DePaul adds four walk-ons to men's basketball roster
The DePaul men's basketball program has added four walk-on recruits to the 2009-10 roster while incoming freshman Tony Freeland will enroll in the winter quarter at DePaul while he awaits academic clearance from the NCAA.
Freeland, a Los Angeles native, averaged 21.1 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots during his senior season at Fremont High School. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound forward was recently named one of the top 300 players in the Class of 2009 by Athlon Sports.
"We're looking forward to getting Tony on board with our program and the addition of the four new players will help our returning core from last season every day on the floor, in the weight room and in the classroom," said head coach Jerry Wainwright. "Each of these players, along with our sixth newcomer, Mike Stovall, will help us improve together as a team this season."
Joining the roster as walk-on players are Joe Belcaster, Jimmy Drew, Nate Rogers and Ryan Siggins.
Belcaster played at Morton High School in suburban Chicago and led the Mustangs to a 23-6 record last season that included a championship at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament before falling to eventual state champion Whitney Young in the IHSA sectional semifinals.
Drew, a transfer from Southeast Missouri State, will sit out the 2009-10 season under NCAA guidelines. He played at Southeast Missouri State from 2006-08 before a foot injury forced him to miss the 2008-09 campaign. In 51 games with the Redhawks, Drew averaged 2.9 points in 11.4 minutes per game while going 38-for-103 (.369) from three-point range.
Rogers played at St. Joseph High School in Westchester for legendary coach Gene Pingatore. He led the Chargers to an IHSA Sectional finals appearance with 23 points in a 75-55 win over Marshall. The Chargers finished the season with a 26-4 record during Rogers' senior year.
Siggins was a two-time Greater Catholic League Player of the Year for the North Division after totaling 925 points three seasons at Archbishop Alter in Kettering, Ohio. He also accumulated 464 rebounds, 178 assists, 120 steals, 102 three-pointers and 58 blocked shots. As a senior he led the GCL North with 18.5 points per game as Alter finished the season with a 15-7 record.
The Blue Demons return six players from a year ago including junior forward/center Mac Koshwal and senior guard Will Walker. Walker averaged 14.6 points with 71 three-pointers last season while Koshwal returns as one of the BIG EAST's top post players following a 2008-09 campaign with 12.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
DePaul opens the regular season on Nov. 17 against Columbia at Allstate Arena.