GAME PREVIEW | GAME NOTES | ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
 
CHATTANOOGA---The lifeblood of a basketball program is recruiting. The Chattanooga Mocs coaching staff is excited to announce guards Maurice Commander and Donovann Toatley signed National Letters of Intent this week joining the 2018-19 roster.
 
There was more than just on-the-court work that impressed Coach Lamont Paris during the process.
 
"We were able to spend the whole summer recruiting them," Paris opened. "Even a little before that, and got to know them as people and families. "Both are from incredible families that instilled very high character.
 
"We are extremely excited they both decided to continue their careers at Chattanooga"
 
Commander is a combo guard from Chicago completing his prep career at Curie Metro after being a teammate of current Moc freshman Justin Brown at Marist High School in 2016-17. Toatley plays the point in the D.C. area. Both come from extremely competitive leagues playing high-level games both in high school as well as AAU tournaments.
 
That competition level played a massive role in the attraction from the coaching perspective for Paris and his staff.
 
"It helps the process. They've played against very high-level competition, and they've had to fight for everything they've earned (in the game). They play with a chip on their shoulder...both of them are alike in that way.
 
"They have both been prepared well by the coaching they've received as well as the competition they play against."
 
In the end, it wasn't the competition that drew the Mocs staff's eye toward Commander and Toatley, it was the way each handled himself each time they hit the floor.
 
"Both are high-level competitors," Paris added. "I can't overstate that enough. When you compete at that high a level, it brings the expectation that they'll help our program immediately. Both are good ball-handlers and have good feel for the game with good skill.
 
"Above all that, they're both supremely competitive."
 
COMMANDER

• 6-0 combo guard who can play the 1 and the 2.
• Playing senior season for Mike Oliver at Curie Metro High School
• East Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year last year at Marist.
• IBCA All-State 4th team mention along with honorable mention All-Chicago.
• Tallied 13 points and three assists per game and had a tremendous summer with Young & Reckless AAU out of Chicago.

 
"Maurice Commander is one of the biggest recruiting steals out of the state of Illinois in the class of 2018. A scoring point guard, he's one of the top dozen prospects in Illinois who valued fit, relationships and comfort in the recruiting process." – Noted Illinois recruiting analyst Joe Henricksen
 
TOATLEY

• 5-9 point guard who led Riverdale Baptist to the Maryland Private School Championship in 2017.
• Tournament MVP honors scoring 24 points in the title game competing for Lou Wilson.
• Averaged 11 points, six assists and two steals per game as a junior leading to 2nd team All-Capital Beltway Athletic Association as well as All-Capital Beltway Athletic Association All-Defensive Team.
• Summer with DC Premier was eye-opening ranking as one of the DC area's top playmakers by prephoops.com and is the No. 8 PG in DC area per BigShots.net DMV Rankings while also listing as a DMVelite 80 Standout.

 
"Donovann is one of the hardest-working players we've had in our program. He excels in the classroom and on the court. He's one of the top guards in the DMV (DC-MD-VA) area. Chattanooga is getting a player that loves to compete." – Lou Wilson, Riverdale Baptist Head Coach
 
FINAL WORD
 "Great families. Donovann and Maurice epitomize what we like representing our program, our University and our city. They both hit it right on the money." – Lamont Paris
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday night's game is available online and on the radio. Here's the broadcast info with links available on the men's basketball schedule page:
 
Video Stream: Fans can watch the game via the Mountain West Digital Network. Click the MWDN link to watch Wyoming's broadcast on the Mountain West Digital Network.
 
Radio: There are several ways to listen to the game. "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds is over the airwaves on Real 96.1 FM in Chattanooga. Click the 96.1 FM link on the men's basketball schedule to listen online or use the iHeart (search Real 96.1 FM) and TuneIn (search Chattanooga Mocs) radio apps.
 
Live Stats: Access live stats on the men's basketball schedule page.
 
Social Media: Score updates and more on Twitter from @GoMocsMBB.
 
TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets are on sale – season, single-game and mini-plans – at all the usual places. To buy tickets, you can:
 

• Visit the Gate 1 Ticket Office at McKenzie Arena during business hours.
• Call the McKenzie Arena Ticket Office at (423) 266-MOCS (6627) during business hours.
• Go online via GoMocs.com: Season | Single-Game | Mini-Plan
• Group tickets are available by calling (423) 425-5470 or emailing Barry Kamen or Allison Callari.

 
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.