MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University men's basketball coach Butch Estes announced the signing of a pair of Florida International University transfers for the 2013-14 season. Guards Deric Hill and Juan Ferrales will have two years remaining at Barry.
"It's unusual to get a backcourt to come to any school together at the same time," Estes said. "They've played together, and they know each other. That's an unusual circumstance that's to our benefit. They have a feel for each other. They're comfortable with each other."
Hill, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound point guard who played at South Miami High School, averaged 6.2 points per game, and led the Panthers in assists (105) and steals (75) as a sophomore last year. He started in 15 of the 32 games he played. He scored a career-high 16 points, sinking 10 of 11 free throws, and had six assists, four steals and four rebounds in a 61-57 Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinals victory over Middle Tennessee on March 10. Hill had eight assists against Florida A&M (Jan. 2) and Bethune-Cookman (Jan. 7) last season. He had seven steals against FAMU.
"Deric has exceptional speed and quickness," Estes said. "He's an outstanding defensive player. He has a tremendous sense of distribution with an ability to pass the ball at the right time to the right place. His presence at the guard position gives us depth at the guard position, which we desperately needed.
"Our tempo is going to be increased, and his ability fits in to the style we're going to play. He has potential to wreak havoc on offenses with his defensive tenacity and ability. He has separation speed and quickness."
Ferrales, a 6-2, 190 guard from Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage HS, averaged 3.8 points while shooting 38.3 percent from three-point range as a sophomore. He scored 12 points, and had three assists at Stetson (Dec. 9, 2012) in his one start during the season. Ferrales scored in double figures in three games, and shot 72.5 percent from the free throw line.
"I was aware of him in high school and chose not to recruit him, which was a terrible mistake," said Estes, who spent the past three seasons at Palm Beach State College. "Then he goes to FIU and surprises the world by not only making the team, but playing. He's just continued to improve.
"I think he's going to blossom here at Barry because he's finally going to find stability. He should be able to reach his comfort zone as a player, and be very productive."
Estes, a proponent of position-less basketball, believes Hill and Ferrales offer the Buccaneers flexibility.
"These two fit that mold," he said. "To be able to get two players of this ability, and to be able to get local players is the most I could've hoped for at this point in the game."