Cardinal Inks Top-25 Class

STANFORD, Calif.- Stanford's Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men's Basketball Johnny Dawkins has announced the signing of three incoming student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The group will join the Cardinal for the 2015-16 campaign.

The class, which is ranked No. 22 by Rivals.com, includes Josh Sharma (Lexington, Mass.), Marcus Sheffield (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Cameron Walker (Santa Maria, Calif.). All three signees are projected as top-100 players and four-star recruits.

"This recruiting class was an important one to fill our needs and complement our current freshman class,” explained Dawkins. “We believe that we have achieved that with the three young men who have signed with our program. They are probably the three most athletic players in this class that could have been admitted to our incredible institution. They all have amazing potential, coming from great schools, coaches and, of course, families. We look forward to developing them to their fullest both as players and people here at Stanford."

Josh Sharma
• 7-0, 210-pound center
• Attends Northfield (Mass.) Mount Hermon School in Gill, Mass.
• Recognized as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com (No. 83 overall) and ESPN.com (No. 75 overall), which also places him as the nation’s 13th-ranked center
• As a junior, averaged 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 34 games for the Hoggers
• Member of the Mass Rivals AAU program and also toured the Adidas circuit
• Guided team to conference semifinals and national prep semifinals
• Parents are Jayant Sharma and Henrietta Cooper

• Sharma says: “Stanford has everything that I’m looking for both academically and athletically. I decided that attending Stanford would give me the best opportunity to reach my goals. The atmosphere combined with the attitude of the players and coaches was just all really positive. I felt very comfortable with everything right away.”
• Dawkins says: "We have been following Josh's progress for a long time, especially upon his arrival at Northfield Mount Hermon. As of right now, he can run and jump with any player in the country. Josh started playing later, and we believe he can make tremendous growth still as a result with added strength and development."

Marcus Sheffield
• 6-5, 180-pound shooting guard/wing
• Attends Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek, Ga.
• As a junior, averaged 28.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 4.0 apg for the Cougars, who placed third in their region • Rated a four-star recruit by Scout.com, which has him tabbed No. 89 overall and the country’s 17th-ranked small forward
• Checks in at No. 102 overall by Rivals.com
• Named Region Player of the Year as a junior
• During freshman year, helped lead team to Elite 8 of state tournament
• Three-year varsity letterwinner
• Member of the Game Elite AAU squad
• Parents are Marcus Sr. and Ava Sheffield

• Sheffield says: “Stanford is the best blend of academics and athletics. During my visit, I was able to see just how motivated the guys are both in school and basketball, and that made me want to be a part of the program. I have a great relationship with the coaches and became comfortable with them early in my recruitment. I’m looking forward to making the move to the West Coast and starting a new chapter in my life.”
• Dawkins says: "Marcus was our first commit in this class, which meant a lot. Coming from the East Coast, Marcus and his family really valued the opportunity at Stanford both on and off the court. Marcus is a long, athletic wing who can score everywhere on the court. He also has the chance to be an elite defender."

Cameron Walker
• 6-7, 200-pound small forward/wing
• Attends Righetti High School in Santa Maria, Calif.
• As a junior, averaged 23.0 ppg and 12.0 rpg for the Warriors while earning first team all-league honors
• Tabbed a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and ranked No. 71 overall
• According to Scout.com, Walker also is receiving status as a four-star recruit and the nation’s 23rd-ranked player at his position
• Named team MVP as a sophomore and co-MVP of the Pac-7 conference
• During his freshman year, guided squad to runner-up CIF Championship finish
• Participates with the Compton Magic AAU program
• Parents are Eric and Patricia Walker

• Walker says: “I have great respect for the coaching staff and that was a big reason for my decision to choose Stanford. The campus is beautiful and the education is second to none, so I felt like this was the best fit for me. Being able to stay on the West Coast was a huge factor and hopefully convenient in that my parents can come to some games. I was able to meet all the guys on my visit and they seemed very polite, which made me feel comfortable. I’m definitely looking forward to next year.”
• Dawkins says: “We have recruited Cameron and his family longer than anybody since I started coaching here. Therefore, it was very rewarding to see his commitment come to fruition. He is also a talented wing who is long and athletic. Cameron can be a playmaker all over the court. We are excited to start working more with Cameron and the entire class."