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 Western Carolina head men's basketball coach Larry Hunter added two 6-8 posts -- Blake Gallagher and Richie Gordon -- to his signing class for 2007-08 today. |
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April 12, 2007
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head men's basketball coach Larry Hunter today announced the signing of two, 6-8 post players to National Letters of Intent (NLI) for next season. Post players Blake Gallagher (Monroe, N.C./Fork Union Military Academy) and Richie Gordon (Atlanta, Ga./Lakeside HS) have signed to play for Hunter's Catamounts.
Gallagher and Gordon join Michael Porrini, a 6-2, 185-pound point guard from Massillon, Ohio, and Camden Miller, a 6-8, 195-pound forward from Wheelersburg, Ohio, who inked NLI's with WCU during the early signing period back in November.
"We have four scholarships and felt we needed to add two players that will address our lack of size, bulk and athleticism in the front court positions," said Hunter, who guided Western to its first Southern Conference tournament victory in five seasons a year ago. "The addition of Richie (Gordon) and Blake (Gallagher) will add significant talent and depth to our team. They both have good size with good strength and will help fill immediate needs we have in our program.
Hunter added, "We anticipate filling our remaining two scholarships in the next few weeks."
Gallagher is a 6-8, 240-pound post who played at Parkwood High before spending last season on the postgraduate team at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. The Monroe, N.C., native was a part of Parkwood's trip to the North Carolina 3-A state semifinals in 2005-06. He averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds during his high school career, including 15 points, nine boards and two blocked shots per game during his final season at Parkwood.
"Blake (Gallagher) is a talented big man who we feel has a big upside because of his work habits and competitiveness," commented Hunter. "He was a winner in high school at Parkwood High and also at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. He has a good understanding of the game and will be able to guard our opponents' biggest players. He likes to mix it up inside, can score and is an exceptional passer."
Gordon was a successful two-sport athlete in high school playing both on the hardwood and as a tight end in football, also receiving NCAA Division I scholarship offers in the latter. A 6-8, 238-pound forward, Gordon averaged 12.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots per game last season for Lakeside HS, which finished the year 15-11 and advanced to the Georgia state 4-A regional quarterfinals.
Gordon was described as a "great defensive player and rebounder" who will "make athletic plays" by his Inner Strength AAU coach, Buck Jenkins.
"Richie (Gordon) gives us a bona fide big man with talent, length, athleticism and shot blocking ability," Hunter said. "Richie has really worked hard and shown tremendous improvement during his senior year in high school. He has very good hands and plays the game extremely hard."
Hunter added, "Richie has a huge upside considering he has yet to concentrate on only one sport."
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