BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — A seventh member has joined WKU's men's basketball recruiting class for the upcoming 2011-12 season, as head coach Ken McDonald announced Tuesday the signing of versatile guard T.J. Price to a National Letter of Intent.
Prior to inking Price (G, 6-3, 210, Slidell, La.) and Kevin Kaspar (G, 6-1, 175, Henderson, Nev.) in the regular signing period, WKU had already signed George Fant (F, 6-6, 220, Bowling Green, Ky.), Derrick Gordon (G, 6-3, 185, Plainfield, N.J.), Deng Leek (C, 6-11, 230, Greensboro, N.C.), Nigel Snipes (F, 6-5, 185, Marietta, Ga.) and Vinny Zollo (F, 6-8, 230, Winchester, Ky.) in the early period for the Class of 2011.
Price, a 6-3 guard who hails from Salmen High School in Slidell, La., was the Louisiana Class 4A Player of the Year as a senior in 2011. He was a member of the Spartans' Louisiana Class 4A state championship team as a sophomore in 2009 and also earned both District 9 Player of the Year and all-state recognition after his junior and senior campaigns.
As a senior, Price helped Salmen High School to the number-two ranking in the state and the semifinals of the Class 4A state tournament. In 32 games in 2010-11, Price averaged 17.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in leading the Spartans to a 32-4 record.
Price was also a standout football defensive end in high school and garnered a scholarship offer for the gridiron from Louisiana Tech, among others. He chose WKU over basketball powers Kansas, Baylor and LSU.
McDonald on Price:
"T.J. has a strong, college-ready body and will fit in well with our team. He is an excellent shooter and has plenty of range. He is another quality individual to add to our program, and he has a great work ethic that will make him a favorite of Hilltopper nation."
Even before the additions of Price and Kaspar this week, WKU's signing class for 2011-12 had been lauded as one of the top groups in the nation by various national recruiting outlets.
"[WKU] sliced off a few players from the top of our mid-major best players list," ESPN.com's senior basketball recruiting analyst Dave Telep said at the conclusion of the early signing period in November. "A few of them could easily have signed in bigger leagues, and that's a testament to the work of this staff. This is the kind of class with talent and depth that is a foundation for multiple title runs in the Sun Belt and future NCAA runs. They have diversity, size, talent and swagger. Love this group."
For more information on early signing period signees George Fant, Derrick Gordon, Deng Leek, Nigel Snipes and Vinny Zollo, CLICK HERE.
For information on Kevin Kaspar, who also signed in the regular signing period, CLICK HERE.
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