Wildcat Recruiting: Center Neville Fincher Signs With Kansas State

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

K-State knew it was taking a hit in the middle with 6’11” and starting forward Jordan Henriquez exhausting his eligibility this year. It took another shot when Adrian Diaz abruptly announced his intention to transfer last week. Fortunately, the arrival of center Neville Fincher this fall should help ease the pain of losing both. Fincher officially inked his intention to come to Manhattan on Wednesday.

Fincher’s exact position is somewhere between forward and center, which could translate into success for Bruce Weber’s motion offense that emphasized ball movement over the ability to post up against defenses this year. Fincher is listed as a center, but stands at only 6’9″ and 220 pounds (by no means small, but he plays with the fluidity to be more than just a center). He comes to K-State after averaging 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks for national powerhouse Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA.

Fincher brings experience playing with and against elite competition which gives him a headstart in preparing for the rigors of the Big 12. At Hargrave he played with four other Division I signees at Hargrave Military Academy – Donte Clark (Virginia Tech), Anton Gill (Louisville), Greg McClinton (Wake Forest) and Terry Rozier (Louisville). His year there allowed him to develop after graduating from Teaneck High School in Teaneck, NJ in 2012. His final year he led the team to a 31-1 record and section championship.

Fincher joins Marcus Foster (Wichita Falls, Texas/Hirschi), Wesley Iwundu (Houston, Texas/Westfield) and Jevon Thomas (Queens, N.Y./St. John’s Northwest Military Academy) as part of the 2013 recruiting class. Because of the departure of Diaz and Michael Orris, the team still has two scholarship openings.

Fincher took to Twitter on Wednesday to express his emotions, and seems just as excited about coming to K-State as fans should be to have time.

And from his Instagram account: