April 17, 2008

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head men's basketball coach Larry Hunter today announced the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) to play for the Catamounts next season. Greg Avery (Newark, Ohio/Newark HS), Antoine Childs (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk HS), Adrian Gailliard (Sewell, N.J./Lackawanna College), Joey Parker (Centralia, Ill./Southwestern Illinois) and Kendall Russell (Chicago, Ill./Cloud County CC) each inked NLI's on Thursday to wear the Purple and Gold next season.

Western signed two out of high school with three junior college transfers to bring its incoming class for next season to seven, including Keaton Cole (Toronto, Ontario) and Harouna Mutombo (Pickering, Ontario).

"We are very excited about the young men we have signed this spring," said Hunter, who enters his fourth-year at the helm of the WCU program. "Our goals were to add talent and depth across the board at every position to compliment the existing players in the program."

"Without question we need to be a more talented, athletic, physical, and deeper basketball team. We think this group of signees, combined with our two from the fall in Keaton Cole and Harouna Mutombo, helps us accomplish these goals," Hunter added. "I am as excited about the quality of people we are signing as I am about their basketball talents, which are significant. My staff and our returning players did a terrific job in helping recruit these young men to our University and basketball program."

Greg Avery
Guard, 6-4, 170 lbs.
Newark, Ohio (Newark HS)

Prior to Western: An all-around, fundamentally strong backcourt player who knows how to score, was a three-year starter at Newark HS and head coach Jeff Quackenbush ... Named third team All-Ohio and first team all-district as a senior, averaging 18.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game to help lead his squad to a 24-4 overall record and a Division I state championship, tallying a career-best 33 points in the title game to earn the Columbus Dispatch Player of the Week accolades ... Led his team in scoring 22 times last season ... Was named ThisWeek's Community Newspaper 2008 Player of the Year becoming the only player to repeat with the yearly honor ... As a junior, helped the Wildcats go 23-2 and advance to the Division I regional finals before bowing out to eventual state champion, Cincinnati Moeller ... Became the sixth Newark High player to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau, finishing with 1,131 points as a prep.

"Greg loves to compete and can impact the game in many different ways," said Hunter. "He is an exceptional rebounder for a guard, and a tenacious defender. He will also make others better with his ball skills and passing ability."

Antoine Childs
Guard/Forward, 6-6, 205 lbs.
Beaver Falls, Pa. (Blackhawk HS)

Prior to Western: A very talented perimeter player who also has the size and comfort level to mix it up at the basket ... Named to the Pennsylvania Class AAA first-team All-State as a senior after averaging 20.6 points per game in leading Blackhawk HS to the WPIAL Class AAA championship under head coach Andy Hedrick ... Scored a career-high 48 points, with 19 rebounds and an 18-for-22 showing from the free throw line in a single-game last year ... Named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Section II and Boy's Prep Fab Five, as well as garnering the publication's Player of the Year honor.

"Antoine knows how to score off the bounce from all over the court," Hunter commented. "He will provide us someone with excellent skills, length and athleticism."

Adrian Gailliard
Forward, 6-7, 220 lbs., Jr.
Sewell, N.J. (Washington Township HS / Lackawanna College)

Prior to Western: A long, active forward post that can block shots and rebound ... Ranked third on the team with an average of 10.6 points per game, while also pulling down 8.3 rebounds per contest as a sophomore last year at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. ... Played for head coach Rick Cabrera ... In his freshman season averaged just under eight points per game with 5.7 rebounds per game. High School: As a senior, helped lead his squad to a 21-7 record - the most wins in the program's history in a decade - and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs ... Was the top free throw shooter in the South Jersey region as a senior back in 2006 ...

"Adrian adds talent and depth to our front court positions," said Hunter. "He has size, length and strength and is comfortable banging inside, but also has the skills to play facing the basket."

Joey Parker
Guard, 6-1, 195 lbs., Jr.
Centralia, Ill. (Carbondale HS / Southwestern Illinois College)

Prior to Western: A tough, strong junior college transfer with outstanding court vision and passing skills ... Was a two-time, All-Region 24 and All-Great Rivers Athletic Conference selection in his two seasons at Southwestern Illinois under head coach Jay Harrington ... the left-handed point guard ranked second in the nation among the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in assists per game, dishing out an average of 9.5 per game last year at Southwestern Illinois ... Averaged 9.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last season, helping guide the Blue Storm to the 2008 Region XXIV Championship game ... As a freshman, averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. High School: Played both at Centralia High and Carbondale High, finishing his prep career at the latter ... Earned All-South Seven Conference honors for both schools.

"Joey brings a lot of playing experience, maturity and basketball knowledge to the point guard position for us," said Hunter. "He has a firm understanding of how to control a game from the point and brings the ability and leadership to run a team."

Kendall Russell
Forward, 6-6, 195 lbs., Jr.
Chicago, Ill. (Von Steuben HS / Cloud County CC)

Prior to Western: A athletic, combo-post player who finishes around the basket that played two seasons at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas, for head coach Kevin Muff ... Averaged 11.1 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds, while shooting 56% from floor last season ... Was an honorable mention on the All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) ... As a freshman, averaged 4.5 points on 61-percent shooting while pulling down an average of three boards per contest for a squad that finished 23-10 ... Played AAU basketball with the Chicago Demons.

"Kendall provides us with a versatile four-man with athleticism who takes pride in defending and rebounding," said Hunter. "He is an extremely good finisher and adds maturity, experience and basketball savvy to team."