Loyola signs 6-6 forward from Missouri

Loyola University men's basketball coach Jim Whitesell has signed 6-foot-6 forward Shaun Adams to a National Letter of Intent.

A 190-pound forward from Liberty High School in Liberty, Mo., Adams joins a Loyola class that includes guards Gabe Kindred, Terrance Hill and Charles Winborne and forward Ben Averkamp.

As a senior at Liberty High School, Adams averaged 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.4 blocks per game and earned first team all-state, all-district and Suburban Big Seven Conference Most Valuable Player accolades. He led his school to a 23-6 record and the Missouri Class 5 quarterfinals.

The athletic forward, who also plays baseball, finished his career as Liberty High's career scoring leader with 1,239 points, and also is the standard holder for career assists and blocked shots.

"Shaun is a skilled forward who can give us a different dimension than what we've had here," Whitesell said. "He is an exceptional all-around athlete, is a good passer, a strong rebounder and is very athletic. Shaun has a very bright future and we are thrilled to add him to what we feel is a strong recruiting class."

Loyola welcomes back 10 players and adds five newcomers to a group that won 14 contests in 2008-09.