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PROVO, Utah (Nov. 19, 2006) -- BYU men's basketball coach Dave Rose today announced that four players — two from the high school ranks and two from junior colleges — have committed to attend BYU next season by signing national letters of intent during November's early signing period.
Joining the Cougar program for the 2007-08 season will be 6-foot-9 forward Chris Collinsworth out of Provo (Utah) High School; 6-foot-2 combo guard Jimmer Fredette from Glens Falls (N.Y.) High School; 5-foot-10 point guard Lamont Morgan out of Saddleback Community College (Mission Viejo, Calif).; and 6-foot-7 forward Jean Carlos Otero out of Miami-Dade College (Miami, Fla.).
"We are excited about the early class," Rose said. "The common denominator is that all these guys come from winning programs and they are a key to that success. Since we are losing six seniors as well as others to missions after this year, it is important for us to address those changes, especially on the perimeter. This gives us a great start as we work toward completing our recruiting in the spring."
An athletic player known for his versatility and soft shooting touch, Collinsworth earned first-team all-state honors last season after averaging 14.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for the 4A state runner-up Provo Bulldogs. He shot 56 percent from the field to help himself earn All-Valley Co-MVP honors by the Deseret Morning News, All-Valley First Team recognition by the Provo Daily Herald and first-team Region 7 accolades from a vote of area coaches.
Showing his versatility, the 6-foot-9 forward has also played the point guard position. His inside-outside game has drawn comparisons to former BYU great Kresimir Cosic. Collinsworth received recruiting attention from schools such as North Carolina, Arizona State, West Virginia, USC and Oregon State in addition to several Mountain West Conference schools.
"Chris has the ability to score in the post and on the perimeter," Rose said. "He is a tireless worker who brings a skill level that will be important to our transition offense. He's from right here in our backyard, and we are excited to have him join our program."
A talented scorer, Fredette averaged 29.3 points per game as a junior while leading Glens Falls High School to a 21-2 overall record and the state title game. A first-team all-state selection and the 2006 Times Union Player of the Year, Fredette is known for his outside shooting and playmaking ability. He made a team-leading 76 three-pointers last season while shooting 83 percent from the free-throw line and scoring more than 30 points in 12 of 23 games.
The athletic combo guard also averaged 25 points for the Albany City Rocks AAU team over the summer, leading the squad to a third-place finish at AAU Nationals. An all-around athlete, he earned all-state honors as a wide receiver during his junior year before electing not to play football as a senior to concentrate on basketball. Utah, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Seton Hall, Marshall, Siena, George Mason, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Penn State also recruited Fredette.
"Jimmer is a terrific shooter who also has the ability to run a team," Rose said. "He is a very unselfish player and is very committed to hard work and getting better. He's a great addition to our team."
A sophomore this year at Saddleback Community College, Morgan is an extremely quick point guard and strong team leader. He is averaging 8.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 steals per game so far this season after playing in all 31 games as a freshman to help the Gauchos to a 22-9 record.
Morgan has excellent defensive abilities and shot 81 percent from the free-throw line last year. As a freshman he recorded season highs of 13 points and seven rebounds while leading the team in assists 11 times. Prior to playing at Saddleback, Morgan prepped at Diamond Ranch High School in Pomona, Calif., earning first-team all-league honors.
"Lamont is a winner," Rose said. "He is a team-oriented point guard who provides great leadership and is very competitive. He is extremely quick with the ball. One of the things we really like about Lamont is his ability to defend. His experience will be counted on."
Otero is an athletic perimeter player with excellent size and strength. Known for his ability to penetrate, he is currently averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 62 percent from the floor in his second year at Miami-Dade College. The 6-foot-7 swingman is also an excellent perimeter defender, often drawing the assignment to guard the opponent's top scorer.
As a freshman at Miami-Dade, Otero averaged 8.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from the floor. A native of Barranquilla, Colombia, Otero will be the 27th international player to play men's basketball at BYU.
"Jean Carlos is an athletic wing player who can beat people off the dribble, penetrate and finish," Rose said. "He has good size and strength for a wing player. His perimeter defense is going to be counted on heavily."
ROSTER INFORMATION Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown / School Chris Collinsworth F 6-9 195 Provo, Utah / Provo HS Jimmer Fredette G 6-2 190 Glens Falls, N.Y. / Glens Falls HS Lamont Morgan G 5-10 170 Pomona, Calif. / Saddleback CC Jean Carlos Otero G/F 6-7 210 Barranquilla, Colombia / Miami-Dade College
