrote.
Lowery said he advised Tabb to take the prep school route.
"This is a win-win situation," Lowery said. "Clearly, it's in his best interest from both an academic and athletic standpoint to spend next year preparing himself for the college experience. And we still feel strongly that he can be an impact player in our program down the road."
The Salukis enter next season minus two of the best guards in school history -- two-time player-of-the-year Darren Brooks and four-year starter Stetson Hairston. However, they return all-conference guard Jamaal Tatum, plus veterans Tony Young and Mike Dale. Young had surgery last week to repair a broken ankle, but should be healthy by September.
The rest of the backcourt includes redshirt freshman Wesley Clemmons, true freshman Bryan Mullins and Kyle Smithpeters, a senior non-scholarship player.
