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Miles announces spring additions to Rams' basketball squad Franklin, Ba and Perry Jr. commit
April 22, 2008
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Travis Franklin, Harvey Perry Jr. and Mame Bocar Ba have signed National Letters of Intent to play college basketball at Colorado State, Head Coach Tim Miles announced Tuesday. All three student-athletes will be eligible to begin competition for the Rams in the fall of 2008. "Overall, the addition of these three players will be a great help in improving our overall talent, athleticism and depth of our program," said Miles. "We expect these players to have an immediate impact on our team and in the Mountain West Conference. Not only are these guys talented on the floor but good guys off the floor, high talent and high character." Franklin, originally from Baton Rouge, La., joins the Rams after redshirting one season at Colby Community College. The 6-foot-7 sophomore began his colligate career at Shelton State before transferring to CCC. He averaged 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds a game for the Buccaneers. Franklin was a 2006 District 7-4A first-team selection for Broadmoor High School. In high school, he averaged 18 points and six rebounds per game. Franklin will have three years of eligibility for the Rams. "Travis is definitely an under-the-radar player," said Miles. "Travis is an excellent athlete and a versatile player who can play either forward position. Travis is tough around the rim and rebounds well on both ends. We get Travis as a sophomore which is a bonus when it comes to player development." Harvey Jr. and Ba both come to the Rams after playing for the College of Southern Idaho, the winningest junior college program in NJCAA. "They have been well-coached, as Barret Peery and his staff, including Steve Gosar, run a world-class program," Miles said of the school in Twin Falls, Idaho. "They win and they win the right way. This season CSI was 30-2 and ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA at the conclusion of the regular season."
Ba, a 6-foot-9 forward, hails from Dakar, Senegal, and was a key player for the No.3 squad. Ba averaged 7.0 points per game and 6.0 rebounds. He finished the year as the Scenic West Athletic Conference's second leading rebounder and averaged 3.5 offensive rebounds per game. "Bocar is an emerging talent with great size," Miles said. "He is strong and athletic. His strengths are rebounding on both ends of the floor and playing with great energy. You will not out-work Bocar Ba. There is little doubt that with his work ethic, his best basketball is ahead of him." Perry Jr., a product of Cheyenne High School in Las Vegas, Nev., is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard. Out of high school, he was ranked No. 59 overall and No. 20 among scoring guards by Rivals.com. In addition he was No. 81 nationally in the FutureStars ratings and an honorable mention prep All-American selection by Street & Smith's magazine. He attended Brewster Academy before redshirting in his first year at the University of Washington after a back injury ended his season early. For the Huskies last season Perry Jr. played in six games, averaging 8.8 minutes and scoring 2.8 points per game. He also had 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game before leaving the team in December. Perry Jr. then transferred to CSI, where he averaged 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds last season. "Harvey brings great athleticism to the Rams," Miles said. "He also brings a great deal of versatility on both ends of the floor. He can slash to the basket, defends well, and he is an excellent rebounder from the wing spot. At a minimum, I believe he will be one of the better defenders in the league." The trio will be joined by Jesse Carr, a 6-foot-2 guard from Ainsworth, Neb., who signed in the fall who is a two-time Nebraska all-state team member. Division I transfers Dan Vandervieren and Andy Ogide, who sat out last per NCAA regulations, become eligible as sophomores this fall. |
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