May 5, 2009

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The local talent continues to roll in for Head Coach Burt Paddock and the Davenport University Men's Basketball team as they recently signed West Catholic standout Max Prendergast to a National Letter of Intent. Max joins a Panthers team that set a school record with 20 wins this past season.

The signing of Prendergast along with the early commitment from Gabe Vanderjagt of Rockford gives Davenport a solid one-two punch at the guard and post positions from Grand Rapids. Max comes to DU from West Catholic where he averaged a double-double his senior year by posting 15 points and 11 rebounds every night.

Prendergast earned All-Conference (OK-Blue) 1st Team honors as well as being named to the Advance All-Area Team. Coach Paddock believes Max has tremendous upside and stated "Max has incredible potential! He is a legitimate 6'9 with a huge wing span and is able to change ends extremely fast, and very unusual for a big man is his ability to be a great passer. He possesses a great deal of qualities you simply cannot teach. I know our staff is very excited to work with Max and get him use to life with his back to the basket."

The Davenport Men's team is coming off their best season in school history under the first year guidance of Coach Paddock as they finished the season with an overall mark of 20-11 and claimed the second position in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC).

Max's family is no stranger when it comes to strong athletic backgrounds as Paddock added "Max comes from a very athletically inclined family. His father Jim was a former Michigan State football player before transferring to GVSU to finish his career. We are very excited to add Max and his family to our growing basketball program!"

Prendergast is the son of Jim and Sue Prendergast and has not decided on a major at this point.