Toppers Sign Junior College Standout Sergio Kerusch
WKU basketball coach Ken McDonald recently announced the signing of his second recruit in the spring signing period. Sergio Kerusch, a 6' 5" 215-pound forward/guard from Itawamba Community College (Miss.) will join previous signee Anthony Salley as the newest players to join the Hilltopper program.
Kerusch averaged 18.9 points and 9 rebounds per game as a freshman last season at Itawamba and will have three years of eligibility remaining at WKU. The Memphis, TN. native led his team to a 30-4 record that included a berth in the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament. Itawamba also finished the regular season ranked fifth nationally in the final rankings and won their first state title in 46 years. For his efforts on the season Kerusch was also selected to the all-region team.
“Sergio is a multiple-position player that brings incredible energy to our basketball team. His enthusiasm is contagious — he’s fearless and loves to rebound the basketball,” McDonald said. “He had a great year with one of the top junior-college programs in the country. Sergio is coming from a well-coached system, so I think that he will make a seamless transition to the Division I level."
As a high school senior at Overton High Schoo in Memphis,, Kerusch earned all-district honors after averaging 25 points and 12 rebounds per game while helping the Wolverines to a 22-10 finish. A four-year letterwinner, he also averaged 22 points and 14 boards per game as a junior.
Ken McDonald Named New Hilltopper Head Coach
University of Texas assistant coach Ken McDonald was officially named the 13th coach in Hilltopper history at a press conference Sunday afternoon in E.A. Diddle Arena.
“It’s an incredibly emotional time, because I’m really leaving one family, but I’m coming back to a family I already had,” McDonald said
The 38 year-old McDonald was previously an assistant at WKU under Dennis Felton from 1998-2003, a period which saw the Hilltoppers post a 100-54 mark, and advance to three straight NCAA Tournaments (2001-03). McDonald left WKU with Felton in 2003 and was a member of Felton's staff at the University of Georgia for one season in 2004 before leaving to accept the top assistant's position at Texas where he remained until accepting the WKU head coaching position.
“I had what I perceive to be an incredible job at Texas, so it was going to take a truly special situation for me to consider leaving,” McDonald stated. “I’ve been on different benches the last 14 years waiting for an opportunity like this. The two main reasons I’m here today are the leadership of [WKU President Dr.] Gary [Ransdell] and Wood and trust that they want to continue to grow the program, and I truly believe this is a job with no ceiling.”