Post by FIUPantherFan on Apr 17, 2008 5:13:31 GMT -5
The Miami Herald
Posted on Thu, Apr. 17, 2008
FIU signs three players
FIU signed three players to basketball letters-of-intent Wednesday.
The Golden Panthers signed 6-10 power forward Freddy Asprilla, 6-7 small forward J.C. Otero and 6-3 guard Michael Dominguez.
Asprilla, who played for the Patterson School (N.C.) last season, adds some brawn to FIU's frontcourt, joining 7-0 center Russell Hicks and 6-11 forward Badara N'Diaye.
''Freddy is the beef, the enforcer that Russell Hicks needs next to him,'' FIU coach Sergio Rouco said. ``We were tall last year, but we didn't have the wood.''
Asprilla committed to the University of Miami in 2006, but did not qualify academically. He has qualified at FIU.
Otero was an oral commitment to Brigham Young before choosing FIU. Rouco said Otero, a rangy small forward, would take the place of forward Chris Fuller, who graduated and was the only player FIU lost from last season's team.
Dominguez -- whose family is from Hialeah, but he has never set foot in South Florida -- comes from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. At Northeastern, Dominguez averaged 11.8 points a game.
''He's a prolific sharpshooter,'' Rouco said. ``He's a three-point threat the minute he steps on the court.''
FIU also add former Florida State point guard Josue Soto to their 2008-09 class after Soto transferred last season.
Rouco still has one open scholarship to fill in the next two weeks. He is thrilled with his newest players.
''We're very excited with this class,'' Rouco said. ``I think we addressed all our needs.''
Posted on Thu, Apr. 17, 2008
FIU signs three players
FIU signed three players to basketball letters-of-intent Wednesday.
The Golden Panthers signed 6-10 power forward Freddy Asprilla, 6-7 small forward J.C. Otero and 6-3 guard Michael Dominguez.
Asprilla, who played for the Patterson School (N.C.) last season, adds some brawn to FIU's frontcourt, joining 7-0 center Russell Hicks and 6-11 forward Badara N'Diaye.
''Freddy is the beef, the enforcer that Russell Hicks needs next to him,'' FIU coach Sergio Rouco said. ``We were tall last year, but we didn't have the wood.''
Asprilla committed to the University of Miami in 2006, but did not qualify academically. He has qualified at FIU.
Otero was an oral commitment to Brigham Young before choosing FIU. Rouco said Otero, a rangy small forward, would take the place of forward Chris Fuller, who graduated and was the only player FIU lost from last season's team.
Dominguez -- whose family is from Hialeah, but he has never set foot in South Florida -- comes from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. At Northeastern, Dominguez averaged 11.8 points a game.
''He's a prolific sharpshooter,'' Rouco said. ``He's a three-point threat the minute he steps on the court.''
FIU also add former Florida State point guard Josue Soto to their 2008-09 class after Soto transferred last season.
Rouco still has one open scholarship to fill in the next two weeks. He is thrilled with his newest players.
''We're very excited with this class,'' Rouco said. ``I think we addressed all our needs.''