Nov. 26, 2008

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University men's basketball head coach Dereck Whittenburg announced the signing of Lance Brown (Teaneck, N.J./Paterson Catholic), Chris Gaston (Newark, N.J./St. Anthony's (New Hampton) and Brian Freeman (Potomac, Va./Potomac School) to National Letters of Intent for the 2009-10 season.

Brown, a 6'3, 195-pound wing player, is currently a senior at Paterson Catholic High School. Last year, he averaged 15.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg, leading the Cougars to a 23-5 record and the Passaic County Championship. Paterson Catholic advanced to the Non-Public A semi-final game before falling to No. 1 nationally ranked St. Anthony's, a team which was led by current Fordham freshmen Jio Fontan and Alberto Estwick.

During the 2007-08 season, Brown was named MVP of the Eddie Griffin Challenge, a contest which featured the top ten seniors in New Jersey against the top ten seniors from Philadelphia, by netting 23 points and adding eight rebounds in the game. He teamed with fellow Fordham signee Chris Gaston to win the championship with the New Jersey Playaz team at the famed IS8 Fall Classic in 2008.

"We are excited to have a quality young man from one of the premier high school programs in the country," said Whittenburg. "Lance is an athletic wing player who plays with great intensity. He will bring toughness and a winning attitude to our program."

Gaston, a 6-7, 210-pound forward, is currently attending New Hampton Prep School in New Hampton, New Hampshire, where he is averaging over 17.0 ppg through the first six games, including a 20-point, 20-rebound game last weekend at the Prep National Showcase against Lee Academy.

Gaston graduated from St. Anthony's (N.J.) High School where he played alongside current Fordham freshmen Jio Fontan and Alberto Estwick. He led the 2006-07 squad to a 28-1 record

"He's very, very versatile," said Bob Hurley, his coach at St. Anthony's on Scout.com. "He's a long 6-6 or 6-7, who was a guard in grammar school. We were 28-1 with him here in 2006-07, and he was our best all-around player. If he were to have waited (with his recruitment), I think he would have exploded."

This past fall, Gaston, along with fellow Fordham signee Lance Brown, led the New Jersey Playaz Seniors to a 96-81 win over the Juice All-Stars, a team which featured Lance Stephenson, in the famed IS8 Fall Classic. He scored 26 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and added three blocks in the title game to earn MVP honors of the tournament.

Last summer, Gaston led the New Jersey ShoreShots to the Triple S Harley Davidson Shootout at West Virginia, garnering MVP honors in the process.

"Chris is an outstanding talent that gives us versatility at our forward position," said Whittenburg. "He was a very highly recruited young man who will give us a lot of offensive firepower."

Freeman, a 6'8, 220-pound forward, is currently in his senior year at the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. Last year, he led the Panthers to the Virginia Independent Schools championship, upsetting top-seeded Miller, 61-48, in the title game. Freeman finished with 12 points in the championship game. Freeman was a Virginia Independent School All-State selection as he led the Panthers in rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage. He averaged 15 ppg, nine rpg and three blocks/game in 2007-08.

Freeman selected Fordham over Saint Joseph's, Delaware, Siena, College of Charleston, and George Mason.

"Brian Freeman is one of the most athletic recruits we have had at Fordham," said Whittenburg. "He will give us the effort and energy that we need in our program."

The signing of three has brought national recognition to the Fordham program.

"None of the guys are in our top 100, but I thought of Fordham's recruiting class as a Top 25 class in the nation," said Dave Teleps, a recruiting expert with Scout.com. "Lance Brown is a stud and Chris Gaston is a late bloomer. Jio Fontan and now this? This is a program to keep an eye on."