Gainesville, FL – Santa Fe sophomore guard Roderick Emanuel (Orlando, FL) has signed with Middle Tennessee St. University (Murfreesboro, TN) to continue his education and playing career. Emanuel signed his letter of intent on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA signing period.
MTSU is coached by Kermit Davis who has a career record of 118-98 in seven years as the head coach. Last season, the Blue Raiders finished 18-14 overall and 10-8 in the Sun Belt Conference. Coach Davis believes that Emanuel’s size and versatility will help him make an impact.
“We wanted to sign a bigger guard who can play both positions and Rod can do that. He is 6-3, long and athletic and he has made unbelievable improvements at Santa Fe,” Davis said.
As a freshman, Emanuel was named the Mid-Florida Conference Freshman of the Year, First Team MFC, First Team FCCAA All-State and led the Saints in scoring with 11.1 ppg.
In his sophomore season he averaged 15.7 ppg and was again named First Team MFC and First Team FCCAA All-State while shooting 40.4% from the three point line.
SFC Head Coach Chris Mowry said that MTSU is getting a player that will have an impact both as a player and off the court.
“Rod is a great representative of the program on and off the court and in the classroom,” Mowry said. “He is someone Middle Tennessee will be very proud to have as a part of the program. On the court, he is an all-around guard. He doesn’t do just one thing well, he does everything well. He can beat people off the dribble. He is very unselfish and he doesn’t try to take over a game to get his points. If he catches it and is open he will take his shots but he doesn’t force things. On the defensive end he is a solid defender. He is a very good rebounder and that’s something a lot of guards don’t do well. He’s just very unselfish and very even keel.”
A recent visit to MTSU by Emanuel helped seal the deal for Coach Davis and the Blue Raiders.
“Middle Tennessee is a great place and I’m looking forward to my time there,” Emanuel said. “I like the coaching staff and the players. It’s a winning program and that’s important. I’m looking forward to building on what already has been done there. Coach Davis has always been fair and they were with me all along. I think they like my game and what I do on the court, but I believe they care about me and my future and that’s important.”