Corey Hilliard
Basketball is a passion for junior transfer Corey Hillard, who played high school ball at Raytown South High School in his hometown of Kansas City, Mo. He was ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the state of Missouri following his senior season, and decided to attend the University of Nebraska–Lincoln 2011-12. In the 2011-12 season, he amassed a total of nine points and five rebounds while averaging 4.3 minutes per game.
However, a groin injury sustained on Feb. 18, 2012 against Illinois would cause him to be sidelined for the next five games, despite having played in the last few minutes of the team’s previous games. Following his recovery, he then transferred to Midland College in Midland, Texas, where he would play out his sophomore year. At Midland, Hilliard would go on to average 8.0 points, playing approximately 18 minutes per game, and ultimately helping the Chaparrals on their way to an overall record of 19-8 for the 2012-13 season. Following the season, he transferred to USF for the current season as a junior, and will be able to play right away.
Kruize Pinkins
Kruize Pinkins, a 6-foot-7-inch junior transfer from Marianna, Fla. is no stranger to college basketball. Following his time at Marianna High School, where he maintained averages of 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, He went on to play for the Chipola College Indians in his hometown.
It was there that he would earn first team All-Panhandle League honors after averaging 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds as a sophomore; an increase from 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds as a freshman. His season-high in scoring was 26 points during the 2012-13 season, and his scoring and rebounding helped the team achieve a 26-5 overall record, and an 8-4 mark in the Panhandle Conference. As a junior at USF, Pinkins now has the chance to be a centerpiece on this Dons team, as he is eligible to play in the 2013-14 season.
Derrell Robertson
The 6-foot-10-inch, 247-pound center is a junior transfer who played the last two seasons at
DePaul University, and will not be eligible to play with the Dons until the 2014-15 season.At Mendenhall High School in Mississippi, he averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks per game as a senior, leading him to be amongst the top 10 high school prospects in the state.
The Pinola, Miss. native played in 61 games over the last two seasons with DePaul. As a freshman in the 2011-12 season, Robertson played in 29 games, averaged 1.9 points and 2.6 rebounds a game, and notably blocked a career-high five shots against Chicago State on Dec. 10.
As a sophomore, Robertson played in all 32 games for the Blue Demons, averaging 13.0 minutes, 0.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. He also scored a career-high eight points against Arizona State on Dec. 12 and pulled down a career-best seven rebounds against UC Riverside on Nov. 9.
As of 2014-2015, Robertson will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Uche Ofoegbu
Uche Ofoegbu, a 6-foot-4-inch, 200-pound sophomore forward who played last season at Southern Methodist University, will be eligible for the 2014-15 season.The San Antonio, Texas native attended John Paul Stevens High School and was a first team 5A All-State selection after he averaged 21 points per game as a senior. In his junior year, he averaged 19.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals and shot 53 percent from the floor. While at Southern Methodist University, he was in 27 games and totaled 16 points, 40 rebounds, eight assists and six steals in 210 minutes of action for the Mustangs. He also scored a season-high four points on three occasions: at Tulsa, at Houston and vs. Alcorn State.
Head coach Rex Walters spoke of Ofoegbu’s transfer positively.
“He brings great size, skill and athleticism to the wing position and I feel his best basketball is ahead of him,” Walters told USFDons.com. “Although he has to sit out this season, he will be a big contributor in our practice sessions this season as he gets ready for the 2014-15.”
