san diego signeees

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Around WCC: U. Of San Diego Signs
Three Players To NLI's--(Nov. 20, 2002)

Yesterday, the University of San Diego announced the signings of three players to National Letters of Intent, and also announced the addition of another transfer player who is currently at the school and sitting out the season as required under NCAA rules. The three new players are a Senegalese high schooler, Abdoulaye N'Diaye (6'-9" Sr. F) who is attending high school in the this country now in Louisville, Kentucky, and the other two are JUCO transfers: Michael Hubbard (6'-4" So. G) who is currently at Fullerton JC, and Brandon Gay (6'-8" So. F) from Missouri City, Texas. The fourth player, Brett Melton (6'-5" So. G) is a transfer from Illinois who is, as we noted, sitting out this season. Here's the press release:

USD MEN'S BASKETBALL EXCITED ABOUT EARLY SIGNEES

USD men's basketball coach Brad Holland and his staff are excited about the three student-athletes they recently signed to letters of intent to attend USD for the 2003-2004 campaign. It has been the goal of the men's basketball program to get more athletic, and the Torero coaching staff believes they have done that with this trio.

Stated head coach Brad Holland, "Our number one goal in recruiting is to get more athletic, and I feel very good about that with this incoming group. In regards to athleticism, quickness, jumping ability - I think we've helped our program in all those areas."

The three signees are 6'9", 220 lb. forward Abdoulaye N'Diaye (Dakar, Sengal); 6'8", 215 lb. Brandon Gay (Missouri City, TX - near Houston), and 6'4" guard Michael Hubbard (Bellflower, CA).

N'Diaye is currently playing his first year of basketball in the United States at Moore High School in Louisville, Kentucky. The 6'9" N'Diaye is a very athletic, raw talent who Holland says 'will be a very good player for us.' He already is one of the top rated high school players in the Louisville area.

The 6'8" Gay began his collegiate career at Southern Mississippi where he played the 2001-2002 campaign, but he transferred out and is currently playing for Seward Community College in Liberal, Kansas. Through the team's first three games this season he is averaging 16.0 points per game and 11.0 rebounds. Added Holland, "Brandon's ability to play with his back to the basket, or to shoot from the outside, makes him a candidate to replace the opening that will be created from Jason Blair graduating."

Hubbard is currently enrolled at Fullerton Junior College and will have three years of eligibility with the Toreros. From Bellflower, California (Long Beach area), he averaged 24.0 points per game during his senior year at Bellflower High School. Stated Holland, "We're excited that we'll have Michael in our program for three years."

This trio will also be joined by 6'5" junior shooting guard Brett Melton (Mahomet, IL) who is sitting out this season at USD after transferring from the University of Illinois. The past two seasons Melton was part of the Illinois squad that won two Big 10 Championships, and advanced to the Elite 8 ('00-01) and Sweet Sixteen ('01-02). Adds Holland, "Brett can flat shoot it. Every shot that leaves his hand looks like it will go in."

The Toreros, with two exhibition wins under their belt, open up their 2002-03 scheduled this coming Saturday, November 23rd, when they host the University of Nevada in a 3:00 p.m. contest at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.