Darren Ballou Signs With Morehead State University

Darren Ballou, the Adair County Indians' standout senior forward/center, has signed to play his college basketball at Morehead State University.
Ballou, the reigning 5th Region Player of the Year and a strong candidate for All-State honors this year, is the first Adair County basketball player to sign with a Division I program straight out of high school in many years.
The 6'7", 225 pound Ballou averaged 17.4 points and 9.3 rebounds a game last year, and enters his senior season with 1,435 career points, and has already established school records for rebounds with 818 and blocked shots with 203.
He has started every game since his freshman year, and during that time the Indians have posted a 71-23 record. Ballou and his teammates have won two straight 20th District titles, and earned a berth in the Kentucky State Tournament by winning the 5th Region in 2007, with Ballou being named the most valuable player of the tournament.
Morehead State head coach Donnie Tyndall said they are very happy to have Ballou join their program.
"First off, we think Darren is a fine young man from an outstanding family," Tyndall said in a telephone interview, "and we are very excited to add Darren to our program.
"We feel that with his size and skill level, once he adjusts to the speed level of Division I basketball, he will have an outstanding career at Morehead," the coach continued.
Tyndall said they expect Ballou to play the "Skilled 4-man" position in their line-up, playing both inside and popping out to shoot from outside.
"Darren has the size and strength to play at our level, and we feel he will be able to play right away," he noted. "If he continues to progress, he should have a good chance to start as a sophomore, and I can see him playing significant minutes next year as a freshman."
Ballou, who was recruited by a number of universities and colleges - including Western Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky as well as several out-of-state schools, said that he chose Morehead after making a visit this summer.
"I met all the group (the coaches and current players) this summer, and it seems like I'll be a good fit in their program," Ballou said after his signing ceremony Monday. "I'm very excited about playing for Morehead and Coach Tyndall."
He said another reason he chose Morehead is the fact that he wanted to stay in the state and play ball.
"I wanted to play my college ball in Kentucky, so my parents (Anthony and Anna Ballou) and other family members will have a chance to see me," he noted. "I also wanted to sign during the early signing period, so that I can concentrate just on playing ball my senior year."
Indians coach Mark Fudge said that he is very happy to see Ballou sign with a Division I program, and thinks he will have fine college career.
"Darren is a very good all-around player," Fudge noted. "He has great perimeter skills for a player his size, but he can also play inside. While he's going to receive a lot of attention from our opponents this season, I still expect him to have a great senior season.
"And, as good a basketball player as he is, he is even better as a person," he continued. "He's one of the top students in his class, and he's never had any type of discipline problem since he's been in school.
"Darren is the type of person you want in your program, whether it's in high school or in college." Photo:MOREHEAD BOUND. Adair County High School senior basketball standout Darren Ballou has signed to play his college ball at Morehead State University. Pictured with him as he signs the letter-of-intent are Indians coach Mark Fudge, sitting beside Ballou, parents Anthony and Anna Ballou and sister D.J. Ballou. (Photo by Paul B. Hayes)