(November 29, 2004) - Fordham University men??s basketball head coach Dereck Whittenburg announced the signing of Chris Bethel (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond??s), Luke Devine (Wakefield, RI/Loomis Chaffee/Hargrave) and Demetrius Phillips (Baltimore, MD/Northwestern High School/Notre Dame Prep) to a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period. Bethel, a 6-5, 210-pound forward who is in his senior year at St. Raymond??s High School in the Bronx, averaged 8.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg last year as junior for the Ravens, leading the team in rebounding. St. Raymond??s won the New York City Catholic High School??s Athletic Association Championship the past two years, compiling a 22-8 overall record last year, 10-3 in the CHSAA. A native of the Bronx, Bethel resides just a short bus ride from the Fordham campus. Prior to committing to the Rams, he also considered Kent State, Rhode Island and Saint Joseph??s. He is the first CHSAA AA level player to sign with the Rams since Bevon Robin (Rice High School) committed to Fordham in 1996. Bethel has already started off his senior year on a high note, scoring 18 points and adding seven rebounds in an IS8 pool game in October, leading St. Raymond??s to a 78-53 victory over the Shooting Stars. He also was named to one of the Top 20 High School Players in New York by Newsday. Devine, a 6-10, 235-pound center who is ranked as a two star player by Insidershoops.com., is currently attending Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia after graduating from Loomis Chaffee in 2004. At Loomis Chafee, he averaged 11.0 ppg and 9.0 rpg, leading the Pelicans to The Founders League title last winter as well as to the semifinals of the NEPSAC Tournament. In the classroom, Devine, has already made his mark at Hargrave, being named to the President Commendation List. To earn such an honor at Hargrave, a student must be taking at least six courses and maintain a 3.3 gpa or above. Only 38 of 400 students at Hargrave are currently on the list. Devine is the second Hargrave player to sign with the Rams in as many years, joining current freshman guard Kevin Anderson who attended Hargrave in 2003-04. Phillips, a 6-8, 210-pound forward who is currently prepping at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, is rated the 70th fifth-year player in the country by HoopScoops. Originally from the Baltimore, Maryland area, Phillips graduated from Northwestern High School where he averaged 12.0 ppg and 11.0 rpg in 2003-04. He also considered George Washington, La Salle, Pepperdine, Rhode Island and Loyola (IL) before committing to Fordham.