July 29, 2008

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University's men's basketball Head Coach Mike Jarvis has received commitments from four players who will attend the university and play for the Owls in 2008-09. The recruits include a pair of the nation's top prep school guards, Alex Tucker (Redondo Beach, California), Shavar Richardson (Bronx, New York) and sharp-shooting high school standout Nick Gagel (Jeffersontown, Kentucky).

Richardson, a 6-foot-2-inch combo guard, averaged 17.6 points per game at New Creations Christian School in Richmond, Indiana last season. Originally from New York's Bishop Laughlin High School, Richardson helped New Creations prep go 41-9 and helped the Flyers win the 2008 Pennsylvania Prep School Invitational National Championship. A true two-guard and excellent shooter, Richardson also played point guard for a Flyers team that had five players average double-figures in scoring.

Speedy 6-foot point guard Alex Tucker, a product of Redondo Union High School, committed to FAU after attending Summit College Prep in Simi Valley, California, playing for Summit's elite prep program which is recognized as one of the best nationwide. Tucker was an All-CIF guard at Redondo Union, helping the Sea Hawks compile one of the best records in school history during his senior season in 2006-07.

Jarvis also has signed Nick Gagel, a 2008 graduate of Kentucky's Jeffersontown High School. Gagel had a phenomenal career at J'Town, playing a key role on the Chargers' state championship team of 2006. He finished his prep career with 1,277 points and set school records by making 210 three-point shots and shooting 49 percent from a three-point range as a three-year starter. Gagel averaged 15.8 points per game as a senior at J'Town, and the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches (KABC) named him its 2008 Region 7 Player of the Year. The Associated Press named Gagel to its Kentucky High School Boys' All-State basketball team, one of just 21 prep players in Kentucky to be recognized by the AP in 2008. Gagel's 16 points from the 2008 Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game also earned him game MVP honors.

Justin Davis (Jacksonville, Florida), a 6-foot-9-inch post player, will transfer to FAU after playing at Mercer University as a true freshman in 2007-08. Davis was a two-time team MVP at Episcopal High School in Jacksonville where he averaged 20 points per game and 11.6 rebounds as a senior. Davis totaled 10 blocks and 36 rebounds in 21 games at Mercer last season.

The FAU Ticket Office is located at FAU's Tom Oxley Center, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit www.FAUSPORTS.com.