PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley landed two recruits on the first day of the November Early Signing Period as 6-foot-11 center Xavier Crawford and 6-foot-5 shooting guard Andrew Warren have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Bradley University and play basketball for the Braves in 2006-07, fourth-year Bradley head coach Jim Les announced today.
Both recruits will have four years of eligibility for the Braves. Crawford, who once teamed with current Bradley freshman Ray Brown at Richfield (Minn.) High School, is currently enrolled at Boys to Men Math & English Academy in Chicago. Warren attends Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis.
Xavier Crawford ? 6-foot-11 ? Center ? Richfield, Minn. ? Boys to Men Math & English Academy (Chicago)
Having lived previously in Okinawa, Crawford moved to Richfield, Minn., after his freshman season and played his sophomore and junior seasons at Richfield High School, where he teamed with current Bradley freshman Ray Brown. He transferred to Mount Zion Academy in Durham, N.C., last season, but is finishing his high school career this year at Boys to Men Math & English Academy, a first-year college preparatory school in Chicago.
“Xavier is a long and athletic player who has skill and a tremendous upside to his game,” said Les.
An independent program, Boys to Men opened its first basketball season Oct. 18 with a game versus Elgin Junior College and the team will play games in 10 states through March 4.
Andrew Warren ? 6-foot-5 ? 185 ? Guard ? Indianapolis, Ind. ? Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School
Warren is preparing for his senior season at Brebeuf (pronounced bruh ? BUFF) Jesuit Preparatory School, which competes as an independent in Class 3A of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. The Braves will open the 2005-06 season Nov. 23 at Zionsville High School.
As a junior last season, Warren averaged 15.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game while earning second-team all-county honors. During the recent summer circuit, Warren was named one of the Top 12 players during the 2005 High Potential “Blue-Chip” Basketball Camp in Georgetown, Ky. He also was named the co-Camp Runner-Up MVP for the Senior Division during the first of the camp's three sessions.
“Andrew is a highly-skilled player who can do a number of things on both ends of the floor,” said Les. “He is still growing and maturing and he has the potential to step in and have an immediate impact on our program.”
Bradley's 2005-06 roster includes four seniors, which means the Braves still have two scholarships available for next year's incoming class.
Bradley will play its second preseason game Saturday by hosting NCAA Division II Minnesota State in a 7:05 p.m. exhibition at Carver Arena. The game against the Mavericks, who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament to cap a 24-8 season, will be the first game in the 2005-06 Bradley season-ticket package. The Braves will open the regular-season Nov. 19 by visiting in-state rival DePaul for a 1:05 p.m. contest at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. Bradley will play its first official home game Nov. 26 by hosting Chicago State for a 2:05 p.m. tip at Carver Arena.
