Moon Township, Pa. - Robert Morris University head men's basketball coach Mike Rice announced today the signing of three players to National Letters of Intent as part of the early signing period.
Signing NLI's and joining the Colonials for the 2009-10 season will be freshman forward/center Brad Piehl (New Knoxville, Ohio / New Knoxville), freshman guard Karon Abraham (Patterson, N.J. / Harp Academy) and freshman forward Lijah Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa. / Monsignor Bonner).
"Brad, Karon and Lijah are three players that are diverse in regard to the elements they bring to the table for our program," Rice said. "It's important to have a solid backcourt in the Northeast Conference, and Karon brings depth at guard for us, while Brad and Lijah bring size and athletic ability to the frontcourt."
The 6'8", 215-pound Piehl averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds for a New Knoxville program that finished with an overall record of 27-0 in 2007-08, helping lead the Rangers to a state championship. In 2006-07, New Knoxville finished with a record of 24-1, falling in the regional final.
"Brad is someone we feel that can step in and play right away," Rice said. "He possesses a high basketball I.Q. and comes from a winning program, with New Knoxville having won a state championship last year. He's a strong, skilled player that can play both forward and center and will be an inside scorer for us. He's also able to step out and hit the outside shot, which adds a different dimension to his game."
Abraham, 5'9" and 150 pounds, averaged 26.2 points and 5.6 assists last season for Patterson Eastside in Patterson, N.J. He attends Harp Academy, which does not sponsor a basketball program. A strong defender that plays both the point and shooting guard positions, Abraham played for an AAU squad, coached by Tim Thomas, that also produced current Colonial Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep).
"Karon can create for himself and create for others, and he brings us depth in the backcourt," Rice said. "He brings a lot of versatility because he's able to both shoot and pass the ball. A true combo guard, he's a tenacious defender on the ball, which I love."
The final Colonial to sign an NLI in the early signing period is Thompson, a 6'7", 200-pounder that averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game in 2007-08 for a Monsignor Bonner squad that advanced to the semifinals of the Philadelphia Catholic League. In October, Thompson played in the Eddie Griffin Classic, which pits the 10 best players from the Philadelphia area against the 10 best players in New Jersey.
"Lijah is a developing frontcourt player with tremendous athletic ability," Rice said. "He helped turn around a Monsignor Bonner program that had struggled in recent years, and he brings a tenacity on both ends of the court that will benefit our rotation. He's a natural scorer and rebounder, but his defensive presence in the post is something that will help us immediately."
Robert Morris, with an overall record of 3-3, opens its 2008-09 Northeast Conference schedule Thursday, Dec. 4, by hosting St. Francis (N.Y.) at the Charles L. Sewall Center for a 7:00 p.m. tip. The Colonials will also welcome Long Island to the Sewall Center for a 7:00 p.m. tilt Saturday, Dec. 6.
