DETROIT-- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team announced a pair of signees to National Letters of Intent during the first day of the Spring signing period Wednesday. The Titans welcome Gabriel Dos Santos (Sarasota, Fla./Impact Basketball Academy) and Jermaine Lippert (Munich, Germany/Sheridan College) to the roster and both players will enroll in the Fall and continue their athletic careers in the 2012-13 season.
"We're excited about the guys joining our team," Detroit Head Coach Ray McCallum said. "They add to a championship team we already have. The future looks bright."
Dos Santos hails from Sarasota, Fla. and attended Coral Springs High School before heading to Impact Academy for his final prep campaign. The 6-foot-4 guard is a native of Brazil but has adjusted to the American style of play well as a versatile back court talent that can play either guard spot. He can shoot the three, create off the drive and distribute He poured in 18 points per contest at Impact Academy.
Dos Santos was an All-County selection as a senior at Coral Springs before enrolling at Impact Academy this past fall. He was listed on the "Top 125" in the Hoop Scoop Online list of Florida prospects as a senior.
"He's an all-around skilled guard," McCallum said of Dos Santos' game.
Lippert, at 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, will immediately help fill a void in the Titan frontcourt left by graduating seniors Eli Holman and LaMarcus Lowe. A native of Munich, Germany, Lippert will transfer to UDM from Sheridan College (Wyo.). In two seasons with the Generals, Lippert averaged 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, helping them to the NJCAA Region 9 championship game in his freshman season.
As a prep, Lippert played for FC Bayern Muenchen where he averaged 23 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game in leading them to a quarterfinals appearance in their post-season play. In 2009-10, he played with MTSV Schwabing where he continued to put up great numbers averaging 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game.
"Jermaine is a big that's skilled," McCallum noted about Lippert. "He can shoot the three and can go inside and outside."
The pair join two other fall signees, Brent Calhoun (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) and Akinyemi Solanke (Lagos, Nigeria/Arkansas Baptist JC). Detroit returns six letterwinners, including getting senior forward Nick Minnerath back from injury with transfer Juwan Howard, Jr. eligible for competition in 2012-13. First Team All-Horizon honoree Ray McCallum, senior Jason Calliste and sophomore P.J. Boutte all return to make-up a formidable back court. Senior starting forward Doug Anderson and junior Evan Bruinsma provide a solid frontcourt nucleus in what promises to be an exciting season at Calihan Hall.
The Titans finished this past season 22-14 overall, winning the Horizon League postseason tournament for its first league title and NCAA Tournament berth since 1999.
