May 6, 2006 - Rider Signs Fourth Recruit

May 6, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men’s College Basketball
Rider Signs Fourth Recruit

LAWRENCEVILLE—Joel Green of Philadelphia has signed a national letter of intent to further his education and basketball career at Rider University, Rider basketball coach Tommy Dempsey announced.

“Joel is a great athlete who can play multiple positions because he can score both inside and out,” said Dempsey. “He is a great rebounder and shot blocker and he comes here after winning a national championship at Cecil.”

The 6'8" Green comes to Rider from Cecil Community College in North East, Maryland, where he averaged 13.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game for the 33-2 team that won the NJCAA Division II National Championship. “When you are building a team that is trying to win a championship, it is important to recruit kids who know how to win,” said Dempsey.

Green attended St. John Neumann High School in Philadelphia before signing on with Siena College. Green red-shirted his freshman year at Siena before excelling at Cecil.

“Joel is a player we really targeted and recruited very hard, so we are thrilled with his decision to attend Rider,” Dempsey said.

Dempsey took over a young team last year and had four freshmen and a sophomore among his top eight players, and turned out an All-MAAC and a MAAC All-Rookie team selection.

“I know that nobody felt real good about the way that the season ended,” said Dempsey. Rider lost to eventual tournament runner-up Saint Peter’s in the MAAC Championship tournament. “And because we don’t get a chance to play again until November, I thought the best way to get people excited about Rider basketball again was to win some battles on the recruiting trail, and we’ve done that.”

Rider is ranked first in the MAAC in recruiting for the second year in a row by the HoopScoop online National Recruiting Report.

Green joins 6’8”, 235 center Robbie Myers of Mountain Top, PA, a senior at Crestwood High School, 6’5” guard Ryan Thompson, a senior at Lenape High School in Mt. Laurel, NJ, and 6’1” guard Patrick Mansell, a senior at Cheltenham (PA) High School as incoming members of the 2006-07 Rider basketball team.

Cecil Community College men’s basketball player Joel Green signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Rider University.
Pictured from left behind Green are Earl Piner, men’s basketball assistant coach at Cecil and Ed Durham, director of athletics and men’s basketball assistant coach.

-RU-