Dartez, Dean, Garcia Sign with Basketball Cards
November 21, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2001
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kendall Dartez, a 6-10, 220-pound center/forward from Vincennes (Ind.) College, Taquan Dean, a 6-2, 175-pound guard from Neptune (N.J.) High School, and Francisco Garcia, a 6-7, 210-pound forward from the Winchendon (Mass.) School, have each signed a national letter-of-intent to continue their basketball playing careers at the University of Louisville.
Five games into his sophomore season at Vincennes College, Dartez is currently averaging 14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and three blocked shots for 5-0 Vincennes. He is shooting 50 percent from the field, including hitting 4-of-8 three-point attempts, and 69 percent from the free throw line.
Dean averaged 16.3 points, 5.1 assists and five rebounds as a junior, leading Neptune to a 22-7 record and its second straight Central Jersey Group III championship, falling in the state semifinals to Camden High School.
Garcia averaged 24 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists as a junior at Cheshire (Conn.) Academy. He will play his senior season at the Winchendon (Mass.) School.
"Kendall is very skilled for his size," said U of L Men's Basketball Coach Rick Pitino. "He shoots it well, is a good shot blocker and really runs the floor. With a real need for front line players, we look for him to make an immediate impact."
"Taquan is a great shooter that gives us some versatility." said Pitino. "He's a very heady player who can play either guard spot. We need his ability to shoot the three and he can also provide some depth at point guard."
"Francisco is a very explosive offensive player," said Pitino. "He is a very good three-point shooter, puts it on the floor well and can run all day."
Kendall Dartez
Last season on a talented Lee College team in Baytown, Texas, Dartez averaged nine points and 5.3 rebounds.
As a high school senior at Cecilia (La.) High School, Dartez was rated the No. 2 center in the nation by The Sporting News behind only Zach Randolph. He was fifth among centers by Recruiting USA. He was an all-tournament selection at the adidas BIG TIME Tournament in Las Vegas in 1999, when he and current Duke guard Chris Duhon paced their team to the tournament championship.
Dartez played on a junior college all-star team in the Confederation of Pan American Basketball Associations Tournament of the Americas in Argentina last summer.
Dartez narrowed his collegiate choices to Connecticut, LSU, Miami (Fla.) and Houston before signing with the Cardinals.
Taquan Dean
Taquan (pronounced TY-kwan) Dean hit 68 three-point goals last season. He is ranked among the nation's top recruits including No. 51 by The Sporting News, 60 by ESPN, 62 by CNN/SI, and No. 63 by the Hoop Scoop.
He was an all-tournament selection at the adidas BIG TIME Tournament in Las Vegas, where he scored 20 points in the championship game to lead the Long Island Panthers to the tournament title. That team also won the Three Stripes Best of the Best Tournament in Long Island, N.Y. and the adidas Best of Summer Tournament in Los Angeles.
A third team all-state pick last season, Dean was selected as a member of the USA Basketball Youth Developmental Festival team. He played his freshman year at Red Bank before tranferring to Neptune.
Dean also considered Florida, Maryland, Seton Hall and Rutgers before signing with the Cardinals.
Francisco Garcia
Garcia is rated among the nation's top high school products. He is ranked 20th by ESPN (fourth among small forwards) among the top 100 rising seniors, No. 23 by CNN/SI among the top 35 seniors, and No. 37 by The Sporting News (eighth among small forwards).
He was rated the No. 1 wing prospect at the ABCD camp last summer by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. A native of the Dominican Republic, he was an all-tournament selection at the adidas BIG TIME Tournament in Las Vegas.
Garcia also considered Miami (Fla.), Maryland and Villanova before choosing to attend Louisville.
