More On LeMelles Commitment
Ronnie LeMelle, a versatile 6-5, 201 pound swingman from Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, Okla., is a player who recently gave a commitment to Auburn University. Rivals' Auburn team site broke the story earlier this week.
Rivalshoops.com caught up with Western Oklahoma Head Coach Jerry Kassin, and he spoke about LeMelle's commitment to the Tiger program.
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Last season at Western Oklahoma, LeMelle averaged 18.5 points and six rebounds per game. He was one of the top freshmen in Region II, which features junior college programs from the states of Oklahoma and Arkansas.
"He's a pretty well rounded player," Kassin said. "He can score, rebound, handle the ball and defend."
A native of Harrisburg, Penn., LeMelle spent a postgraduate year at Philadelphia Christian Academy prior to enrolling at Western Oklahoma last fall. He was primarily recruited by low to mid major programs coming out of prep school.
Rivalshoops.com had the chance to watch LeMelle in action last March at the Region II Basketball Tournament in Shawnee, Okla. He is clearly a perimeter oriented player with a very good handle, but his lack of strength hurt him at times on his forays to the bucket.
Toward that end, Coach Kassin said that LeMelle has worked very hard in the weight room over the past year and has packed on between 15-20 pounds.
"He's really a fanatic about weight lifting," the coach said. "In fact, he's in the weight room right now."
Kassin expects LeMelle to sign with Auburn in November. Rivalshoops.com will catch catch him in action again in the coming months, and we will keep you posted on his play and development.