Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Basketball Inks Three Early Signees
12/2/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - With the 2005-06 season just underway, Bucknell head men's basketball coach Pat Flannery has announced the addition of three players who will impact the program starting in 2006-07. Patrick Behan, a 6-8 forward from Leesburg, Va., Zach Evans, a 6-5 guard from Encino, Calif., and Stephen Tyree, a 6-3 guard from The Woodlands, Texas, have all taken advantage of the NCAA's early signing period to ink national letters of intent to enroll at Bucknell.
Behan is entering his senior campaign at Notre Dame Academy in Middleburg, Va. A year ago he averaged 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals per game for head coach Kevin Martin. He earned the Coaches' MVP Award and was listed among the top 185 prep players by Hoop Scoop. This past July, Behan attended the prestigious ABCD camp.
"Patrick is going to be a wonderful addition to our program," said Flannery. "He is a legitimate 6-8, can really shoot and run, and has the ability to defend aggressively both in the post and on the perimeter. He plays at a great basketball school against very tough competition."
Evans plays for coach Bryan Cantwell at Chaminade College Prep in West Hills, Calif. An All-Mission League performer last season, Evans averaged 12.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He was named the conference's rookie of the year as a sophomore, and prior to his junior year he also attended the ABCD camp.
"Like Patrick, Zach is an extremely athletic player who has gone up against some outstanding competition in California," commented Flannery. "Zach made a great impression on our staff when we saw him in Las Vegas this summer. He simply knows how to play the game. He can play the `3' and is a long, versatile defender."
Tyree recently concluded another very successful football season at Strake Jesuit High School in Houston, and now he will be turning his attention back to basketball for his senior year. An all-conference selection as a defensive back and wide receiver on the gridiron, Tyree also averaged 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists per game last season in basketball. He was a second-team all-district selection in basketball as both a sophomore and junior.
"The entire staff is awfully excited about Stephen's potential," Flannery said. "He's been a star football player in high school, but basketball seems to be his first love. He is a tremendous athlete and an extremely bright young man who should ease right into our system."
"Every year in recruiting we start by looking for kids who fit Bucknell's student-athlete profile, and Zach, Patrick and Stephen are three really good ones," said Flannery. "Coming out of the July recruiting period, these three were high priorities for us. They are gym rats who should jump right into the program both academically and athletically."
Bucknell, the defending Patriot League champion, is off to a 4-0 start in 2005-06, with victories over Rider, No. 17 Syracuse, Yale and Niagara. The Bison travel to DePaul on Saturday afternoon.
