Spartan Men's Hoops Signs Palkert
11/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2008
Spartanburg, S.C. - USC Upstate head men's basketball coach Eddie Payne announces the signing of Excelsior, Minn., native Caleb Palkert to a national letter of intent to begin play for the Spartans in 2009-10.
"Caleb is a 6-8 youngster with length and skill," said Payne. "As he grows into his body, we expect him to become a good player in our program."
Palkert (F, 6-8, 190, Excelsior, Minn.) is a senior at Southwest Christian High School and is set to begin his final prep season on Dec. 6. He is in his second year as a letterman and starter after being moved to the Stars' varsity squad as a sophomore. After serving as a reserve player as a sophomore and averaging 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game, he had a breakout year last season as a junior with the Stars. He was the team leader, averaging a double-double with 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in leading Southwest Christian to a 17-11 record. He led the Stars to a second-place finish in the Minnesota Christian Athletic Association with an 8-2 record during the regular season. He finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals to lead Southwest Christian to a 45-42 victory over Maranatha in the championship game of the conference tournament, securing the Stars' first-ever conference tournament championship in school history. Prior to last season, Southwest Christian's best finish in the conference tournament was third place. Maranatha entered the game undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the state in Class A. The Stars advanced to the sub-sectional finals before losing to Maranatha to end the season. In two years with the Stars on the varsity squad, Palkert's Stars have tallied a 36-20 record.
Palkert was a First Team All-Conference selection after leading the league with 4.6 blocked shots per game, nearly a full three blocks better than his closest competitor. He also ranked second in the league in rebounding. In addition, he averaged 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 53.8 percent from the field, connecting on 183-of-340 attempts from the field. Despite his 6-8 frame, he also showed the ability to step outside the three-point arc, converting on 29-of-74 attempts, 39.2 percent, from downtown. He scored in double figures in 23 of the 27 games Southwest Christian played last season, and topped the 20-point mark on nine occasions. He scored a career-high 30 points to go along with 19 rebounds and five blocked shots in leading the Stars to a 77-53 win over Heritage Christian High School on Jan. 5 of last season.
Palkert owns the single-season school record for blocks in a season with 49 last year. He has also moved into third place all-time with 57 career blocks, 18 shy of the top spot. He owns the top five single-game school marks for blocks, swatting a school-best eight against Lester Prairie on Jan. 3 last season. The 19 rebounds he grabbed against Heritage on Jan. 5 is the second-highest single-game total in school history.
Palkert joins Miami Dade College's Sharod Minus as signees for the men's basketball program during the early signing period. Minus is a 6-2 combination guard originally from Douglasville, Ga.
