Nov. 28, 2007

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University men's basketball head coach Dereck Whittenburg announced the signing of Jio Fontan (Patterson, N.J./St. Anthony's), Alberto Estwick (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Anthony's), Lamar Thomas (Littleton, Colo./Solebury Prep) and Khiry Gordon (Philadelphia, Pa./Solebury Prep) to National Letters of Intent for the 2008-09 season.

"We're very excited to get two sets of teammates from two very good programs," said Whittenburg. "Jio and Alberto are from a nationally known program at St. Anthony's with a tremendous coach in Bob Hurley. Lamar and Kyrie are from a relatively unknown program at Solebury where Coach Cleve Christie does a great job at getting the most out of his players. Both Lamar and Khiry have the potential to find success both on the court and in the classroom at Fordham."

Fontan and Estwick are entering their senior season at St. Anthony's, a school that is currently ranked fifth in the country in the latest USA Today Super Poll, and are two of six players from the school to sign with an NCAA Division I program. Last year, St. Anthony's went undefeated in the regular season before falling to St. Patrick's in the Non-Public North B title game. The Friars finished the 2006-07 season ranked seventh in the country by USA Today.

Fontan, the starting point guard, averaged 9.0 ppg and 6.0 assists/game as a junior last winter and is ranked as the seventh best player in the state of New Jersey and the 144th best prospect in the nation by Rivals.com. The 5'11, 180-pound guard, was usually assigned to guard the opponent's best player, defending players such as Arizona's Jerryd Bayless and Villanova's Corey Fisher. Fontan selected Fordham over St. John's, Oklahoma and Delaware.

Estwick, a 6'5", 195-pound sixth man for St. Anthony's, is recognized as one of the top shooters on the East coast. Last year, he shot 48% (29-61) from the field for the Friars, 40% (10-25) from behind the three-point arch. He also considered Penn State.

Thomas, a 6'9", 215-pound forward, averaged 10.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 3.5 blocks/game at Solebury Prep in New Hope, Penn., last year. He chose Fordham over Rice, Richmond, Princeton, Northern Illinois and Marist.

Gordon, a 6'7", 195-pound forward, is coming off a junior season in which he averaged 13.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3,0 blocks/game and 3.0 steals/game at Solebury. He attended GAMP High School in Philadelphia as a junior, averaging a team-high 11.8 ppg.

"This recruiting class is very comparable to our first recruiting class at Fordham," said Whittenburg. "I think they have the potential to be something special. We are really looking forward to the four student-athletes joining our program next year."