Brooklyn, N.Y. – Long Island University men’s basketball coach Jim Ferry announced the signing of Jamal Olasewere to a National Letter of Intent to join the program from the 2009-10 season. Olasewere is the second incoming freshman to join LIU for the upcoming season and just capped a standout career with Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, Md.
Olasewere is a 6-foot-6 forward who helped Springbrook become the first Maryland 4A team to win back-to-back championships in 41 years en route to a 27-0 season. As a senior under head coach Tom Crowell, Olasewere averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots per contest and was named All-Met First Team by the Washington Post. He also played for the Capital All-Stars in the 36th Capital Classic all-star game.
“We are happy to have Jamal join Long Island University and the men’s basketball program,” Ferry said. “He is a terrific kid who comes from a great family and we believe he will have the chance to help us immediately. He has tremendous athleticism and versatility and will provide immediate depth to our frontcourt to help replace Ron Manigault.”
Olasewere is the second standout to sign on with LIU for next season. Kenny Onyechi, a 6-foot-6 forward from Sugar Land, Texas, signed with LIU in the fall. Onyechi earned District 23-5A MVP honors and was an all-region honoree.
The pair will join a Blackbirds squad that is coming off a 16-14 season and finished tied for second in the Northeast Conference standings.