web Charlotte

May 11, 2009

Halton Arena - Charlotte 49ers head coach Bobby Lutz has announced the signing of 6-9 forward Gokhan Sirin (Istanbul, Turkey/St. Mary's Ryken) to a National Letter of Intent and Grant-In Aid Scholarship to play basketball for the 49ers in 2009-10.

Sirin, a gifted perimeter shooter, averaged 17 points and seven rebounds in his one season at St. Mary's Ryken High in Leonardtown, Md. He shot 42% from three-point range and 87% from the line. An exchange student, Sirin spent just one year in the states playing high school ball. He will return to Turkey this summer where he hopes to make the Turkish National team.

"We are thrilled to add Gokhan to the 49er family," said Lutz, who has addressed two key issues with the spring signing period: point guard depth and outside shooting. "Despite his height, he is a true combination forward with excellent perimeter skills. As he adds strength to his exceptional skill level, Gokhan has a chance to be a very special player."

Sirin is an athletic 6-9, 204 lb. forward who led the prestigious Washington Catholic Athletic Conference with 2.1 three-pointers per game. The WCAC is considered the top league in the country and at one point this season had five teams ranked in the nation's top 25. Sirin scored a season-high 27 points in a late-season victory over Archbishop Carroll, nailing five three-pointers and scored 20 against DeMatha in the team's first meeting in January. He knocked down four threes in scoring 21 points against Good Counsel.

"Gokhan is a tremendous shooter," said St. Mary's Ryken head coach Dave Tallman. "He brings to Charlotte a tough match-up for people because of his size. He can shoot the lights out. He's very excited about Charlotte. Coach (Rob) Moxley did an excellent job recruiting him."

A second-team all-WCAC selection, Sirin chose Charlotte over Georgetown, South Florida, Duquesne and Loyola (Md.). He is the second spring signing for the 49ers, who added 6-0 combo guard Derrio Green in April. Green, a junior college transfer who will have three years of eligibility remaining, gives the 49ers another option at point guard along with excellent perimter shooting. Sirin adds to the 49ers perimeter game but also has the size to battle inside.

In the fall signing period, the 49ers bolstered their frontcourt with the signing of top 75 prospect Chris Braswell, a 6-8 power forward considered the Atlantic 10's top power forward recruit and 6-7 freshman K.J. Sherrill, an all-Charlotte Observer first team choice who averaged 20.5 points and 12.5 rebounds for coach Mike Gurley at West Rowan High.

That foursome joins a cast of newcomers that includes junior forward Shamari Spears, who averaged 9.1 points and 5.4 rebounds at Boston College and red-shirt freshman guard Shamarr Bowden, the 49ers leading scorer in a preseason tour of Canada before missing the season with injury.