Welcome Andre...This is a good get!

[bulldogbrower]

We also have confirmed that 6'8 Andre Smith from North Dakota School of Science (JC) ND has signed with St. Bonaventure. At 6'8, 230 lbs., Smith will provide the Bonnies with the killer inside to complement all the other good players that they already have in this year's recruiting class, which currently checks in at #49 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date for the Class of 2005 and already includes 6'5 A.J. Hawkins from South Kent (Prep) CT, 6'10 Ivan Kevacevic from Olney Central (JC) IL, 6'10 Dave Fox from Mercyhurst North East (JC) PA, 6'7 Tyler Benson from Woodstock (Mananuetten Military Academy) VA, and 6'0 Terron Diggs from Tallahassee (JC) FL.


Jake Luhn
Director of Basketball Operations
St. Bonaventure University Men's Basketball
PO Box G
St Bonaventure, NY 14778


49. ST. BONAVENTURE (19 Points)..........6 Recruits..........3.2 Talent Rating Average Per Recruit..........Atlantic-10 Conference..........(4) Andre Smith, 6'8, PF, North Dakota School of Science (JC) ND; (3) A.J. Hawkins, 6'5, WF, South Kent (Prep) CT; (3) Ivan Kevacevic, 6'10, C, Olney Central (JC) IL; (3) Dave Fox, 6'10, C, Mercyhurst North East (JC) PA; (3) Tyler Benson, 6'7, WF, Woodstock (Massanutten Military Academy) VA; (3) Terron Diggs, 6'0, PG, Tallahassee (JC) FL.

[Copenhagen]

Awesome news....so it's official! this guy appears to be the real deal...even though Jamil Lott, Bombale Osby & Lex James were maybe bigger names...this guy should or could make just as big an impact....

great job by the coaching staff....congratulations to them!

we definetely have a reason to smile about the "Marching Forward" project, next step --- fall signing period for some high profile frosh & then some much needed victories!

[bartmitchell]

Wow !! Congratulations to the staff and to Andre. I really viewed him ( or Lex James ) as the missing piece of the puzzle for next year. No question, the staff has done a tremendous job. I think Andre starts at the 4 and frees Williams up to share time in the middle with Kovalcic (sp ?). If everybody currently on the roster makes it to suit-up in the fall we will have the horses to play with anyone in the A-10. O.K., one question: I thought the 'signing period' had ended, and that after the signing period you couldn't sign an L.O.I. ? Can someone enlighten me ? Thanks. Eagerly anticipating the start of next season now.

[mangham]

the late signing period ended 5/18. Players can sign but are not obligated to honor the commitment. Sol has done a tremendous job!

[Copenhagen]

The Coaching Staff left no stone unturned .....here is a list of some of the players we recruited or were mentioned as recruiting with their "hoopscoop" rating and future college:

-Mario Boggin 8-pts OkaSt
-Jamil Lott 8 Marquette
-Theo Davis 6 IowaSt
-Abdoulaye Ndiayne 8 SouthernCal
-Mohamed Kone 8 Baylor
-Abdul Herrera 3 Cinn
-Ryan Wright 8 UCLA
-Chris Lutz 4 Purdue
-Jerome Richardson 6 LaTech
-Andy Rautins 2 Syracuse
-Tomas Jasiulions 3 StJohns
-Chris Gadley 3 Hofstra
-Ben McCauley 3 NCSt
-Ryan Childress 2 Tenn
-David Jackson 3 PennSt
-Daniel Emerson 3 WestKy
-James Tchana 3 FresnoSt
-Ed Turner 3 LaLafy
-Andre Smyth 2 Cental Mich
-Joe Bova 2 Columbia
-David Neal 2 Maryland
-Cem Dinc 3 Buffalo
-Lex James 3 StFrancis
-David Dubois 2 Idaho

Are reviewing this list it confirms to me that the Coaching Staff really put in an amazing effort to get quality players in the face of a very tough situation.

[B02]

Dare we say that this team may be competitive next year? As in 10-12 wins and be in the majority of the games. I can only hope that this staff takes this recruiting momentum in the fall and upgrades the talent of this team even more (Lynch from NFHS?). We actually have a frontcourt, something we haven't had since the Cyrus/PVP years.

[Headpainter]

The A10 has taken notice. Congrats from Hawk Hill.

[wgt]

Totally agree with all the kudos for Coach Solomon and staff. Brower.... What is the source of your confirmation?
I'll feel a lot better when I hear official confirmation from Bona. I received this e-mail earlier today from GabeD from Junco Junction: "Andre visited SBU last week and I am pretty sure he'll go there. Just have to confirm it in the next two days."
Gabe
I hope your coming Andre. We need your inside game to rock the RC.

[FriendsofAN44]

Mr. Brower, where is your first post from ? Which magazine ?? Thanks !

[hnk373431]

Had to have been HoopScoop www.hoopscooponline.com/members/toprecruitingclassestodatefortheclassof2005-2005.html
which now has Bonaventure listed as the 51st best recruiting class and includes Andre.

[bulldogbrower]

Hoopscoop!

[Chuck]

Andre Smith was named NJCAA Division 1 "player of the week" this past January. He averaged 22.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game during this time period. Below is a link:

www.ndscs.nodak.edu/athletics/news%202/m%20basketball/MB%2005/mb05-0119b.html


From the Olean Times Herald, Andre's JUCO coach stated:

"he's the most talented player I've ever coached and we've had players in this program that have played professionally overseas. I have no problem to go as far as to say that."

"I think Bona's getting a young man that has probably made greater strides as a basketball player in a two year tenure than any other player I've coached."

"He's a tremendous offensive talent. He played alongside
a high major (college level) center and led the team in rebounding at 10 a game. He's a great offensive rebounder and great offensive player. He knows how to put the ball in the basket."

""He's not a physical type player, but he's very skilled. He just has great instincts in and around the basket. He has a great mid range shot. He's not going to shoot the 3 effectively, but he has a nice jump shot and he's pretty good in and around the basket. He'll have the highlight tip dunks and do some eye opening things. He's 6-8 and bouncy."

"He's come up big at crunch time. That's a positive with Andre, he makes big plays at critical times. Nerves never come into play with him. He's very confident in himself."