Feb. 9, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis men's soccer head coach Richie Grant announced five additions to a talented arsenal of young players for the upcoming 2010 season on Tuesday afternoon. The group of signees features talented footballers including, forward Austin Gross (Tulsa, Okla.), forward Gordy Gurson (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), goalkeeper Martin Hunter (Newcastle upon Tyne, England), midfielder Jamal Keene (Atlanta, Ga.) and defender Bennett "B.J." Williams (Flora, Miss.).

"We are really pleased with the addition of these five lads," said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. "I feel that with this group we've addressed several important positions in our squad."

Gross, a former club teammate of current Tiger defender Thomas Shannon, joins the Tigers from Tulsa's Jenks High School and the Tulsa Soccer Club. Gross will provide another tall body for the U of M at the front of the Tiger attack. An all-state selection in the state of Oklahoma in 2009, Gross led his Jenks High squad in goals scored. At the club level, the Oklahoman, helped the TSC '91 club to the U.S. National Youth Soccer Association National Tournament in 2005 and 2006. Gross also helped lead his club to the Region III Championships in 2005 and 2006 and to six-straight state championships from 2003-08.

"Stretch is going to give us something we didn't have last year up front," Grant said. "He brings great size and is also very good with the ball at his feet. He gives us more options than we had last year with our attack."

Gurson, joins the Tigers from Stevenson High School in Buffalo Grove, Ill. He was named all-state in Illinois following the 2009 season as a member of Stevenson High School's varsity squad.He tallied 22 goals and 11 assists in his junior season, the best offensive year of any player in Stevenson High history. Gurson competed on the club level for the Eclipse Select Soccer Club based in the suburbs of Chicago, Ill. He helped lead Coach Mike Litvack's Eclipse Select 91-92 squad to two-straight Illinois State Cup Championships and a USYSA Region 2 finals.

"Gordy is going to be a great addition to this squad, in that he is a tireless worker," Grant said. "He is a very busy player. Gordy's work rate will help keep our team training sharp."

Hunter, a native of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, fills a major need for the Tigers after the graduation of Michael Goodlett, the Tigers starting netminder in 2008 and 2009. Memphis only returns one other goalkeeper, Jordan Leedle, to the roster for 2010. A former member of the Sunderland AFC U18 youth squad, Hunter helped lead his squad to two titles in the Premier Academy League. At the schoo level, Hunter competed for St. Thomas More RC High School, where he holds the record for the lowest goals conceded in a season.

"We've been very focused on finding the right goalkeeper for this class," Grant said. "We are very confident that Martin is going to be a strong addition for us in goal. With the experience Jordan (Leedle) is getting this spring, we should have healthy competition at goalkeeper this fall."

Keene, a product of Hiram High School in Hiram, Ga., will look to contribute early on as a midfielder for the Tigers. Keene helped lead the Cobb Futbol Club to a seventh-place finish in the USYSA National League final standings. Keene was also selected to the Georgia Olympic Development Program, as well as the Region III pool. As a junior in high school, Keene netted 16 goals and tallied eight assists.

"Jamal is a talented player," Grant said. "He really knows the game. Jamal has great balance and composure and we look for him to have a quick impact on the team."

Williams, a product of Madison Central High School in Madison, Miss., comes to the program as a left-footed defender. Williams was named to the all-state team in the state of Mississippi as a junior. He had 20 goals and eight assists as an offensive player for Coach Jay Harrison' squad, on their way to a 16-1-1 record. At the club level, Williams competed for the Chicago Fire Juniors of Mississippi, which produced current Memphis defender Chris Porter.

"B.J. gives us great balance," Grant said. "He can play a couple of positions. B.J.'s left-sidedness was very important to us. We are really excited about the improvement he has made in the last year as a player."

The five newcomers join a young roster that includes three seniors, three juniors, nine sophomores and three redshirt freshmen. Leading the way for the Tigers will be juniors-to-be Parker Duncan and Thomas Shannon, as well as sophomores-to-be Andreas Guentner and J.J. Greer.

Duncan, a forward/midfielder from Johnson City, Tenn., has 10 goals and fours assists for the Tigers in two seasons and has led Grant's squad in points in each of the last two season.

Shannon, a defender from Broken Arrow, Okla., will be looked to anchor the Tiger defense along with senior Rory O'Connor, a Dublin, Ireland product, next season. Shannon played a crucial role for the Tigers last season helping to guide them to two victories on converted penalty kicks.

Guentner, a versatile footballer from Regensburg, Germany, has the ability to play centerback, fullback and center midfielder, with the latter probably being his most natural position. The sophomore-to-be had two goals and one assist on his way to an All-C-USA third team nod and a C-USA All-Freshman team selection.

Greer, the program's first recruit out of the Bluff City since the graduation of Dayton O'Brien following the 2005 season, earned C-USA All-Freshman team accolades in his initial season for the U of M. The taleneted offensive player had one goal and five assists, and at one point was ranked in the top-five nationally for assists. Greer was an ESPN Rise All-American pick coming out of Christian Brothers High School.

The talented foursome joins a group of young talent that also includes defender Jordan Johnson, midfielder Hugo Mondragon, midfielder Cody McCoy and midfielder/forward Justin Watson, a US U-18 national team member. The Tigers also welcome back an ESPN Rise All-American selection in high school, Mark Sherrod, a native of Knoxville, Tenn, as well as midfielder Joey Deloney. Sherrod, a 6-3 attacker, will add another large body at the top of the Memphis offense. Sherrod had to sit out the 2009 season due to an injury suffered during the summer. Deloney, a native of Lilburn, Ga., like Sherrod suffered an injury prior to the 2009 fall season and will look to battle for a spot in the midfield in 2010. Both players received medical hardship years in 2009 and will be redshirt freshmen in 2010.

List of Signees
Austin Gross - F - Tulsa, Okla./Jenks High School/Tulsa Soccer Club
Gordy Gurson - F - Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson High School/Eclipse Select Soccer Club
Martin Hunter - GK - Newcastle upon Tyne, England/St. Thomas More RC HS/City of Sunderland College/Sunderland AFC U18
Jamal Keene - MF - Atlanta, Ga./Hiram High School/Cobb Futbol Club
Bennett "B.J." Williams - D - Flora, Miss./Madison Central High School/Chicago Fire Jr of Mississippi

Player Bios

Austin Gross - F - Tulsa, Okla./Jenks High School/Tulsa Soccer Club

Played varsity soccer for Jenks High School...Coached in high school by John Timmons...Lettered four seasons in soccer at Jenks High School...Earned all-state honors as a junior in the state of Oklahoma...Led his team is goals scored in 2009...Competed at the club level for the Tulsa Soccer Club...Coached at club level by Steve Earle...Played for same club team as current Tiger Thomas Shannon...Club team was a Region III Quarterfinalist in 2007, United States Youth Soccer Association National Tournament participant in 2005 and 2006 and Dallas Cup Finalist in 2008...Also won Region III Championships with TSC '91 in 2005 and 2006 and won the state championship in six-straight seasons from 2003-08...Led team in goals scored in Premier League West for 2006 and 2007...Competed for Oklahoma Olympic Development Program... Parents are James and Karen Gross...Full name is James Austin Gross...Born July 10, 1991 in Tulsa, Okla...Was a Special Olympics peer tutor in high school...Also served as a member of the Native American Club in high school, as well as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Key Club and Disc Golf Club.

Gordy Gurson - F - Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson High School/Eclipse Select Soccer Club

Competed at the high school level for Stevenson High School...Coached in high school by Mark Schartner...Named to all-state team in 2009...Also named all-conference in 2008 and 2009, as well as all-area in 2009 and all-sectional in 2009...High School team was 2009 regional champion...Scored a second-half hat-trick to give Coach Mark Schartner his 300th career win...Had 22 goals and 11 assists as a junior at Stevenson High...Had the best offensive year of any Stevenson High student in school history...Played at the club level for Eclipse Select Soccer Club...Coached at club level by Mike Litvack...Team was 2008 and 2009 Illinois State Champion...Eclipse Select was a Region II finalist in 2008...Parents are Shelly and Kathy Gurson...Born May 2, 1992 in Park Ridge, Ill...Full name is Gordon Jay Gurson...Has a brother, Sam, 20, and a sister, Becky, 16...Also has a dog named Jenny...Participated in G.I.V.E. community service program in high school.

Martin Hunter - GK - Newcastle upon Tyne, England/St. Thomas More RC HS/City of Sunderland College/Sunderland AFC U18

Played club soccer for Sunderland AFC U18 squad...Team was twice winners of Premier Academy League...Coached at club level by Kevin Ball...Played soccer at the school level for St. Thomas More RC High School in North Shields, North Tyneside, England...Coached at high school level by Alex Burnett...Holds school record for lowest goals conceded in a single season...Also played for first teams for badminton and cricket teams and ran track in high school...Parents are Brian and Judy...Born September 16, 1990 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England...Enjoys socializing with family and friends, listening to music, going to the gym and playing a varied amount of sports.

Jamal Keene - MF - Atlanta, Ga./Hiram High School/Cobb Futbol Club

Competed at the club level for Cobb Futbol Club...Coached at club level by Steve Gummer...Helped club team win 2005 Dallas Cup...Club team finished tied for seventh in final USYSA U-17 National League standings...Selected to Georgia Olympic Development Program, as well as Region III pool...Attended high school at The Walker School in Marietta, Ga., and Hiram High School in Hiram, Ga...Won Georgia State Championship in 2008 with The Walker School...Lettered four seasons in soccer...Tallied 16 goals and eight assists as a junior...Coached in high school by Gary Blohm...Named Rookie of the Year during first high school season at The Walker School in 2007...Parents are Karlene and Trevor Keene...Born June 22, 1992 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Bennett "B.J." Williams - D - Flora, Miss./Madison Central High School/Chicago Fire Jr of Mississippi

Competed at club level for Chicago Fire Juniors of Mississippi...Coached at club level by Steve Decou...Part of Mississippi Olympic Development Program...Competed at high school level for Madison Central High School...Also member of track team in high school...Coached in soccer by Jay Harrison...Named all-state as a junior...Had 20 goals and eight assists for Madison Central...Team went 16-1-1 in 2009...Parents are Bennett and Velesha Williams...Born November 26, 1991 in Texarkana, Texas...Enjoys poetry.