2010-11 Angelo State Men's Basketball Roster

SAN ANGELO – A little more than a week before Midnight Madness officially starts the 2010-11 basketball season, Angelo State head basketball coach Fred Rike has announced seven newcomers to the men's basketball program that he thinks will help the Rams experience a taste of March Madness.

The Rams welcome two freshmen – Andre Adams (Houston, Texas) and Tyler Stallings (Midland, Texas) – and five transfers – Ivan Gombovic (Zagreb, Croatia), Ridge McKeither (Danville, Va.), Steve Moore (Little Rock, Ark.), Justin Morgan (Houston, Texas),and Richard Thomas (Queens, N.Y.) – to the team's roster for the upcoming season.

"We are excited about the young men that have joined our program,” Rike said. “Without a doubt, we feel like this is the best class we have signed in our time at Angelo State. The Lone Star Conference is one of the top leagues in the country and our guys expect to compete for the conference title and a national championship."

The class joins Angelo State senior guard LaMarshall Corbett, who was named a Sporting News Preseason All-American last month, and three other returners from last year's 17-11 team that posted a nearly perfect 11-1 record on the Stephens Arena floor. The 2009-10 Rams went 8-4 in Lone Star Conference action.

Adams is 5-foot-8 freshman from Cy-Woods High School where he led his team to back-to-back 15-5A Region II Bi-District Championships his junior and senior seasons. Originally from New Orleans, Adams and his family relocated to Houston after Hurricane Katrina and became one of the top point guards in the district.

“We are elated that Andre has decided to join our program,” Rike said. “Andre will make an immediate impact on our team. He is a fantastic competitor that can score in a variety of ways and will be one of the top newcomers in the Lone Star Conference. Andre comes out of a program that has won over 50 games the last two years and has been well-coached.”

Gombovic is a 6-foot-6 junior transfer from Lake Region (N.D.) State College where he averaged 11.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season. He spent his freshman campaign at Missouri-West Plains after playing a year of prep school basketball at perennial power The Winchendon School.

“Ivan is a guy that can play multiple positions,” Rike said. “He started at forward at Lake Region, but also played the point. He led his team in rebounding and he can also stretch the defense with his perimeter shooting.”

One of four NCAA Division I transfers, McKeither started 19 games for Tennessee-Chatanooga last season. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 9.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, a season after earning NJCAA First Team All-America honors at North Dakota State College of Science where he poured in 17.6 points per contest.

“Ridge has a chance to be a force in the Lone Star Conference and one of the better players in Division II,” Rike said. “He is very strong and athletic, and has a great nose for the ball on the glass. Ridge has very good hands and his speed and strength enable him to finish over the top of defenders. He will be fun to watch.”

Moore has been with the Rams for a year already but missed the 2009-10 campaign after injuring his knee in preseason workouts. The 6-foot senior guard is a transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock where he led the Trojans scoring as a junior with 13.6 points per game while adding 3.2 assists per contest. Moore helped UALR to a new record for Sunbelt victories (15-3) and a West Division Championship during the 2008-09 season.

“Steve was one of our best players last year in preseason workouts and one of the fastest players I have coached,” Rike said. “He is a fierce competitor and has a chance to be a great player here at ASU. He has proven himself as a top-notch player on the Division-I level.”

Morgan, a sophomore transfer from Army, is among the tallest players in Angelo State history at 7-foot-1 and should provide a tough defensive presence at center. As a senior in high school at Houston's Cypress Ridge, Morgan set the school's single-season blocked shots record.

“We are really excited to have Justin here at ASU,” Rike said. “He has a very good skill set for someone his size and is a good shot blocker. For us to have him for three years will be great for our program.”

Proof that hard work pays off, Stallings joins the team after a tryout during the spring semester and will provide depth at guard. The 5-foot-8 Midland native ran the point for Midland Classical Academy for three years and was named second team all-state his senior year.

“Tyler tried out for our team in the spring and has done a good job for us in fall individual work-outs,” Rike said. “He is tough, competes and he can shoot the basketball.”

Thomas, a 6-foot-5 guard, transferred to Angelo State from North Texas where he was a part of the Mean Green's NCAA Tournament team. Prior to arriving in Denton, Thomas starred at Garden City Community College where he helped the Broncbusters to a 25-13 record, the Region VI Championship, and the program's first trip to the NJCAA Tournament since 1956.

“Richard is a versatile player that can defend multiple positions and score in a variety of ways,” Rike said. “He started 12 games at North Texas on a team that won the Sun Belt Tournament and went to the NCAA Tournament. His size and strength at the guard spot will make him a tough matchup in the Lone Star Conference.”

The first opportunity to see Angelo State's newcomers and returners on the court will be at ASU's Midnight Madness, Oct. 14, in the Junell Center. The free event will feature a concert from local recording artist Crossing Tyler, various contests and giveaways including a $30,000 series shootout, and serve as the official start to the men's and women's basketball seasons. Additionally, 2010-11 men's and women's season ticket packages purchased at Midnight Madness will be 10 percent off regular price. Gates open at 9:50 p.m.

No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Year	Hometown/Previous School
0	Andre Adams	G	5-8	175	Fr.	Houston, Texas / Cypress Woods
41	Ivan Gombovic	F	6-6	205	Jr.	Zagreb, Croatia / Lake Region State College
23	Ridge McKeither	F	6-6	235	Sr.	Danville, Va. / Tennessee-Chattanooga
10	Steven Moore	G	6-0	185	R-Sr.	Little Rock, Ark. / Arkansas-Little Rock
44	Justin Morgan	C	7-1	230	R-So.	Houston, Texas / Army
2	Tyler Stallings	G	5-8	170	Fr.	Midland, Texas / Midland Classical Academy
1	Richard Thomas	G	6-5	200	Sr.	Queens, N.Y. / North Texas